Ready to take your tikka masala up a notch? Holidays to India combine culture-filled cities with chilled-out countryside.

An Indian intro

Measuring three million square kilometres, India’s like a load of countries rolled into one. It’s so big and varied, it almost deserves continent status. You’ll find all types of landscapes and backdrops in this neck of Asia, from the snowy Himalayas and tiger-trodden national parks, to Kerala’s sleepy backwaters and Goa’s sun-drenched beach resorts.

Go to Goa

Lots of travellers head to India’s north, snapping selfies of the majestic Taj Mahal and palaces in Jaipur, AKA the Pink City. But, head south and you can swap the Golden Triangle for golden beaches in Goa. Down here, things are chilled to the max with Instagram-worthy backdrops at every turn. It packs in 60 miles of coastline prime for stretching out on, along with plenty of hotels to suit every style and budget.

North vs south

There’s a north-south divide in Goa, but it’s not a bad thing. If you’re after beaches buzzing with watersports and food shacks, the bubbly northern town of Baga’s your best bet. It even puts on Thai-style full moon parties for those in the mood for major nightlife vibes. Chilled-out sunbathers should set their sights on Cavelossim and Arossim Beach, in the south. These villages are proper sleepyheads, so you’re more likely to stumble across a local fisherman than a glow stick-waving partygoer.

At a Glance

  • Put your haggling hat on at Margao’s market
  • Check out Portuguese-inspired houses in Panjim
  • Visit Goa for a glass of feni, a nutty liquor the locals love

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