Rural India travel guide

Holidays in rural India take you beyond the Taj Mahal and tigers into traditional, welcoming villages. Enjoy homestays, nature walks, valley treks, weaving workshops and the pleasure of homecooked meals, shared with local hosts and families. Find out where to go, when and who you’ll meet on our rural holidays in India travel guide.

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Rural India travel guide

One thing you will notice on our rural India holidays and their reviews is the abundance of names. Husna the female driver, Rawla Singh at the castle, Narendra’s family, Saurabh the guide, “our dearest friend Sunny”, and even Lily the goat! This familiarity sums up what is so special about rural holidays in India: they break down a population of over a billion people and put you on first name terms with Indians from all walks of life: from potters and chefs, to tribespeople and naturalists.

If you think India is Delhi and the Golden Triangle, think again. A fifth of the world’s population lives in India and two thirds of these live in villages – you have to go rural to discover India’s beating heart.

Names aren’t the only words you’ll learn; these trips require a whole new vocabulary. As you travel through backwaters and valleys, you might be stopping at dhaba (roadside cafes), keeping an eye out for nilgai and gaur (deer and Indian bison), attending a puja (feast of bells) or travelling by kettuvallam (houseboat). Wander through our rural India travel guide to find out how you can put names to faces on your India holiday.

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Things to do on a rural India holiday…

You can’t come to India without exploring its temples, forts and palaces – and a rural holiday here introduces you to some of the lesser known but no less impressive structures. The 12th century temple complex at Bhoramdeo, Chhattisgarh, is entirely covered in intricate carvings of gods, elephants and mythical characters. In Gujarat, spend time visiting the distinctive Jain temples, constructed in gleaming white marble. In Madhya Pradesh, stop at the ruins of Mandu – the largest concentration of forts, temples and palaces in Asia. Homestays are a staple of rural holidays in India – although they are interspersed with nights in hotels and heritage properties to balance out the privacy and luxury. Some trips involve a night or two camping in the courtyards of village homes – putting you at the centre of local life, while retaining privacy. Eat (and drink!) with your hosts, help out with the cooking, share stories around a fire and witness the village coming to life at sunrise. Getting out and about without a car is important when it comes to experiencing rural Indian life. Cycle from village to village, walk around them, or ride horseback through mountains and deserts to experience these places from a more typically Indian perspective. You’ll have the chance to stop and chat as you go, picking up snacks from roadside stalls, and really appreciating the stunning landscapes as you move at a slower pace.

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Things not to do on a rural India holiday…

Fixate on tigers. Many rural India holidays venture into tiger reserves, and tracking these creatures is undoubtedly thrilling. But they are elusive, so don’t let your trip be spoiled if you don’t manage a sighting. Happily, as well as this iconic species, the reserves also shelter rhinos, gaur, spotted deer, elephants and otters, as well as being incredibly beautiful in terms of scenery and vegetation. So go for the experience – not the tigers.

Fear the food. Travellers to India have long feared Delhi belly – but just because you are venturing off the tourist trail doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed. Roadside cafes called dhabas have a fast turnover of food, which means it’s generally fresh and safe. Gujarat serves mainly vegetarian cuisine – another way to avoid tummy trouble. To be on the safe side, bring precautionary medication, but with any luck you won’t need it.

Get snap happy. There are an overwhelming number of photo opportunities in India – but please don’t take photos of people without asking permission first. The wonderful thing about these rural holidays is that you will be spending time with Indian hosts, guides, weavers, potters, farmers and cooks – so there will be ample chance to get to know them and hear their stories before you bring out the camera. A lovely thing to do is to give them their photos – either get some printed in the cities, or send via your holiday company once back home.

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Written by Vicki Brown

Rural India travel guide