Immersive Cultural Experiences in India

There are many cultural experiences that one can find in India, based on what one is looking for and where one is looking to go. These experiences allow us to immerse ourselves into the ancient history and traditions of the country and learn about the past, while also understanding how society has evolved over time.

Homestays and Local Accommodations

Some of the best cultural and local experiences are found in homestays, villages, and local inns. The reason is that these places are the most closely connected to the actual culture of a place without any commercialization involved. You can learn about the workings of local communities, their livelihood, their traditions, beliefs and roles in society. It is both a valuable learning experience and memorable trip.

Spiritual Experiences

There is no shortage of places you can visit for spiritual experiences in India. There are yoga retreats and ashrams around the entire country, especially in Rishikesh, where there are programs for learning yoga, training to be a yoga instructor, and detoxifying your body. There are also many temples and monasteries that offer accommodation for devotees who wish to stay within the holy site. The routine followed at such places is very traditional and pure.

Culinary Experiences

These experiences can be found in food tours such as street food tours in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, or authentic cooking in homestays. It is a quite hands-on type of experience that leaves you with skills to take back home with you.

Some places also offer tours of farms and plantations where the local and indigenous crops are grown so you can understand the process of agriculture and harvesting.

Artistic Experiences

Artistic experiences can include music, dance, arts and crafts; be it folk music consisting of traditional instruments, dance forms that are thousands of years old, or art styles that have been passed down generations to preserve stories and culture. You can watch performances and learn the history, or even learn new skills by trying them out yourself and simultaneously creating tangible reminders, through musical instruments or art pieces as examples. 

Festival Experiences

Experiencing the festival celebrations of a community, especially major festivals such as Diwali, Holi, Durga Puja, and Navratri, are incredibly fun and valuable opportunities. It is a combination of music and dance, food, clothing and community gatherings to honor ancient traditions and celebrate the togetherness of people over time. There are certain places famous for their gusto in celebrating festivals, such as Holi in Vrindavan, where the celebration originated; Durga Puja in Kolkata, when the city transforms into a bustling hub; and dance festivals such as Dandiya and Garba in Gujarat.