Church of St Francis in Old Kochi. Photo courtesy of Adam Jones via Flickr.

When people think of India, they usually picture the northern portion of the country — New Delhi, Agra or Rajasthan. While those destinations are famous for a reason, South India shouldn’t be overlooked. In particular, the ancient spice trading center of Kochi offers visitors a glimpse at a part of India with a completely different language, culture and history than the North.

Kochi, the capital of Kerala, first appeared on the world stage in 1341 when it became the first port in India for Chinese, Arab and European merchants looking to profit from the spice trade. Explorer Vasco da Gama arrived 259 years later, and the influence of subsequent Portuguese explorers and missionaries can be seen to this day, particularly in Old Kochi where you’ll find India’s oldest European settlement in India, Fort Kochi.

Kochi’s cultural and religious blend is simply a delight to experience. There are few (if any) other places in India where you can tour Catholic churches, mosques, synagogues, Buddhist and Hindu temples all in the same day. Local residents work Chinese fishing nets along the coast a stone’s throw from the Dutch-built Mattancherry Palace. The very spice trade that attracted so much international attention centuries ago is alive and well today, as you’ll see and smell on a walk through the city’s spice market, filled with colorful and pungent sacks of turmeric, cloves, cardamom, ginger and pepper.

Despite all the outside influence, Kochi has managed to retain a heritage all its own, as is evident in the local martial and performing arts. The Kathakali dance-drama is recognizable by the colorful makeup and costumes of the performers. Martial arts enthusiasts can watch or learn Kalaripayattu, the oldest fighting system in the world.

Whether you come to relax at an Ayervedic retreat or soak up the sights on a tour of Kerala’s backwaters, you’ll find visiting Kochi to be well worth your time.

-Lydia Schrandt

Kochi, India’s Historic European Settlement from India Things to Do

Indian vegetable vendor. Photo courtesy of Meena Kadri via Flickr.

India is at once fascinating and overwhelming, with new sights, sounds, smells and experiences at every turn. It’s possibly the most different place you could possibly visit, and to ensure your trip is as rewarding as possible, here are a few tips on what not to do in India.

• Don’t drink water from the tap or eat peeled fruit. There’s no quicker way to ruin a vacation than coming down with a case of Delhi Belly, so it’s better to err on the side of caution when it comes to your health. Read more about health and safety in India.
• Don’t eat with your left hand. In India, the left hand is considered unclean, and eating (or even handing something over) with it is considered very rude.
• Don’t wear your shoes indoors. It’s very disrespectful to enter a home or place of worship with your shoes on, and at many of India’s popular attractions — particularly religious landmarks like the Taj Mahal — you’ll be required to remove them.
• Don’t buy anything without haggling. There’s really no such thing as a fixed price in India, and while you’ll inevitably end up paying more than a local, you’ll save yourself some money and earn some respect if you practice your bargaining skills.
• Don’t wear revealing clothes. India is a conservative country, and unless you want to draw unnecessary attention and further the already-existent stereotype that Westerners are all lascivious sexual fiends. On that note, keep the displays of affection to your hotel room.
• Don’t touch anything important or point to anything, especially another person, with your feet. It’s very insulting.
• Don’t leave your bag unattended when riding the trains. Bring along a padlock and secure your bag to your seat. Put your valuables in a backpack or purse and use it as a pillow.
• Don’t get to stuck on your itinerary. It’s India, and things happen. One of the best things you can do for yourself and your trip is be flexible and adaptable, and realize that things probably aren’t going to work out how you planned.

-Lydia Schrandt

What Not to Do in India from India Things to Do

Jal Mahal Water Palace

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan and India’s first planned city, known for its pink hued architecture, colorful bazaars and rugged desert landscape, makes up the third point (along with Delhi and Agra) in India’s Golden Triangle. Named after founder, warrior and astrologer Maharaja Jai Singh II, much of Jaipur was built in just eight years starting in 1727.

While many of Jaipur’s most spectacular fortresses and palaces lay just outside the city, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the culture and history of the capital with a walking tour of the main city sights, most of which are located within a few blocks of each other. At the City Palace, weapons, costumes and relics of Jaipur royalty are on display beneath the shadow of the Chandra Mahal where the current royalty live today.

Bazaars teeming with food stalls, textiles, glittering bangles, henna artists and chai wallas (tea sellers) and streets crammed with camel carts and auto rickshaws give the city an infectious energy. The city is famous for its gemstones, jewelry and colorful fabric quilts, and bargaining is the rule. You can’t visit Jaipur without spending a few hours in at least one of the bazaars, whether shopping for cheap bangles and trinkets in the Old City’s Johari Bazaar or for tie-dyed fabrics at the Bapu Bazaar.

As odd as it sounds, to get an authentic feel for visiting Jaipur you have to get out of the city. Visiting the Amber Fort, original residence of the Maharajas located 7 miles (11 kilometers) to the north offers well-preserved examples of Mughal and Rajput architecture and art, while the much more militaristic Jaigarh Fort further up the mountain gives visitors one of the best views of the city below. Between Nahargarh Fort, Hawa Mahal and Jal Mahal, you could easily spend days simply exploring the Pink City’s forts and palaces, many of which light up brilliantly come nightfall.

-Lydia Schrandt

Guide to Visiting Jaipur from India Things to Do

Taj Mahal. Photo courtesy of Dennis Jarvis via Flickr.

No matter where you go in India, you’ll find diverse cultures, colorful markets, beautiful monuments and a religious fervor that permeates daily life. Make your trip to India the rewarding cultural experience it should be by taking a few simple health and safety precautions while you travel.

• Talk to your doctor about vaccinations and malaria medications before you leave. Depending on where in the county you’re traveling, you might need them.
• Don’t forget to pack sunscreen and bug spray.
• Drink lots of water. Bottled water. India can be extremely hot in the summers, and when you’re walking around, it’s easy to get dehydrated. Say no to ice, and make sure any bottled beverages you buy are sealed.
• If you encounter Delhi Belly, try to spend a day or two resting in your hotel to let it run its course. Stick to bland foods (rice, bread, bananas) and water, and only take anti-diarrhea medicine if you absolutely must.
• Watch out for hotel knockoffs. Popular and successful hotels in India inspire competitors to open lower quality establishments with confusingly similar names. Don’t listen if your taxi or rickshaw driver tells you the place you’ve booked is closed.
• Violent crime against foreigners is extremely rare in India, but petty theft and scams are unfortunately common place. Leave your valuables locked up at the hotel, be discreet with your money and be very skeptical of any deal that sounds too good to be true. It probably is.
• Recreational drugs are often widely available in tourist areas, but possession of marijuana is treated just as severly as heroine, so it’s best to just say no.
• While India is generally safe, political upheaval happens from time to time. Monitor the local news and avoid areas where rallies or protests are being staged. The U.S. Department of State website will have the latest travel advisories, so check before you leave.

-Lydia Schrandt

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s India tours and things to do, India attractions, and India travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in India for a customized tour!

Health and Safety Tips for India from India Things to Do

Bathing on the ghat. Photo courtesy of Jon Rawlinson via Flickr.

Varanasi, one of the oldest and most sacred cities on earth and a major pilgrimage site in India, hugs the banks of the Ganges River where much of daily life happens along the city’s 100-odd ghats. Locals and pilgrims come to these waterfront steps to bathe, perform rituals, meditate.

A boat trip down the river at sunrise is a surreal experience, as the history and sacredness of the place permeate the air. Your senses are assaulted by brightly colored saris laid out to dry on the steps, masses of humanity going about daily life, priests sounding gongs as they perform elaborate rituals, herds of water buffalo making their way along the water and funeral processions bringing the bodies of loved ones down to the river for cremation.

At sunset, the Dasashwamedh Ghat comes to life as priests perform an ancient fire ritual along the banks. The Manikarnika Ghat — one of the city’s most famous — is shrouded in smoke from the funeral piers that burn 24 hours a day as bodies are cremated and sent into the river. The Shiva Temple partially submerged in the Ganges at the Scindia Ghat has become an iconic symbol of Varanasi, while the colorful pink towers of the Rajendra Prasad Ghat depict Shiva and Ganga to those passing by along the river.

-Lydia Schrandt

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s India tours and things to do, India attractions, and India travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in India for a customized tour!

The Ghats of Varanasi from India Things to Do

Colorfully painted elephant. Photo courtesy of Kevin Jones via Flickr.

While India may not sound at first like the ideal family destination, traveling with your children there exposes them (and you) to an entirely foreign culture and way of life very different from what you’re used to. Traveling to India with kids can be a very rewarding experience for everyone involved, especially if you take some time to adequately prepare for some of the challenges Indian travel poses.

Accommodation Tips

The sights, sounds, smells and tastes of India can get overwhelming, particularly when you’re dealing with jet lag. If you’re going to splurge on anything during your travels, do it on a spacious and comfortable hotel room where you can relax and decompress when necessary. In your first destination especially, try to book a hotel where you can spend a low-key day or two relaxing by the pool to help your kids adjust.

Staying Healthy

The last thing you want when traveling with kids is tummy troubles, so it’s best to err on the side of caution. Drink and brush your teeth with bottled water, and ask for beverages without ice unless you’re at an upscale establishment that used filtered water. Indian cuisine uses a spice profile very different from what your children are used to, so ease them into  the spicy stuff. Bring along a basic medical kit with over-the-counter medicines just in case tummy troubles arise.

Dealing with Unwanted Attention

Foreign children in India, particularly the blond-haired, blue-eyed ones, will draw attention like magnets. On a trip to the Taj Mahal, they may get asked dozens of times to pose for a photo, which can often be distressing for young children. Don’t be afraid to politely decline such requests, or simply let your children decide if and when they’re comfortable getting their picture taken.

Kid-Friendly Destinations

While few Indian destinations have kid-specific attractions, you shouldn’t have trouble finding things to do that your children will enjoy. Most big cities have science museums, parks where you can take a boat ride and some type of zoo. In Varanasi, you can take the kids on a boat ride down the Ganges River to see the colorful temple architecture and religious rituals. Goa is great for families due to the abundance of beaches, water sports and wildlife spotting adventures available. The southern state of Kerala also boasts lovely beaches as well as backwater boat tours, milder cuisine and completely different Southern Indian cultural performances.

General Tips

• Prepare for long distance travel on trains and buses with an activity kit to keep the little ones occupied.
• Watch out for strangers handing your kids candy, gum or small toys in exchange for photos.
• Leave the stroller at home. Instead, opt for a child carrier you can wear on your chest or back.
• Have fun and enjoy the new cultural experiences.

-Lydia Schrandt

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s India tours and things to do, India attractions, and India travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in India for a customized tour!

Tips for Visiting India with Kids from India Things to Do

Taj Mahal

Agra is home to India’s most significant attraction, the Taj Mahal. What many visitors don’t realize is that there’s plenty more to see and do in and around Agra, so if you decide to stay in the area, you have a couple options for day trips to other notable destinations in the vicinity.

Agra Fort

The Agra Fort is located quite close to the Taj Mahal and can easily be visited in a half-day. The red sandstone fortress is one of the best preserved in all of India, and it was from here that Shah Jahan died in captivity, gazing at the mausoleum he built for his late wife.

Mathura

Located in the Land of Eternal Love, Mathura was established as a major Buddhist center up until the eighth century. Today, the city attracts Hindu pilgrims from across the country to its temples and shrines. It only takes 90 minutes by bus to reach Mathura, one of India’s seven sacred cities, where you can visit temples and watch daily life unfold along the ghats.

Akbar’s Tomb

If you’re making the trip to Mathura, stop at Akbar’s Tomb, located on the outskirts of Agra, on your way. This impressive sandstone and marble mausoleum contains the tomb of one of India’s most important emperors.

New Delhi

While most visitors base themselves in New Delhi and make a day trip to Agra, it’s possible to do things just the opposite. It takes a little less than four hours by road, so while it’s possible to leave early, see some sights in Delhi and be back at night, it’s probably a better idea to make it an overnight excursion.

-Lydia Schrandt

 Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s India tours and things to do, India attractions, and India travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in India for a customized tour!

Day Trips from Agra from India Things to Do

Delhi Elephants

As the second-largest populist center in India, the city of Delhi can be a daunting target for travelers unfamiliar with the subcontinent. The following four suggestions should help get you started.

1). Raj Ghat and National Gandhi Museum. First time visitors to Delhi ought to make it a priority to visit the shrine erected to Mohandas Gandhi after his untimely death at the hands of a Hindu fundamentalist in 1948. The site, adorned with a black marble slab, flowers, and a perpetually lit flame, is the spot where Gandhi’s ashes were spread. Across the boulevard is the National Gandhi Museum, where you’ll find an array of the influential leader’s personal artifacts and a film about his life that is shown weekday afternoons.

2). National Zoological Park. Designed in the late 1950s by the German designer Carl Hagenbeck, Delhi’s zoo is a good place for visitors on tight schedules to take in emu, gazelle, Indian rhino, deer, water birds, and other animals all in one place. Make no mistake, however, the starred attractions are the astonishingly beautiful white tigers. Plan on long lines and large crowds, but rest assured, your patience will be richly rewarded.

3). Lutyens’ Delhi. If you follow the broadest avenue in Delhi (Rajpath), you eventually come to Sir Edwin Lutyens’ so-called “Imperial City”. Built between 1914 and 1931, this district is a great way to take in the lasting impact (for better or worse) of British colonial rule.

4). Hazrat Nizamuddin Darga. With the tomb of Sufi mystic Hazrat Nizamuddin Auli at its center, this district is a sure bet for perusing open-air restaurants and Urdu bookstores while breathing in the haunting refrains of ecstatic devotional Muslim music.

- John Reality

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s India tours and things to do, India attractions, and India travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in India for a customized tour!

Doing Delhi from India Things to Do

Traditional Indian Cuisine

1). Chor Bizarre. If money is no object, a visit to Delhi’s only upscale Kashmiri restaurant is an affair to remember. With an antique Fiat that doubles as a salad bar, a spiral staircase that leads nowhere, and a beautiful collection of art deco embellishments, Chor Bizarre is a great place to sample this delicious regional variation of traditional Indian cuisine.

2). Yellow Brick Road. Sporting excessively bright lights, striped yellow wallpaper, yellow tables, and vintage French posters, this aptly named establishment offers a wide variety of European and North Indian menu options, many of which are vegetarian. Affordable and eclectic, Yellow Brick Road is also open 24 hours, making it a popular fall-back for travelers and Delhities alike.

3). China Fare. Despite the profusion of Chinese restaurants in Delhi, the frustrating truth is that the good ones are vastly overpriced and the affordable ones typically serve very poor quality fare.

Thankfully, China Fare has excellent menu options at low prices. The restaurant specializes in poultry and noodle dishes (particularly the Chicken Singapore), as well as savory lamb dishes, and other vegetarian options served in spicy garlic sauce. Don’t let the cramped conditions and faux-Italian aesthetic fool you, this place is a diamond in the rough.

- John Reality

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s India tours and things to do, India attractions, and India travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in India for a customized tour!

Dining in Delhi from India Things to Do

Taramati Mosque. Photo courtesy of LASZLO ILYES via Flickr.

Named the City of Pearls, Hyderabad was once one of the largest and wealthiest seats of power in India. Vestiges of its golden days remain, making the city a playground of centuries-old monuments, ornate tombs and inspiring architectural wonders. Visitors will never be at a loss of things to do in this laid-back, largely Muslim city.

Hyderabad’s architectural crown jewel is the imposing Golconda Fort. Located just outside the city, the fortress dates back to the sixteenth century Qutb Shah kingdom when it drew attention for its rich diamond mining — the Hope, Orloff, Regent and Koh-i-Noor diamonds were all excavated from Golconda. Give yourself at least two hours to explore the extensive ruins of the fort.

Nearby the Golconda Fort you’ll find another of Hyderabad’s architectural landmarks, the Qutb Shahi Tombs. The complex is made up of 30 domed white marble tombs, mosques and mausoleums where the Qutb Shahi nobility were once laid to rest. Back in Hyderabad, visit the Qutb Shahi Tombs Site Museum to study up on the history of these impressive structures. Sometime during your stay, make sure to visit Charminar, the ornate ceremonial gateway built in honor of the foundation of the city.

Museum enthusiasts will enjoy the extensive collection of artifacts at the Salar Jung Museum. The halls contain everything from paintings, furniture and jewelry to an entire Nizam wardrobe of expensive clothing and shoes. The city has many religious sites worth visiting, the most notable of which include the Birla Mandir and Jami Masjid, thought to be the oldest functioning mosque in the city.

Hyderabad’s colorful bazaars offer inexpensive souvenir shopping opportunities, particularly at the Laad Bazaar where you’ll find lacquered items, bangles, pearls, jewelry, paper kites, spices and dishware. Remember that bargaining is expected, and if you’re shopping for pearls or other fine jewelry, know what you’re looking for and be aware of fakes.

-Lydia Schrandt

 Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s India tours and things to do, India attractions, and India travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in India for a customized tour!

Culture and History Come Alive in Hyderabad from India Things to Do