Holidays in India, awesome in her size and diversity. This virtual sub-continent, stretches from the lofty Himalyas , a series of 2000km long mountain ranges in the north, to the extensive deserts in the west, the lush evergreen forest in the south to the far-flung sub Himalayan forests in the North East. Containing within it three mighty rivers, the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra, the immense Indo-Gangetic Plain, the Deccan Plateau and the two major hill chains of the South, the Western Ghats, bordering the southwestern coast from Maharashtra, across Goa and Karnataka into Kerala and the Eastern Ghats on the Coromondal Coast. Finally, the Lakhshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal.

India is home to an incredible diversity in peoples, cultures, races, religions, arts, forests, wildlife, trees, plants and minerals. A wonderful holiday experience that fulfills for a very wide range of interests and tourists.

Each state in India has its different holiday attractions. And tourists themselves are fast realising that an Indian Holiday is much more than Goa or the Taj Mahal.

An India holiday does not lend itself to simple generalizations. The history buff who holidays here for the high culture ? discovering Delhi, Agra and Jaipur on the Golden Triangle, then moving on to Ajanta and Ellora, maybe the Konark, Jagannath and Puri before culminating his trip in the Temples of South India sees a very different India from the wildlife buff who spends his holidays trekking the tiger in Central India or.. The urge to pack in into ones holiday plans more than just some sedate sightseeing is what has evolved into the exciting genre of "Adventure Holidays", and here too India has tken the plunge.

Indian Holiday Genres

Heritage Holidays

India with a civilization reaching back to posterity will certainly give the history buff an experience to remember. From the temples in the South, to the palaces, havelis and cenotaphs of Gujarat and Rajasthan, the rock Jain temples of Mount Abu, the moghul monuments at Fatehpur Sikri, the Taj Mahal, to the Tibetan gompas in Ladakh and Sikkim, the cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora, churches of Old Goa, India has it all - a monumental holiday for the heritage holiday enthusiast .

Mountain Holidays

Endowed with the most charismatic mountain range in the world, the Himalayas, India offers mountain thrills that pale any other. Holiday tourists from all over the world seek out their rejuvenating climes to beat the scorching summers. North India of course has a bounty on offer, Dahousie, Shimla, Manali in Himachal Pradesh, Ranikhet, Dehradoon and Mussoorie from Uttaranchal, the delightful former kingdom of Sikkim, crowned by the paradise that is Kashmir and the stark surreal beauty of Ladakh and Leh. But India has many other mountain surprises up her sleeve. Consider the delightful hill stations in Maharashtra, Lonvala, Matheran and Panchgani, or the misty lush hills of the south including Ooty, Kodaikanal and Coorg and of course Mount Abu from Rajasthan ? generally considered the desert state and you soon know why India's mountain holidays are at the top.

Beach Holidays

Say beach and Goa comes to mind. Without doubt the epitome of beach holidays not just in India but even outside, there are others in the country. Right from popular ones in Kerala and Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, to the comparatively unknown pristine jewels in Orissa and Gujarat, India is definitely the ultimate holiday destination for the incorrigible beach bum.

Wildlife Holidays

A country with an amazing variety and diversity in its flora and fauna, its no surprise that India attracts wildlife buffs from around the world. Many world class National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries make India the perfect holiday option for both, the expert and the amateur wildlifer.

Spiritual Holidays

Indians were the original tourists. Consider that the earliest form of seasonal travel was probably in the form of pilgrimages made by Indians to far-flung corners of the country, stoically enduring the hardships as an expression of their staunch religious faiths. Well, they still do. While the hardships are far less, Indians today still travel to these places of spiritual significance during their holidays.

Adventure Holidays

As holiday traveling became increasingly comfort oriented, a new brand of tourist activity grew to cater to those who missed the thrill of trading the unknown. Blessed by a geography India provides one of the best arenas for adventure holidays including mountaineering, rock climbing, hang gliding, parasailing, white water rafting, caving, scuba diving and snorkeling.

Roozbegh Gazdar Content Writer http://www.traveljini.com seo@traveljini.com