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Top 10 places to see in the Indian subcontinent in 2021

With a number of restrictions, closed borders and mandatory quarantine, the year 2020 passed away giving a greater meaning and importance to travel. During the lockdown, seeing amazing places around the globe through the internet has made every traveler enthusiastic and eager to fly to that dream destination away from all the pandemic negativity. With vaccinations in process, this new year is the time to start planning your holiday. Hence, we have compiled a list of the top destinations in the Indian subcontinent that you can plan to visit in the year 2021! Some of these places have opened for international visitors and some will open in the coming months considering the lowering trend in the virus cases. Maldives An ultimate luxury escape for all the honeymooners, beach and water sports lovers, Maldives is an extraordinary destination. Maldives consist of 1196 tiny islands that are scattered across the Indian ocean, however, only a few are inhabited.  The country has a wide range of luxury resorts offering Overwater Villas, Beach Villas, and wonderful underwater villas as well. Most of the resorts occupy the entire island and therefore create a unique holiday experience. You may choose a resort either closer to the airport or a bit far that offers a private beach stay. Depending on how close your resort is from the airport you will enjoy an amazing speedboat ride or a sea plane ride with the crystal-clear water around having shades of blue. The best time to visit is from November to April. So, start planning your Maldives vacation for 2021. Maldives Pokhara, Nepal A city of lakes, devotion, peace, and full of adventure, Pokhara is a gateway to the Himalayas. This second largest city of Nepal, set on Phewa Lake, is known for rich natural beauty, mountains, caves, Temples and Stupas. You may take a peaceful boat ride and paddle through the overwhelming beauty of Phewa lake. Tal Barahi Temple is a small Pagoda style Hindu temple located in the center of Phewa lake and dedicated to Goddess Durga is a must visit in Pokhara. Don’t miss to visit the extraordinary waterfalls, Davis’s Fall where the water directly goes into a deep canal underground leaving no clue of its existence. Located close to Davi’s Fall, is one of the longest caves of South East Asia, the Gupteshwor Caves. Overlooking the Phewa Lake, the splendid World Peace Pagoda is located on a hilltop. You may cycle up the hill or hike to this spiritual retreat. Pokhara also offers Paragliding, Zipline, small treks and much more for adventure lovers. So, plan your visit now and rejuvenate your mind and body at Pokhara. Chitwan, Nepal The first official national park of Nepal, Chitwan National park was established in 1973 A.D. Nestled in the foot of Himalayas, Chitwan is home to one of the last populations of single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros and also one of the last refuges of the Bengal Tiger. Chitwan National Park was granted the status of UNESCO Natural Heritage Site in 1984. Hop on your Jeep and take a ride inside the wilderness of Chitwan National Park. Spot animals like One horned Rhino, Tiger, Gaur, Elephant, Deer, Leopard, colourful birds and the amazing greenery around that offers peace of mind. Beside the safari you may also experience the Tharu folk dance performed by the Tharu people. The performance includes some traditional dances like “Lathi Naach” and “Mayur Naach”. You may stay at a luxurious hotel or even in a homestay to experience the authenticity of the Tharu people and their culture. Chitwan National Park Paro, Bhutan Paro is a historic valley in Bhutan and home to one of the Iconic Monasteries of Bhutan, “The Taktsang Monastery ” also called Tiger’s Nest. In Paro, there are numerous temples and monasteries dating back to 14th Century. Paro is a scenic paradise with vast expanses of paddy fields, gorgeous river Pa Chu and a pleasing view of magnificent Mount Jhomolhari. You may plan a morning hike to visit Taktsang Monastery or hire a pony ride (one way) to reach up the monastery. Visit the National Museum, the second major attraction of Paro. Experience the spirituality at the recital prayer ground at the Paro market. Meet locals here and you will come to know why Bhutan is the happy country. Also, visit the Bhutanese Beer factory, see the process of beer making and enjoy some local beer. Try on traditional local Bhutanese outfit Kira (for female) and Gho (for men) and take some wonderful pictures to carry back home. Paro Bhutan Thimphu, Bhutan Thimphu was declared the capital city of the Himalayan Kingdom, Bhutan, in the year 1961. Thimphu is the largest and most bustling city in Bhutan. You will find a perfect mixture of tradition, culture, history and modern marvels in Thimphu. Do you know, among the entire world’s capital cities, Thimphu is the only one that does not have a single traffic light installed in the city? When in Thimphu, see one of the tallest Buddha statues in the world at Buddha Dordenma. Experience the heritage of the country at Simply Bhutan Heritage Museum.  Also, try some local wine called “Ara”. You may also plan your tour such that you can experience the mask dance forms that are held during the Annual Festival. Don’t forget to try some local cuisines like Ema Datschi (Chilli with cheese), Kewa Datschi (Potato with cheese), and Laphu (Sliced Raddish) along with lots of Red rice which is majorly eaten by the Bhutanese people.  Play the country’s national game “Archery” with the locals in Thimphu during your tour. Thimphu Bhutan Ella, Sri Lanka Famously called as “Sri Lanka’s Hill country”- Ella, located among idyllic green hills and gushing waterfalls is a charming place perfect for relaxation. Ella is famous for its Nine Arches Bridge which is a fine example of colonial-era construction in Sri Lanka. Take a sip of refreshing coconut water, walk over this bridge as the train passes alongside offering perfect photographic opportunities. One of the top attractions of Ella is the scenic six hours train ride from Kandy to Ella. Go on an easy hike to see the amazing eye-catching view of Ella from the top of Little Adam’s Peak. The Ravana Falls is one of widest falls in Sri Lanka, that cascades down with multiple levels with amazing greenery around. Soak yourselves in the water and enjoy the scenery. Learn how to make traditional Sri Lankan cuisine in a clay pot over a woodfire- an authentic experience. So, plan your backpack to Ella in 2021. Ella Sri Lanka Weligama, Sri Lanka Located in the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Weligama is a quaint village famous for fishing and adventure water sports. On your tour, you will see the way fishermen are engaged in fishing on wooden poles driven into the bottom a few meters from the shore which is called Stilt Fishing. This technique of fishing can only be found in Sri Lanka. Weligama has attractive beaches that are ideal for surfing and there are schools located on the beaches teaching surfing. You may take a Whale and Dolphin watching tour to the nearby Mirissa harbour. Indulge in some relaxing spa at your luxurious resort in Weligama. The kind hearted and welcoming people of Weligama will definitely make your stay worthwhile. Weligama Rural Rajasthan, India 70% of India’s population lies in the Rural, hence staying in a rural village while your tour to India is a must do. One can experience the day-to-day life of rural people, their standard of living, their culture, smiles, happiness and satisfaction of staying in the village away from the hassle of the cities. There are a variety of luxury accommodations in rural Rajasthan, ranging from a fort converted hotel to a simple and elegant homestay. You may enjoy a lovely walk or a jeep ride through the village to meet the locals and interact with them. At rural Rajasthan, wake up to birds chirping around, see the women preparing the cow dung cakes which are used as fuel for cooking food in a domestic fireside called a “Chulha”.  Would you like to try some fresh natural water? Then try to pull a bucket of water from the water well along with the locals- fun experience. So, don’t miss out on planning Rural Rajasthan during your tour to India in 2021. Rajasthan Rishikesh, India Surrounded by hills and the most tranquil place, Rishikesh is located in the northern Uttarakhand state of India. Rishikesh is a spiritual center and the moment you reach there you will feel it around.  Situated in the foothills of Himalaya, this place is one of the important pilgrimage sites and holiest places of India. It is also known as “Yoga Capital of India” and “Gateway to Himalayas”. The city also hosts an annual international yoga festival. Due to the religious significance of the place, one cannot eat or even find any non-vegetarian food as it is strictly prohibited.  Don’t miss the mesmerizing evening Aarti ceremony at Triveni Ghat, where one can see how the priests worship the Goddess Ganga and get indulged in the divine ambiance with devotional songs playing in the background. Every evening Ganga Aarti is also performed at the Parmath Niketan Ashram and you may also offer a diya to holy river Ganga at the end of the electrifying aarti ceremony. Rishikesh is well-known for its temples and Ashrams, but recently it is also famous for its adventure tourism which includes White water rafting, Bunjee Jumping, Kunjapuri Hike and Zipline tour. Rishikesh Goa, India Goa is the perfect place with breathtaking beaches, delicious food, historic monuments, and adventure water sports.  Tucked in the southwest coastline of India, Goa is India’s smallest state. To understand the Goan people and their culture up-close you may plan your tour around the Goan Carnival that usually falls during February or early March. From high-end beach resorts and hotels, to budget hotels, and homestays, Goa welcomes its travellers of all kinds. Spend relaxing and peaceful time at beaches like Arambol and Palolem beach which are incredibly beautiful. Visit the wonders of the bygone era Bom Jesus Basilica, Se Cathedral, the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Aguada Fort, and many more. Try some lip smacking authentic Goan Sea Food like Ambot Tik (popular version of fish curry), Prawn Balchao, Fish Recheado, etc. when in Goa. Goa India Jay Kajaria is Founder of Bespoke India Holidays. Bespoke India Holidays is an award-winning company that specialises in creating luxury trips to India and the subcontinent. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Jay Kajaria

Jay Kajaria is the Director of Erudite Travel Consultants LLP – the company that owns Bespoke India Holidays. The company specializes in offering high quality bespoke tours, offbeat experiences to guests traveling to India, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Dubai and Southeast Asia region. The company has received National Tourism Award and has been nominated as a leading Luxury tour operator in Asia by World Travel Awards for year 2020, 2021 and 2022. Erudite Travel Consultants LLP is a responsible travel company focusing on community tourism, animal friendly tours, reducing carbon footprint and engaging in CSR initiatives.

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8 Comments

  1. India has to be one of the great travel experiences in my humble opinion. The things is that there’s so much to do, so much variety, that you need weeks and weeks. Some of my friends have carried over annual leave to 2021 and are talking of big trips to make up for all that travel missed.

    1. Dear Ed

      Thank you for the comment. As rightly said, India has so many experiences and sights that one needs many months of travel time to experience all regions of India. All regions and states have got their unique language, culture, monuments and food.

      Regards
      Jay

  2. Bhutan is one place I really want to get to. I’ve known two very different people who’ve visited and they both came back talking of the sheer spirituality of the place and the people. After all the traumas of the last year I feel that a visit to Bhutan could be truly life-changing.

    1. Dear Caroline,

      Thank you for your comment.

      Bhutan is extremely peaceful. The number of tourists are controlled every year and by keeping the per day prices on the higher side and limited flight connectivity, the government encourages very few travelers to the country to eliminate the impact of mass tourism. With less travelers and many monasteries, the experience is peaceful and spiritual. We will recommend spending time with local family and a monk to learn about the local culture and spirituality.

      Regards
      Jay

  3. Nepal is one of the best countries for Travel and Trekking. Nepal offers local culture, magnificent world highest peak, Mount Everest, Jungle safari, rafting, paragliding.
    Thanks so much for your great article.

    1. Dear Santosh

      We are glad to know that you liked the article. Nepal indeed has some great experiences to offer like Everest Flight, Hiking in the Himalayas, Rafting, Jungle Safari and also a Vineyard.

      Regards
      Jay

    1. Dear Jimmy

      It is a tough question to answer. All places have got unique experiences and it depends on your interests. You can also combine many of the above places in one trip/ itinerary. If you like beaches then you can visit Maldives and Weligama. If you wish to experience himalayan lifestyle, culture and adventure then you can visit Nepal and Bhutan. If you wish to experience culture, heritage then you can visit places in India (Rural Rajasthan).

      If you are a first time visitor to India then you can visit Rural Rajasthan with Golden Triangle (Delhi/ Agra/ Jaipur). The trip duration for this kind of trip is around 10 Days. If you have 2-3 weeks of trip duration then you can include either Rishikesh or Goa.

      Hope above answers your query.

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