Best destinations in India for cultural experiences

Did you ever wonder what’s the reason behind India’s sobriquet—a land of diversity? How did India get that name? The answer is – diverse cultural heritage. India is a land of diversity because it is a hotpot of so many different cultures. And believe me when I say this, if you don’t travel, you won’t know even a quarter of India’s great cultural diversity and heritage.

We don’t want you to miss out on these so we have come up with a list of destinations you can explore for cultural experiences.

If you want to experience Ladakhi culture, Hemis Festival is one of the best ways to do that. The festival takes place in Hemis Gompa in the second week of July and people from all over Ladakh come to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Rinpoche. The festival is popular among visitors too as the festival showcases the best of Ladakhi culture and traditions. From cultural shows like the chaam dance to everybody dressed in their best traditional attires, it is a sight to see. The chaam dance performance by the monks is the highlight of the festival.

Every March, Shri Anandpur Sahib comes to life during the three-day long Sikh festival Hola Mohalla. Hola Mohalla is a great time to see Sikh culture and traditions up close and personal. Traditional martial arts, people dressed in their traditional robes, horse riding events, community meals and Hola Mohalla processions are some of the main highlights of the event. Every experience is authentic and spectators learn a lot about the cultural heritage of the Sikh community.

There are 17 major tribes and many sub-tribes in Nagaland, and all of them have different language and traditional practices. Even if one wants to, it is a tremendous task to experience all of them if your plan is to travel across the state. That could take forever. So the state government came up with Kisama heritage village where visitors can experience all these at one place.

One of the finest Rajasthani experiences one can have is in Pushkar. Yes, Jaipur does have Chokhi Dhani but we want to experience something that’s more grounded. And what’s more grounded than a cattle fair? Pushkar Fair or Pushkar Mela, is one of the largest cattle fairs in India. But wait, there’s more to the fair than just cattle trading, if that’s what you were wondering. The fair turns into a cultural fete, where you will be able to experience authentic Rajasthani experiences. From songs and dances to food, the Pushkar Mela’s got them all to satisfy your search for the authentic Rajasthani experience. Take a break from camels and witness friendly competitions like tug-of-war, matka phod contest, "longest moustache" competition, and camel race to name a few.

If you want to get an authentic Goan experience, go offbeat. The coastal villages in Goa are some of the best places to experience the beautiful Goan culture. Goan culture is a mix of Indian and Portuguese cultures and the influence of both can be seen in more than one way. From Goan cuisine to the Azulejo tiles that the locals use in their homes, you can see that they take inspiration from multiple cultures. Did you know that the Azulejo tiles are actually from Portugal? It is one of the most distinctive artforms from Portugal, which we get to see in Goa. Walk around the old Portuguese quarters of Fontainhas to see the architectural heritage.