With its spectacular mountains, primeval jungles and vast deserts, India is the culmination of an outdoor enthusiast's dreams. Adventure tourism has boomed in the last decade. Most adrenaline junkies flock to India's Himalayan states for trekking in Sikkim and Ladakh, skiing in Jammu, Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, or diving into the wilds of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Other popular adventure tours include camel safaris in Rajasthan, bouldering in Hampi and whitewater rafting on the Ganges, Bhagirathi and Alaknanda.
Boasting large swaths of forested wilderness in the north, India is home to a host of large game including several endangered species. Take a jeep safari or ride an elephant to get up close and personal with rare one-horned rhino or India's majestic Bengal tiger. Some of India's most popular parks for wildlife viewing are Corbett, Ranthambhore, Sariska, Keoladeo, Sunderbans and Bandhavgarh national parks. Eco-tourism in such locations is popular and beneficial to the wildlife tourism industry, local communities, the environment and the wildlife.
The image of India as a mystical place rich in culture, history and a colorful blend of religious strains lures the greatest numbers of travelers. Although predominantly Hindu with a large Muslim minority, India's patchwork of peoples includes dozens of ethnic groups, languages and religious sects. Taking the classic route through India's Golden Triangle (Delhi's red fort, Agra's Taj Mahal and Jaipur's pink palaces), visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Fatehpur Sikri and Hampi, or joining celebrant throngs for festivals such as the Pushkar camel fair, Taj Mahotsav or Suraj Kun mela can provide stunning glimpses into this vast cultural mosaic.
Surprising numbers of foreign tourists visit India for its medical attractions: affordable health care. For both general checkups and complex surgeries, India offers cost-effective care that can save patients a significant amount of money, even after accounting for travel costs. Although Chennai is the country's prime medical hotbed, cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi contribute to India's approximate medical tourism value of $2 billion a year.
Although India's thousands of miles of coastline are understandably overshadowed by its plethora of attractions beyond the shore, resorts and bungalows have sprung up in large numbers to capitalize on the nation's beaches. From the picturesque palm-lined strips of Kerala and Tamil Nadu to the aged hippie hangout of Goa to the distant, pristine Andaman islands, India has no shortage of getaways for travelers hoping to find sea, sun and sand.
