India Holidays

Measuring three million square kilometres, India’s like a load of countries rolled into one. In fact, it’s so big and varied it almost deserves continent status. All types of landscapes are knocking about in this neck of Asia, from the snowy Himalayas and tiger-trodden national parks, to Kerala’s sleepy backwaters and Goa’s belting beach resorts.

Lots of tourists traipse around India’s north, snapping their selfies at the majestic Taj Mahal and 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. It packs in a surprising 60 miles of coastline – no mean feat for India’s teeniest state – along with a hefty dose of hotels. Plus, UNESCO has rubber-stamped its former Portuguese capital.

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. Sloth-like sunbathers, meanwhile, 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.