As Gregory David Roberts beautifully puts in his book, Shantaram, that “Indians are the Italians of Asia and vice versa. Every man in both countries is a singer when he is happy, and every woman is a dancer when she walks to the shop at the corner. For them, food is the music inside the body and music is the food inside the heart. Amore or Pyar makes every man a poet, a princess of peasant girl if only for second eyes of man and woman meets.”

And, believe us, this is true! True to the extent that both weird and wonderful things happen only in India, there are activities that you can only partake here. A chance to live a day in the everyday life of the people of India; be it the superstar Dabbawals from Mumbai or the Maharajas in the palace. Here, with Touch Down India, we have made sure that you take every little Indian experience, big or small, with you back home.

Explore, Observe & Engage in the very unique Indian experiences:

1. Dress like a pundit & perform Aarti

Welcome to Dashashwamedh Ghat, the main ghat in Varanasi on the Ganga River. According to a Hindu legend, Lord Brahma created the ghat to welcome Lord Shiva. So, we have arranged for you to dress like one of them pundits (priest) and be a part of the Aarti, ritual of offering prayer to the Ganges river that happens every evening. It is one of the most synchronised rhythmic rituals attended by thousands of pilgrims and travellers that makes Varanasi the liveliest.

2. Visit a Palace

Visit the land of the Maharajas, that is one of the most dream-like royal places in India. Lined with rows of majestic forts and palaces, colourful façades, centuries-old architecture, scenic lakes, rugged landscapes and thousand years old traditions of royalty, the experience allows tou to travel back in time.

3. Dine with the Maharajas

Get first hand experience of the thousand year old culinary tradition and lifestyle of the royalty – that comes with detailed accounts of past experiences that have been passed over generations.

4. Have tea with the Rinpoche (head monk)

“If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work.” Looking for peace but still got few questions clouding your mind? Have a personal tete-e-tete session with the head monk, also called the Rimpoche over butter tea at Thikse Monastery in Leh.

5. Learn Hindi

Medical science shows how learning a second language or many language can have positive effects on the brain. You must have gone through our personal recommendations for Hindi phrases that you should know for your journey through India, why not learn from the natives too. Attend a Hindi crash course too while you are here.

6. Meet & greet the Kathakali Artists Backstage

The thing about being backstage is that you be a part of that energy – that combines focus and synergy. There lies the heart and soul of the performing artist. Be a part of the backstage preparations of Kathakali, that literally means Story Play, a major art form in Kerala. Get up close with how the very colourful, precise makeup, complicated costumes and huge crowns is put into the process.

7. Go attend World’s largest Cattle Festival

Pushkar Festival, and we just cannot stop talking about it enough.Attend the world’s largest cattle fair – known for brightly adorned camels and cattle & their vibrantly dressed riders in traditional attires, religious ceremonies, sporting events, colourful makeshift shops and a chance to be among the most ancient tribes still thriving in India.

8. Fish Shopping in Kovalam Local Market

Well, if you are in Kerala and happen to be in Kovalam; love seafood then there is nothing more exciting than going fish shopping in the early wee hours. Nestled close to the Arabian Sea, this open air market offers a wide assortment of fresh fish, crabs and lobster. Take a tour of the place and learn how to spot the best fresh catch of the day with an expert celebrity chef.

9. Own an Elephant for a Day

Yes, you heard us right! Heard the term Mahaut ever? Be an elephant trainer for a day and learn from the best who have been taking care of the Gods of the Jungle for generations now. Spend your day riding, feeding, bathing, painting and playing with these surprisingly stealthy creatures.

10. Learn a 2500 year old skill of hand knotting

Spend a day with the local village artisans in Rajasthan and learn one of the oldest forms of intricate weaving – hand knotting rugs. Immerse yourself in the colourful artistic insanity.

11. Spend a day Bollywood Style

John Barrowman once said, “I’ve always thought people would find a lot more pleasure in their routines if they burst into song at significant moments.” If you could recreate that in your life on this trip to India, won’t that be beautiful eh?

India is home to Bollywood and would you wish to know what makes Bollywood so magical? All those running around the trees, larger than life dance sequences in costumes and what really goes into creating such extravagance on screen. Take a tour of the Bollywood sets, interact with the real people behind, learn signature Bollywood dancing style and drive past the homes of the famous stars like Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Rekha, Salman Khan among the many.

12. A day in the life of the iconic Dabbawalas of Mumbai

Spend a day with the workforce behind the world’s best food delivery system – for more than 125 years now delivering 1 lakh lunches everyday to office goers. Believe us, you will know that the life of a dabbawalas is not easy and still they have been reinventing themselves with time – be a part of the ‘Uncommon Story of a Common Man’.