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india
Overseas Adventure Travel, the leader in personalized small group adventures, has been helping change lives through travel since 1978. Our India adventure will take your small group into the heart of a destination to venture where the big tour groups can’t. No matter which adventure you choose, O.A.T. always offers:
- The freedom to personalize your experience, with options to arrive early, add pre- or post-trip extensions, stopover in popular cities, and more.
- Small group of no more than 16 travelers, allowing us to take you off the beaten path and immerse you in local culture.
- Adventures tailored to the solo traveler, with FREE Single Supplements and 23,000 single spaces being offered in 2024.
- Expert Trip Experience Leaders, residents of the region you visit who will share their insights and bring your destination to life.
When you set out on an O.A.T. India adventure, there are endless travel experiences waiting for you. Gazing upon the Taj Mahal—the world’s most iconic “Monument to Love.” Exploring the spiritual city of Varanasi and witnessing a sacred light ceremony on the Ganges River. Glimpsing the majestic tigers of Ranthambore National Park during a game-viewing drive. Discover all of this and much more when you journey to India with O.A.T.
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Spend 7 days in India on our
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India’s Sacred Cities of the North: Amritsar & Dharamsala
India’s Sacred Cities of the North: Amritsar & Dharamsala
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Yes, View Adventure ComparisonIndia: Month-By-Month
There are pros and cons to visiting a destination during any time of the year. Find out what you can expect during your ideal travel time, from weather and climate, to holidays, festivals, and more.
India in February-March
In February and March, two climates influence weather on the Indian subcontinent—springtime in the north brings low humidity with slightly cooler temperatures, and the south experiences high moisture and higher humidity. These are popular months to travel, with mild temperatures and generally clear, sunny days.
Holidays & Events
- March full moon: Holi, the Hindu "Festival of Color"
Must See
Also known as the "Festival of Love," Holi is celebrated throughout India and Nepal—and in Hindu communities across the globe. Traditionally a thanksgiving festival for the spring harvest, Holi is at its most vibrant for two days in northern India. Participants cover each other in brightly-colored dye, and parade through the streets while traditional music provides a whirling soundtrack.
India in April-June
Between April and June, temperatures soar across India. As wild animals venture out in search of water, elephants and tigers can be spotted on early-morning excursions in places like Ranthambore National Park. Parts of the north experience the hottest temperatures of the year, although the Indian Himalayas remain mild. In the south, rainy season brings high humidity and frequent thunderstorms. Hill stations across India provide a respite from the heat, with comparatively mild temperatures and shady forests. And although less than three percent of the Indian population is Christian, Easter is widely celebrated with gift exchanges and festive carnivals.
Holidays & Events
- First Sunday after the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox: Easter
India in July-September
July marks the beginning of monsoon season in India, with the rains hitting the southwest first. As the season progresses, the monsoons make their way up the west coast through September, growing progressively weaker. By the time they reach the north, the climate feels similar to European summers—with mild, more comfortable temperatures and passing showers. High water levels make this an ideal time to cruise the Ganges River in places like Varanasi, where sunrise and sunset bring pilgrims from around the country to the riverbanks for religious ceremonies.
Holidays & Events
- September: Onam is a ten-day harvest festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala. It honors legendary King Mahabali, who is said to return home to Kerala once a year. He is welcomed with feasting, intricate floral artwork, and boisterous sporting events.
- September: Hindu god Ganesh is honored in this ten-day festival called Ganesh Chaturthi, when special idols are built in his honor and then immersed in the sea. Their procession through the streets is accompanied by prayer, dancing, drumming, and fireworks.
India in October
Monsoon season begins in the northeast, which leaves the rest of northern India warm and sunny—prime season for tourism. Some of India's most iconic festivals, such as Diwali, are celebrated throughout the country.
Holidays & Events
- October 2: Mahatma Ghandi's birthday
- October: The Rajasthan International Folk Festival promotes folk music, art, and dancing in Jodhpur's hilltop Mehrangarh Fort.
- Late October-early November: Diwali, the Hindu "Festival of Lights"
Must See
India shines during the celebration of Diwali, the Hindu "Festival of Lights," which honors the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and success over failure. Along with prayers to the fertility god Lakshmi, Diwali inspires breathtaking fireworks displays, parades, and music throughout India.
India in November-January
India's Golden Triangle—Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur—experiences its most comfortable temperatures at this time of year, and sites like the Taj Mahal can be crowded, especially during the Christmas season. Nights are cool throughout the country, and downright cold in rural areas—layers are encouraged.
In November and December, northern India experiences pollution and poor air quality due to farmers burning their fields. Travelers with respiratory health issues are advised to wear a mask while exploring, especially in cities.
Holidays & Events
- November: Camel traders gather for the Pushkar Camel Fair, one of Rajasthan's most vibrant celebrations.
- January: The Kite Festival in Gujarat brings participants from around the world to participate in professional kite-flying.
- January 26: Republic Day celebrates India's adoption of a democratic constitution in 1950.
- Late January: Tamil people celebrate Thaipusum, when the star Pusam is highest in the sky.
Must See
The Pushkar Camel Fair in November is Rajasthan's most quirky—and most famous— festival. Farmers, villagers, traders, and tourists gather to do much more than trade livestock—this fair celebrates all things camel-related and beyond. Events include camel races, camel beauty pageants, camel dance recitals, a cricket match, and a mustache competition.
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Varanasi
Settled over 4,000 years ago, Varanasi is perhaps the world’s oldest city. And in that time, it has become the spiritual heart of India. It is the epicenter of Hindu devotion, where pilgrims come to bathe in the Ganges, offer prayers, and cremate their dead. But it is also here that Buddhists believe that Buddha gave his first sermon. For visitors of any faith, it is a powerful thing to witness the aarti ceremony at night, when sadhus show their devotion by raising flaming lamps and swinging incense, a ritual as majestic as it is mystical. Enjoying a boat ride on the sacred river, during the cooler morning and evening hours, is a perfect way to witness the ordinary ebb and flow of daily life here in this timeless city.
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Taj Mahal
One of the world’s most famous structures—and arguably its most romantic—the Taj Mahal was famous as a testament to Shah Jahan’s enduring love for his queen Mumtaz Mahal after her death. Made of the finest marble and inlaid with gemstones, it would be a masterwork alone simply based on the materials. But it is also famous for its symmetrical design, the depth of perspective created by the long pool approaching it, the way it is framed by its quartet of minarets. Mughal territory sprawled across 2.5 million miles at its peak, and the Shah brought in the best masons, stone-cutters, calligraphers, painters, sculptors, and dome-builders from across the entire empire and into Persia, so that his monument would be unparalleled in its perfection. Finished in 1653, the “Monument of Love” has become one of the greatest architectural treasures on Earth and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
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Delhi
India’s capital is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth, and has had at least eight incarnations over the past 3,000 years, from the ruins of ancient Indraprastha to the seat of the British Raj. Home to countless historic and architectural treasures, Delhi is a cosmopolitan blend of India’s many cultures—with sights as diverse as men in magenta turbans spreading out blankets laden with snake oil and silk saris; worshippers streaming to and from Hindu temples, Jain shrines, Sikh gurdwaras, and Islamic mosques; spice stalls heaped with coriander, saffron, cumin, and tea; and narrow alleys aglow with gold jewelry. Highlights of Old Delhi—the 17th-century city built for the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan—include Raj Ghat, a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi; Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India; and Chandni Chowk, the city’s bustling 300-year-old bazaar. Treasures in New Delhi, the section of the sprawling city laid out in the early 20th century by the British, include two towering symbols of the city: India Gate, a memorial to members of the Indian Army who died in the First World War; and the world’s tallest brick minaret, Qutab Minar, a soaring tower of victory begun in the twelfth century that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Explore Delhi with O.A.T. on:
- Heart of India
- Post Trip:India’s Sacred Cities of the North: Amritsar & Dharamsala on Nepal & the Mystical Himalayas
Jaipur
Jaipur is known as the “Pink City.” Capital of India’s romantic state of Rajasthan, the entire city of Jaipur was cut from massive blocks of sandstone and painted a distinctive rosy tone. Surrounded by crenellated walls and dotted with towers and palaces, Jaipur is one of India’s first examples of urban planning. The city was founded just as the Mughal Empire was falling in the early 18th century, by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, an avid scientist, architect, and astronomer. Singh laid out his city in a grid pattern of broad, tree-lined avenues, and neat squares—and ensured that each aspect of his design was based on geometric harmony. One of the city’s highlights is his observatory, Jantar Mantar, a brilliant collection of sandstone sculptures in geometric configurations. Some are nearly 30 feet high, and all have specific functions—to measure the sun’s angle from the Earth, fix the position of planets, and measure time. Samrat Yantra, the highest structure in the compound, acts as a giant sundial. Its shadow displays the time of day and remains accurate to two-tenths of a second.
There is a famous Rajasthani proverb that asks, “Je na dekhyo Jaipario, To kal men akar kya kario?” It means, “What have I accomplished in my life, if I have not seen Jaipur?”
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