Two-minute guide to authentic India

Photo by Steve Hicks

India can seem overwhelming. Its vast size, frenetic cities, towering mountains and eclectic cultures can seem insurmountable obstacles to immersive, local travel. However as the new responsibletravel.com 2 minute guide to India shows, rather than a monster to be tamed, India is in fact a magical menagerie.

Why set yourself up to fail by cramming it in all at once, select and savour, before coming back for more. To discover the real India travellers need to Aaaram Se, the Hindi expression to chill out. Because when you Aaaram Se, good things come your way.

Photo by Neverbutterfly

India is vast, and it certainly isn’t predictable. But it has opportunities for responsible, authentic tourism in spades. Instead of trying to generalise and summarise the huge array of experiences, let the responsibletravel.com guide take you through some of the highlights. Taste a flavour of India’s chocolate box of tourism treats and know there are many more to be discovered.

Sample the real India by rail. A legacy of British colonial rule, India’s network of railways is vast, chaotic and charismatic. And for travellers a journey by rail affords exhilarating views, unparalleled cultural connections, and dependent on the route taken, a glimpse into India past.

Gone are the days of cramming into cattle class or hanging off train roofs, the rolling stock of the modern India feature air con and home comforts, some spectacularly luxuriously so. And while the manic mayhem still exists in some areas, train travel is a great way to connect with the people, and landscapes of India and opens up the country for real exploring. Spend three nights on the Maharaja’s Express for an ideal way to take in the Golden Triangle, or travel from Mumbai to Goa for coastal, cultural delights.

Cycling is always the one of the best ways to truly experience a place and India offers a huge amount of opportunities to take to two wheels. Pedal through the tea plantations and backwaters of Kerala, stopping in local villages and staying in eco-lodges and houseboats, or combine cycling with a safari in the northeast region of Meghalaya. Here off-the-beaten-track waterfalls, natural swimming pools, luscious forests and remote Khasi villages offer cyclists a unique insight into a lesser-known, yet extremely beautiful corner of India.

Many travellers to India will have a tiger sighting firmly at the top of their to-do list; however India’s national parks and tiger reserves offer a lot more than just the elusive striped predator. Visit the reserves and don’t resent the entrance fee, this will support conservation efforts and anti-poaching initiatives, but don’t be too hung up on tigers. These incredibly beautiful tracts of wilderness are a privilege to visit in themselves. Popular Bandhavgarh National Park (which has one of the highest densities of Bengal Tigers in the world), for example, is also home leopards, striped hyenas, sloth bears, macaques and a whole host of other wildlife. Enjoy the experience of seeing a variety of animals in their natural habitat, and if this also includes an iconic tiger, that’s the icing on an already very delicious slice of cake.

Few people associate Kerala with mountains, yet the popular southern tip of India offers a lot more than backwater boat trips and beaches. Yes, Kerala is bliss, but to really disappear from the tourist trail, combine a few days along its waterways with a walk in the Western Ghats. Although the Ghats may not quench the most serious adventurers appetites, these lush mountains are a world biodiversity hotspot and offer incredible hiking trails and stunning biking routes. And unlike the Himalayas, the Ghats’ immense neighbours in the north, holidays here can bridge the best of both worlds, incorporating Kerala’s stunning backwater culture with more exhilarating mountain adventures.

Authentic travel in India does not need to be overwhelming, instead Aaaram Se and let authentic India come to you. It is a country that cannot be summed up in one holiday so don’t try. Instead pick and choose the experiences which will allow you to taste a small piece at a time, that allow you to immerse yourself in, and experience the real India for a few days. There will always be more to discover next time.

For more insider tips to find the authentic India take a look at www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/india/travel-guide/