The 8 Best Cultural Experiences in India

India is a land of several cultures, traditions, and myths. It is a hub of different civilizations and also home to historical places. Our country was known as the primary place of learning for years.

As the country is full of different cultures, religions, and languages, it never ceases to amaze you.

Whether it is incredible architecture or delicious spices, exploring India is one of the best experiences in which you can engage your senses. There are excellent opportunities to dive deeper into the Indian culture while you are just traveling and exploring new things.

Indian culture is mainly shaped by religion, and all Indians celebrate different festivals all throughout the year, like Diwali, Holi, and others.

If you are in India and want the best cultural experiences, then you need to look no further, as, under this guide, you can get your hands on the best cultural experiences you must get in India.

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Here are 8 amazing cultural experiences you can have in India:

1. Visit Varanasi and light some candles

One of the holiest cities of India is Varanasi both Hindus and Jains have visited here since ancient times. The stone city is pretty colorful and home to at least 84 iconic guards or stone embankments.

These all lead to a river. Most of them are loaded with pilgrims scores from different parts of India, while some of them are reserved only for cremation. For all your senses visiting Varanasi is undoubtedly a great experience, but it is truly unforgettable. Ramnagar Fort gives the spiritual capital of the north its name, and it has 23,000 temples.

Plenty of tourists visit Varanasi every year to pay their respects to the holy river Ganga and join in the cultural devotion. You can take a boat ride on the river when the sun sets and then you can join for the evening aarti at Ganga ghat.

The evening aarti is one of the most devotional experiences you can come across in India, where people light candles before deities, and it is thought to infuse them with energy, love, and blessings.

You can completely immerse yourself by floating your own lamps in the river. It is also known as the light ceremony, mainly during Diwali, which falls around October or November every year, when thousands of candles are lit along the riverbank.

2. Visit the splendid golden temple in Amritsar

Amritsar is also known as the holy city of the Sikh faith and is home to the golden temple. Harmandir sahib, or the golden temple, is one of the most prominent Sikh temples in the world. Amritsar means water pool, and it comes from the water pool at the center of this temple.

The city revolves around heritage and Sikh culture, and Sikhs from different parts of the world look forward to coming to this pilgrimage and dipping in the holy waters of the golden temple.

You would be rewarded with a fantastic sunrise where the sun will rise gently over the golden temple. You can take a few moments here before your huge crowds come in; it is one of the best ways to start your morning.

You can take Prasad to the langar hall during the afternoon, where volunteers serve excellent vegetarian meals. At least 80,000 people the free meals every day irrespective of caste, class, faith, or gender.

3. Visit the magnificent Rajasthan fort

Jaipur is known as the pink city, and it is the capital of Rajasthan state. It is home to some of the most impressive palaces. Jaipur’s buildings are painted with the same Terra cotta pink shade because it represents hospitality. Back in 1876, Maharaja ordered this color for all the facilities because he was anticipating Prince Albert.

The city palace of Jaipur has all the facts of the Mughal style and is a blend of Rajput style. You can visit the museums inside the palace, like a textile gallery showcasing some textiles and costumes of the royal family.

Besides Jaipur, you can also visit Udaipur while you are in Rajasthan. It is a romantic city surrounded by different lakes.

4. Visit the fantastic Taj Mahal

One of the most iconic structures of India is the Taj Mahal, which symbolizes eternal love. Shah Jahan was heartbroken after his wife Mumtaz Mahal passed away, and he started building this monument in her honor.

Building the Taj Mahal was nothing less than a challenging process. At least 22,000 men took more than 22 years to complete this must face made from marble. Sunrise or sunset is one of the best times to visit the Taj Mahal.

It is one of the seven wonders of the world, and you should always consider visiting it during sunrise because it closes amazingly with the golden glow of the sun. Read Also: 10 Reasons Why You Need to Visit Agra.

5. Learn everything about the heritage by visiting Fort Cochin

Fort cochin is near the southernmost tip of India. It is nestled in Kerala, also known as the leafy state of the country.

Fort Kochi is one of the most beautiful places where you can relax for a few days. When you visit this place, you feel that it is removed from India because mainly British Portuguese, and Dutch people used to stay here, and they have left a mark on this town.

You can get cultural insight by walking through the heritage zone of Fort cochin. You can relish some seafood. You can also explore the heritage with a typical Kathakali dance performance. The dance style is all about telling you the story of the legends and the myths. Read Also: Top 12 Destinations to Visit in Kochi (Cochin).

6. Visit Ladakh for Losar Festival

Losar Festival is one of the most important festivals celebrated in Ladakh. It is celebrated once a year, mainly from the first day of the first month falling under the Tibetan calendar.

The religious festival is celebrated for 15 days, and it marks the celebrations with different ceremonies that are all about the conflict between good and evil. The festival means the new year and involves enormous events, including folk dance feasts and music performances.

7. Don’t miss Chhau in Purulia, West Bengal

This dance is one of India’s most prominent tribal dances, originating in West Bengal. Chhau mainly means mask or an image. The dance, inspired by martial arts, represents different stories in Mahabharata and Ramayana.

During religious ceremonies, the dance is performed in the countryside, where the dancers perform mainly on the ground, and the audience is seated in a circular shape. Read More: 10 Most Famous Places To Visit in West Bengal.

8. At Kullu Dussehra in Himachal Pradesh

Dussehra is celebrated in the Kullu region of Himachal Pradesh, and it is one of the most prominent events in that state. The festival is observed during October, a week-long celebration that attracts many visitors from different parts of the world.

The celebration mainly marks the triumph of good over evil. And traditions make the festival stands out from the crowd. Read Also: Top 10 Destinations to See in Kullu.

Hence, these are some cultural experiences you must know about and should attend while in India.

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The 8 Best Cultural Experiences in India