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.

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), attend 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.

India is vast, of course – so even with internal flights or overnight train journeys, you’re still going to have to narrow down your itinerary. In the steamy south, soak up traditional life in Karnataka and Kerala before finishing up on a Goan beach. Central India promises remote village stays and tiger reserves, easily combining Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In the north, choose between Rajasthan’s deserts and royal palaces, or the Himalayan setting of Ladakh. Or for something truly different, head to the salt-encrusted swamplands of Gujarat, or to Nagaland’s annual Hornbill Festival, in the far northeast. Remember, India’s climate varies hugely depending on season and location – so take this into account when planning where to go on holiday in rural India.