North India

When you think of North India you think of a land pulsating with diversity, of varied cultures and traditions, of beautiful quaint hill stations and holy religious towns. And thatâ??s exactly what it has got to offer. Well, that and a lot more! Endowed with sundry topography and a motley of cultural beliefs, it sprawls over a humongous area of 1,420,540 sq km with the mighty Himalayas to the North, the ferocious Thar desert to its West and the very fertile Indo-Gangetic plain panning the states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. A wonderful blend of art, culture and history, the region boasts of some of the largest glaciers, world class heritage monuments, vast sub-tropical forests, amazing archaeological exploits and rich wildlife reserves. It adds a dash of colour, vigour and vitality to our incredible county, with its diverse linguistic groups, myriad regional languages, vast clothing styles and a plethora of culinary circuits.

North India is also home to some of the most devotional Hindu temples, revered Buddhist monasteries, sacred Sikh Gurudwaras, alluring Christian churches and enchantingly beautiful Muslim mosques; all of which co-exist in complete harmony, thus, making the region amazingly secular and culturally so very rich. It takes pride in feeding the itch of the nature lovers, the history buffs and the adventure enthusiasts, at the same time. From the enchanting trekking trails of Uttarakhand, to the snow-clad mountains of Leh, the architectural wonders of Agra, and the royal splendour of Rajasthan, North India is a colour palette painting the Indian map with its verdant green meadows, brown sandy deserts, blue indigo rivers and pearly white mountains. It is the first holiday pick among young couples, honeymooners, adventure buffs, pilgrims and almost every vacation seeker. To untangle your confusion of picking a gorgeous destination among the several spellbinding stations, we at Holidify have made an elaborate compilation to make life easy for you.

North India is the region ticking with diverse cultures and traditions, thus making it synonymous with a plethora of fairs and festivals which reflect the rich heritage and opulent customs of the region. Each of the several hundred festivals celebrated has a interesting myth or legend associated to it which makes the festivities even more amazing. Some of the festivals mark the victory of the good over evil, some celebrate the harvesting season, other are just celebrations of beliefs or ideologies etc. Some of the most prominent festivals of the Lower Himalayan and the Indus region are Holi- the festival of colours, Dussehra and Diwali which marks the defeat of Ravana (evil) over Lord Ram (good) and Diwali- the homecoming of Lord Ram. Other important festivals include Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Lohri, Baisakhi, Navratri, Urs etc.

Pushkar Fair is a large-scale cattle fair organised in Pushkar during October- November. Surajkund Craft Mela in Faridabad is another highlight which is a amalgamation of traditional handicrafts fair, food, music, folk-dances etc. Hemis Festival is a popular event in Jammu Kashmir celebrated in the Hemis Monastery for 2 days sometime between June- July. Taj Mahotsav is the most high rated festival celebrated for 10 days in February. It highlights the rich heritage of Taj Mahal and its parent state- Uttar Pradesh. Other than this, there is the popular Tulip Festival of Kashmir celebrated in spring when the gardens are blooming with pretty tulip flowers and the famous Shikara festival of the Dal Lake.

Wildlife and Sanctuaries

Apart from the dainty monasteries and the brilliants temples, North India boasts of a rich wildlife with a variety of flora and fauna inhabiting the land. The diverse terrain, varied topography and changing climate of North India makes it an ideal land for the animals and birds of different habitats to reside here. In addition to that, it experiences a regular influx of migratory birds thus making the region even richer and more colourful. The activity also boosts the tourism industry leading to an eventual ingress in its economy. Besides the tourists, there is a regular rush of ornithologists, researchers and environmentalists etc. coming here to study the subjects. Among the several wildlife sanctuaries and national parks situated in the region, some of the distinguished ones are- Ranthambore National Park, Corbett National Park, Keoladeo National Park, Dudhwa National Park, Sariska National Park, Nanda Devi National Park etc.

North India- Hills and Treks

North India is known for its high peaks and majestic mountains all over the country and across the world. The tall towering peaks make it an ideal destination for various adventure activities including mountain climbing, cliff hanging, paragliding, camping etc. Most of these mountains are occupied by a dense forest cover. Marked with narrow trails to trespass the woods, the trekking route takes you through a wonderful journey across quaint villages, clear blue streams, cascading waterfalls, ancient temples and a mesmerising landscape; not to forget, the sweeping views of the mountains on the side. From Ladakh in Jammu & Kashmir to Triund-Laka Glacier Trek in Himachal Pradesh, Nanda Devi Trek in Uttaranchal and Aravallis in Rajasthan, it offers fascinating destinations both for the beginners and the professionals.

Indo-Gangetic Plain

Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh
Panning over 5 major states of India, Indo- Gangetic Plain (also known as Indus-Ganga Plain) is a super fertile land and boasts of being the world’s most expansive stretch of continuous alluvium. Popularly known as the Great Plains, the region is criss crossed by the mighty Ganges and the river Indus along with its tributaries, and is one of the most intensely farmed and inhabited area in Northern India. Besides it boasts of housing some of the best heritage monuments of the country, most revered pilgrimage sites and wonderful sightseeing destinations. Not to forget, it is also home to the resplendent Taj Mahal, which is one of the seven wonders of the world.