Have you ever been pickpocketed by a monkey? Here’s where to get robbed by macaques and enjoy plenty of other crazy experiences to say goodbye to 2023 in style
Every year, it’s the same old New Year’s Eve.
Sure, getting together with family—or maybe with friends—to eat, drink, watch Alice in Wonderland on TV for the five-hundredth time, and play tombola can be fun the first time. Maybe even the second and third. But at some point, it gets pretty old.
This year, we’re suggesting something different—something you’ll carry in your heart for the rest of your life. A tour unlike any you’ve ever taken before, one of those experiences that changes you from the inside and makes you think, “Wow, how beautiful is this world?”
So, long story short, this New Year’s we’re heading to India on a group trip during which we’ll visit a whole bunch of incredible places. If you decide not to come, here’s everything you’ll be missing.
Jaipur, the “Pink City”
Jaipur is one of those places you don’t quite believe until you see it. Kind of like that one time your rusk fell—just once—without landing jam-side down. But nobody ever believed you when you told the story.
Jaipur is known as the “Pink City” because of the dazzling color scheme of its buildings, and it offers not only a feast for the eyes but also a journey through India’s history and culture.
One of the coolest places in town is the Galtaji Temple, a sacred Hindu site famous for its pink sandstone architecture—stunning to look at and even better to visit. Inside, you’ll find some very annoying animals: tourists.
Oh, and there are also lots of little monkeys jumping around everywhere, with the wholesome habit of stealing absolutely anything. Their species is scientifically known as Macaca mulatta, because calling them “those thieving little devils” would apparently be impolite.
Then there’s Amber Fort, a majestic fortress perched on a hill offering panoramic views over the city. This ancient fort is a perfect example of Rajput and Mughal architecture, and visiting it feels like stepping back in time.
Last but certainly not least, the City Palace.
Located in the heart of the city, this palace was once the residence of the Maharajas and offers a combination of courtyards, gardens, and buildings reflecting the opulence of Jaipur’s former rulers. And if you’re lucky, you might even run into a member of the royal family. Some descendants of the old rulers still live here, in fact!
Read also: 3 places to visit in Iceland: you won’t believe number 4!
Pushkar, the “City of Roses”
There’s the “Pink City,” but there’s also the “City of Roses”. Seriously, India really has everything!
We’re talking about Pushkar, a sacred city that will make you fall in love at first sight.
Imagine a place where temple bells ring in the distance while pilgrims immerse themselves in the sacred waters of the local lake, which is, fittingly, called Pushkar. Here you’ll find the famous Brahma Temple, one of the very few in the world dedicated to the creator of the universe according to Indian mythology.
And then there are loads of markets and bazaars filled every day with a riot of colors, voices, chatter, and more. Especially when, once a year, the Camel Fair takes place—an incredible spectacle!
Ranthambore National Park
Ranthambore National Park, located in Rajasthan, covers a vast area of 1,334 km².
The most wonderful thing to see in this natural area is undoubtedly the tigers, the queens of India’s forests, who unfortunately are struggling today because we humans keep putting entire animal species at risk—whether because we can’t do without their fur or simply for “sport.”
Yes, because for some people, poaching is just a casual pastime to fight boredom. Shame on them.
And Ranthambore isn’t only about beautiful tigers: it’s also home to leopards, buffalo, bears, sloths, and many other animals living safely away from humans.
Another star of the park is the great Banyan tree, the second largest in all of India. A spectacular sight, with its aerial roots dropping to the ground and forming a tangled scene straight out of The Jungle Book.
Varanasi
Varanasi, also known as Benares, Banaras, or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges River in northern India and holds a central place in Hindu traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning.
It has a long handicraft tradition that supports its religious tourism and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, dating back at least to 850 BC.
Varanasi is an incredible concentration of India, exactly the kind of place that comes to mind when you think of the country: religious pilgrims arriving from all over the subcontinent, yoga practices, sacred ablutions in the Ganges, incense, every kind of color, and so many beautiful people.
You absolutely have to see it at least once in your life!
Read also: When should you go trekking in Nepal? Everything you need to know
In conclusion
For next New Year’s Eve, you can choose to get drunk with your crew and set off a bunch of fireworks at midnight, half of which won’t even go off.
Or you can head to India and visit all the places we’ve listed (and many more—what, were we supposed to leave out the Taj Mahal and Delhi?) while enjoying one of the most astonishing countries in the world. An experience that will leave you speechless, where the only sad part will be coming home while thinking back on all the amazing things you saw there.
Here you can find all the details of our 9-day tour in India, which we’ve also organized for New Year 2023–2024.
We can’t wait to introduce you to India too!
