If you’re looking for a holiday in India that’s far removed from popular tourist haunts, there’s an off-beat experience for every type of traveller, writes Poonam Binayak India’s classics are classics for a reason — from the enchanting backwaters of Alleppey to the breathtaking architecture of Taj Mahal and Hawa Mahal and the dynamic cities of Mumbai and Delhi, it is impossible for any traveller not to find something that captivates their senses. Yet, beyond these well-trodden paths lie lesser-known treasures that are void of tourism overload and equally rewarding. READ MORE: First time to India? Why a luxury cruise is the best way to travel For relics and ruins: Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, and Hampi, Karnataka For that trip in a time-machine feeling, visit the 16th-century ruins of Orchha spread along the banks of River Betwa in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, or the Unesco World Heritage Site of Hampi in Karnataka, boasting historical treasures dating between the 7th and 16th centuries.
The former has sites blending Mughal and Rajput aesthetics like Raja Mahal and Jahangir Mahal within the Orchha Fort complex that come to life during an evening sound-and-light show. Meanwhile, the structures that visitors should not skip at the latter medieval town — once the capital of the powerful Vijayanagara empire — include the Vijaya Vittala complex featuring music stone pillars and a massive stone chariot, and the Royal Enclosure that houses the ruins of majesti.