India guide
India is an explosion of colour. The Golden Triangle glistens with culture, Rajasthan has pink and blue cities, and Kerala has lush green Ghat Mountains...
Arts & handicrafts
Handmade stationery was traditionally commissioned by Royal families in Rajasthan and it is still probably the finest in the world. We have personally brought this back and revived it in our workshops.
– Shanane Davis, from our supplier True Luxury Tours, shares her Rajasthan travel advice
You sometimes need to look beyond the bazaars in India to find the really skilled craftspeople and artists. Mass produced trash is prolific, but so too are quality handicrafts, genuine handmade silks, fine art, sculpture and exquisite jewellery – if you know where to look. Our cultural vacations in India will always have someone on hand to point you in the right direction, be it a silversmith in Jaipur, handmade paper in Delhi, statuary or silk.
Our India culture Vacations
Kerala tailor made vacation, 11 days
Revitalize in Kerala - A most wonderful and balanced trip
From
£1349 to £1779
11 days
ex flights
Rajasthan 15 day tour
A well crafted northern Indian and Rajasthani experience
From
£1749
15 days
ex flights
North India cultural tour
An adventure to one of the planet's exotic destinations
From
US $1067 to US $1390
22 days
ex flights
Golden Triangle small group vacation, India
India's 3 most popular destinations, Delhi, Agra & Jaipur
From
US $761 to US $1005
8 days
ex flights
India small group vacation, a food adventure
2 week discovery of the sights, sounds & flavours of India.
From
US $2027 to US $2600
15 days
ex flights
Delhi to Goa overland tour
Indian curries temples harems & Himalayas
From
US $1104 to US $1549
15 days
ex flights
South India tour, Trivandrum to Goa
Head to the beaches and backwaters of southern India.
From
US $990 to US $1375
16 days
ex flights
Rajasthan tours, India
Discover the evocative northern province of Rajasthan
From
US $1330 to US $1750
15 days
ex flights
History, culture & wildlife of India vacation
From the Nilgiri Hills to the beaches of Goa
From
£1336
15 days
ex flights
Central India vacation, culture and wildlife
The very best of central India's wildlife and history
From
Rupee 145000 to Rupee 195000
16 days
ex flights
Assam and Nagaland photography tour, India
Superb photography in Assam & Tribal villages of Nagaland.
From
£3850
14 days
ex flights
India luxury 16 day tour
India Made Incredible - Be ready to be amazed!
From
£5999 to £6999
16 days
inc UK flights
Kerala small group tour, India, 15 days
Exploring the Real culture and beauty of South India.
From
US $1895
15 days
ex flights
Chhattisgarh to Orissa tour in India, tribes and villages
A journey through the tribal heartlands of Central India
From
£1700
14 days
ex flights
India small group tour
An express pass through India to see all the best!
From
£799 to £949
9 days
ex flights
Golden Triangle & Kerala vacation, India
Best of Golden Triangle & Kerala, a perfect intro to India
From
£1985
17 days
ex flights
North East India tour, Nagaland & the Hornbill Festival
The unique festivals of the tribes of remote Northeast India
From
£2350
15 days
ex flights
Kerala walking, culture & wildlife vacation, India
‘Feel’ the place through people, experiences and local food
From
US $1810
15 days
ex flights
Central India vacation, journey through Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh’s best of wildlife and tribal culture.
From
Rupee 165000
14 days
ex flights
Kerala luxury vacation, India
See inside Kerala with a touch of luxury
From
£1788
12 days
ex flights
Luxury Rajasthan vacation, 14 days
Experience life as a Maharaja in wonderful Rajasthan
From
£4836
14 days
ex flights
Binsar to Jageshwar trekking vacation, India
Thrilling, tailor-made walking trips in the Indian Himalayas
From
£1205 to £1287
13 days
ex flights
Luxury India Tours, Taj, forts and palaces
Explore palaces,magnificent forts,sleep in the lap of luxury
From
£3400 to £3800
11 days
inc UK flights
North India vacation, mountains and hidden villages
Inspirational Trekking with Indian Culture and Communities
From
£1545 to £1895
14 days
ex flights
Rural India vacation, culture & wildlife
Authentic exploration of Central Indian village life
From
£2500 to £3000
14 days
ex flights
Kathmandu to Delhi overland vacation
Adventure tour of magnificent and colourful Nepal and India
From
US $1585 to US $1940
15 days
ex flights
India vacation, small group
Vibrant, intoxicating, inspiring and dramatic India
From
US $1241 to US $1675
15 days
ex flights
Passion for a real pashmina
Passion for a real pashmina
India has a plethora of pashminas, some the real thing and others far from it. The origination of the word pashmina is the word pashm, which is the hair from the semi wild Himalayan goat. Every spring a group of local women gathers this wool in the mountains and hand weaves it into pashminas in Srinigar. The mass produced ones are machine loomed with cheap thread. A good, handmade one will cost you around £150.
Shanane Davis, from our supplier True Luxury Tours, shares her Rajasthan travel advice:
“Real pashminas are hand loomed in Srinagar but only by 13 families. They then go into a very secure supply line, but we have them here as part of our arts patronage. The way to see if a pashmina is hand loomed, as opposed to machine woven, is if the pattern is uneven. The other thing is that machine made ones are consistent in the thickness of the material, whereas in hand made you will see variations.”
“Real pashminas are hand loomed in Srinagar but only by 13 families. They then go into a very secure supply line, but we have them here as part of our arts patronage. The way to see if a pashmina is hand loomed, as opposed to machine woven, is if the pattern is uneven. The other thing is that machine made ones are consistent in the thickness of the material, whereas in hand made you will see variations.”
Our top India culture Vacation
Kerala tailor made vacation, 11 days
Revitalize in Kerala - A most wonderful and balanced trip
From
£1349 to £1779
11 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about India culture or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
By royal appointment
By royal appointment
The royal families of Rajasthan were, and still are, great patrons of the arts. Consequently many of the state’s art forms still exist today. Bring an extra suitcase to Rajasthan if art and handicrafts are your thing. Specialties include textiles designed by hand using wooden blocks; engraved metal – especially jewellery boxes; and Jaipur’s famous blue pottery. This is made with quartz and is influenced by historical Persian influences in the region. Ask your tour operator about private palace art galleries in the state as well. There are plenty that are open to the public, but they aren’t always in the guidebooks.
Loving
the lac
the lac
Loving the lac
Highly polished, decorative boxes, bowls and jewellery are a popular form of decorative art in India, known as lacquer. Lacquer originated in India, as the lac insects that are used as part of the tradition are indigenous to India. They secrete a reddish, resinous liquid which is rich in natural shellac, and used to decorate wood.
Handmade paper
Handmade paper
Making paper by hand is an art form in India that goes back to the times of royal rulers through the ages. Seek out quality producers making paper using all sorts of materials, from silk to rags, mulberry to rose petals. Paper made in India using traditional methods is an art form that is easy and cheap to bring home.
More about India culture
The best time to go on an India culture vacation depends on your idea of cultural greatness. It’s a big country with lots of climate variations.
This India cultural vacation guide is for India newbies who want to know where to start, or India aficionados on where to go next...
Take a look at our map and highlights of cultural vacations in India. From classics like the Golden Triangle to southern belles like Kerala and lesser known Karnataka...
The Taj Mahal sets the standard for romance. Learn how to ge there as well as places to see nearby, including the Red Fort and Fatehpur Sikri...
India is a veritable feast, and exploring it through food will give you the best insight into its culture, history, geography and stuff your faceology...
Even if for only one night, do stay in one of Rajasthan’s palaces. You’ll be in a state of joy, shock, self indulgence and excitement all rolled into one...
Read our guide to the multicultural and multi faith aspects of India and some of the incredible places of worship that you can visit...
Read our Indian travel suppliers’ travel tips when it comes to cultural vacations in India. Favourites, faux pas and food are high up the list...
Etiquette and respect are central to India’s culture. Read on for some of the cultural fortes and faux to ensure you are a responsible tourist in India...
More relevant guides
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Francisco Arnela] [Craftsmen: Jeff Blum]
[Pashmina goats: _paVan_]
[Pashmina : Soumyadeep Paul]
[India jewellery maker - Inder Singh Kudrat: Harminder Singh]
[Love that lac : Gayatri Krishnamoorthy]
[Coloured paper: Meena Kadri]
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