Unique Experiences

Handpicked suggestions for an unforgettable holiday!

Uttarayan, Sabarmati Riverfront

The locals come out in throngs and crowd around terraces. Whizzing kites and their colorful tails from all around the world fly high up in the air! Children and adults alike are in stiff competition to see who outlasts them all! With a dip and a tug, one kite catches another in its death grip… Snap. If you see a kite fall don’t forget to yell, “Kai Poche!”
Baul at Bengal, Shantiniketan

When UNESCO brands a cultural tradition as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”, it usually makes you stop and look; the Baul will captivate you with their stirring renditions. The group brings meaning to secularism in a surprising combination of Vaishnava Hindus and Sufi Muslims singing compositions by Rabrindranath Tagore! This celebration of love through tunes that transcend religion, ring clear through the air in earthy tones – they’ll leave you stunned at the images they conjure up.
Mystic, Masked Monks Gambolling, Hemis

When you think ‘monk’, do you picture an unruffled individual whose sole aim is to contemplate the intricacies of the Universe? The lamas at Hemis conform to this ideal in principle, but every year on the day of Guru Rimpoche’s birthday, the mystical masks are taken out of storage, dusted off and adorned in a spellbinding spectacle of colours, larger than life puppets and an age-old story of good triumphing over evil.
Change of Guards at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi

The Change of Guard at Rashtrapati Bhavan takes place every Saturday in a great show of military tradition. The President’s Guard also joins in the regimen albeit on horseback. The powerful 30-minute performance of man and horse in regalia, set to the music of a military brass band will transport you to a time of Kings and Queens.
High Tea with the Nawab, Lucknow

Royalty with all its perks has unique mannerisms that sets it apart from the everyday. The age of the Nawabs might be over on the streets of Lucknow, but they still live on behind closed doors. The innate etiquette, the art of speech and a cultured approach to life are very much the treasured inheritance of the few remaining families. High tea with a Nawab to learn their customs is as close as you will get to the forgotten traditions of eras past.
Lathmar Holi, Barsana

Powders in every hue imaginable adorn passers-by as the fun filled festival of Holi begins at Barsana. Unlike other celebrations of the same, this is a tribute to an episode from Lord Krishna’s childhood where he not only smeared colour on everyone’s face but was chased after by the gopis (cowherd-women) with sticks in hand! Seems like a scary prospect, doesn’t it? Trust us, it’s all on the up and up.
Mohabbat-e-Taj – A Play about Love, Agra

Shah Jahan’s love for Mumtaz is a timeless tale of epic proportions (as big as the Taj Mahal itself!). At Kalakriti, a cultural academy, the largest marble replica of the monument presents the backdrop for an engrossing play about the royal lovers. We’re sure you’ll feel that little pang of jealousy knowing that a love so deep could even exist, but also wonder at the fact that just 22 artisans put together the entire structure!
Dev Deepavali Festival, Varanasi

The oldest city in India, which looks twice as old in the words of Mark Twain, is in a constant state of prayer and exultation of good winning over evil. But on the full moon day that follows Diwali (or Deepavali) the celebrations are kicked up a notch. You will see every step in every Ghat adorned with earthen lamps, welcoming the Gods coming to take a dip in the Ganges. It is almost a sort of runway for the mythical, if you will!
Kushti at a Traditional Akhara, Varanasi

On a normal day, you may find it hard to digest the sight of men in barely-there underwear rolling around in the sand, but at the Akharas in Varanasi this daily ritual is carried out with a dispassionate precision which will leave you spellbound. The rigorous training and strict regimen the wrestlers follow is reason enough for their popular wins, but more importantly, offer more than just a photo opp in return.
Khajuraho Dance Festival, Khajuraho

Exquisite sculptures and elaborate carvings adorning the famed Khajuraho Temples are brought to life in the flick of a wrist or tap of a foot. The annual Khajuraho Dance Festival invites veterans and esoteric performers from around the world, infusing vigour into the usually peaceful, nearby village. Through classical dance forms, the artists sweep you up in a whirlwind of emotions.

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Destinations

Click the dots on the map to discover India!

North

East / North East

South

West / Central

Delhi

Delhi is always at war with itself, not on the streets but in character. Although separated by time, Old Delhi and New De...

Kashmir

While people and governments may come and go, beauty remains untouched in the hills, the roads, the streams and the lakes...

Punjab

In ages past, Punjab was a large spread of villages. Today, the sense of rural living still persists with most remaining ...

Rajasthan

The Wild West of India calls all riders to embark on a horse safari that will take you through the underbrush of the Raja...

Uttarakhand

Whether you’re here for the yoga or the tigers, you’ll likely be swept up in one of countless winding trails at high-...

Uttar Pradesh

Can we just say that Uttar Pradesh got lucky when it bagged the Taj Mahal? The iconic monument put India on the map, but ...

Ladakh

Moonlike craters, cottages hanging precipitously on the edges of cliffs, the muted whirr of prayer wheels, come together ...

North East

The unexplored and the untouched; the mystic and the mysterious. In a far corner of the country, greenery grows unchecked...

Odisha

Odisha is the land of culture. Swathed in an abundance of it, you will find exquisite etchings and sculptures almost any ...

West Bengal

In an atlas, she looks like a party pom-pom laying at rest, but on the streets of the state’s capital you see the never...

Tamil Nadu

Awaken every morning as the delightful scent of jasmine and hot idlis waft through the air, while the sound of Suprabatha...

Kerala

If neighbouring Tamil Nadu is known for its cultural finesse and Goa for its aromas, Kerala is best described as a glorio...

Andaman Islands

White sandy beaches stretch endlessly on the fringes of this archipelago; a place to rest your head and drink in the cris...

Hyderabad & Vizag

Hyderabad, a stronghold of Nizams for centuries, is now a bustling city with a hi-tech side that’s fast outgrowing the ...

Karnataka

If ever there was a state in India dedicated to the arts, it was Karnataka. In its heyday, the ruling class celebrated wi...

Goa

If you take back only memories of beaches and all-night parties from, we’d have to say your experience here was quite l...

Maharashtra

Beaches, World Heritage Sites and cosmopolitan cities give you a sense of endless possibilities here. The iconic India Ga...

Gujarat

In the home of the Asiatic Lion and Mahatma Gandhi, it is little wonder that the quiet pride of Gujaratis emanates everyw...

Madhya Pradesh

If you’re looking for a wholesome experience to satisfy all your curiosities at once, look no further than Central Indi...

Destinations

Click the dots on the map to discover India!

North

East / North East

South

West / Central

FOOTPRINT BLOG Inspiration

Adventure or bespoke, our clients always have a blast! Immerse yourself in their voyages. Footprint is a

Client Quotes

The Manasevits
Agra, Jaipur, Mumbai – Dec 2016

It’s easy to feel like you’ve missed a lot when touring India, but Footprint made this holiday seem wholesome! We loved everything from the hotels at Kolkata, Jaipur and Delhi, to the walking tour of Agra and the cooking classes you arranged for. Can’t wait to come back…
Young President’s Org. – Chennai
Amritsar – Dec 2016

It was absolutely exciting to decipher the countryside of Amritsar and watch first hand, traditional activities of the locals. An absolutely immersive experience that only Footprint could put together.
Ashwini & Friends
North East – Feb 2016

Road tripping takes a lot out of you so it was a welcome change to have Footprint plan an extensive ride across the south of India to the North East. Have to say the caving experience in Cherrapunjee absolutely takes the cake!
The Srirams
Madhya Pradesh – Dec 2016

We enjoy traveling at our own pace and tracing back Indian culture to its roots. We loved Footprint’s suggestion of Khajuraho and their execution of the holiday was amazing! Thank you.
Vidya Krishna & Family
Kashmir – May 2016

Kudos to Footprint for incorporating all our interests into one holiday. And for finding Almond Villa, the best accommodation we’ve ever come across. Wished we could’ve stayed a while longer! Kashmir has changed for us, forever.
Sudha Shah
Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Agra – Sep 2016

Planning a 40 day trip is no mean feat, but Footprint did an excellent job – ensuring I got to see everything I wanted and even throwing in some unexpected surprises. I was ecstatic at all the arrangements made especially because I was visiting Gujarat after such a long time. Hotels, drivers and guides were all excellent!