You need to pack your bags and catch a flight to New Delhi pronto.
1. Because standing atop a Himalayan peak will be the most sublime experience you’ll ever have
![himalaya himalaya](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/himalaya_thumb.jpg)
2. And because the Himalayas also house some absolutely stunning hill stations and hamlets.
Auli
![auli auli](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/auli_thumb.jpg)
Kullu-Manali
![manali manali](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/manali_thumb.jpg)
Leh
![ladakh ladakh](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ladakh_thumb.jpg)
3. Because where else can you find an entire valley covered in flowers?
The Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand
![valley-of-floewrs valley-of-floewrs](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/valleyoffloewrs_thumb.jpg)
freehdw
4. Because you get to ride a motorcycle on the world’s highest motorable road
![road road](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/road_thumb.jpg)
5. And tread along the shores of a lake 16,300 feet above sea level
The Suraj Tal lake in Himachal Pradesh
![surajtal](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/surajtal.jpg)
Diana
6. Because you can sleep in a houseboat on the world’s most beautiful lake
The Dal Lake, Srinagar, Kashmir
![dal-lake dal-lake](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/dallake_thumb.jpg)
The Dal Lake, Kashmir
7. Because the beautiful chaos of Delhi’s Chandni Chowk is truly mesmerizing
![chandni-chowk chandni-chowk](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/chandnichowk_thumb.jpg)
8. And the mix of the old and the new makes for some incredible sights
![old-and-new old-and-new](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/oldandnew_thumb.jpg)
Travelpod.com
9. Because the Mughals left behind tons of astonishingly pretty buildings
The Imambara Mosque, Lucknow
TrekEarth.com
Fatehpur Sikri, near Agra
![fatehpur-sikri-agra fatehpur-sikri-agra](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/fatehpursikriagra_thumb.jpg)
Humayun’s Tumb, New Delhi
![humayuns-tomb humayuns-tomb](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/humayunstomb_thumb.jpg)
Histovius
10. And so did the British…
The Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi
![rashtrapati-bhavan rashtrapati-bhavan](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rashtrapatibhavan_thumb.jpg)
Naina.co
Gateway of India, Mumbai
![gateway-of-india gateway-of-india](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/gatewayofindia_thumb.jpg)
Columbia.edu
Victoria Memorial, Kolkata
![Victoria_Memorial_Kolkata_panorama Victoria_Memorial_Kolkata_panorama](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Victoria_Memorial_Kolkata_panorama_thumb.jpg)
Wikipedia
11. And the Indians before them…
The Hampi Temple Complex
![hampi-temple-complex hampi-temple-complex](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/hampitemplecomplex_thumb.jpg)
Lingaraja Temple
![lingaraja-temple lingaraja-temple](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/lingarajatemple_thumb.jpg)
Brihadeshwara Temple
12. Because Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world
![varanasi varanasi](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/varanasi_thumb.jpg)
AliveHolidays
It’s a chaotic mess, but a beautiful one at that.
13. Because no one does curries as good as the Indians
![curry curry](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/curry_thumb.jpg)
Indian Spice Girll
14. Because there is no sight more beautiful than India in the monsoons
Munnar, Kerala
![munnar munnar](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/munnar_thumb.jpg)
15. Because “Color Runs” have nothing on Holi
![holi holi](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/holi_thumb.jpg)
Poras Chaudhary
16. Because India is heaven for vegetarians
![purevegeterian purevegeterian](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/purevegeterian_thumb.jpg)
17. Because you can still eat a meal for two for less than $5
![cheap-menu cheap-menu](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/cheapmenu_thumb.jpg)
Zomato.com
18. And stay in a hotel for $10/day
![cheap-india-hotel cheap-india-hotel](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/cheapindiahotel_thumb.jpg)
MakeMyTrip.com
19. Because there’s no better way to de-stress than laze around on a houseboat in Kerala’s beautiful backwaters
![kerala-houseboat kerala-houseboat](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/keralahouseboat_thumb.jpg)
20. Or get a Ayurvedic massage in Kerala’s villages
![ayurveda-big1 ayurveda-big1](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ayurvedabig1_thumb.jpg)
IndiaBackwaters.com
21. Because Mumbai is a tiny stretch of land that somehow finds space for 14 million people
![](http://im.rediff.com/money/2009/jun/22sld4.jpg)
Rediff.com
Which is totally awesome and exhilarating, by the way.
22. Because you get to ride these fun little tuk-tuks everywhere
![indian-auto indian-auto](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/indianauto_thumb.jpg)
23. Because nothing beats the experience of seeing a tiger in the wild…
![tiger tiger](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tiger_thumb.jpg)
…especially when you’re riding an elephant
24. Because where else will you find cows sharing space with cars?
![india-cow-on-road india-cow-on-road](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/indiacowonroad_thumb.jpg)
Telegraph.co.uk
25. Or elephants on the highway?
![indian-elephant-on-road indian-elephant-on-road](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/indianelephantonroad_thumb.jpg)
DeccanChronicle
26. Because you’ll never truly understand the meaning of “extravagance” until you’ve attended an Indian wedding.
![indian-wedding indian-wedding](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/indianwedding_thumb.jpg)
SayShaadi.com
27. Or figure out what true fanboyism is about until you’ve watched a Bollywood Salman Khan movie in an Indian theater
![salman-khan-movie salman-khan-movie](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/salmankhanmovie_thumb.jpg)
imgur.com
28. Because where else can you find an entire temple complex devoted to the erotic arts?
The Khajuraho Temple Complex, Madhya Pradesh
![khajuraho khajuraho](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/khajuraho_thumb.jpg)
29. Or a mausoleum devoted to love?
![taj-mahal taj-mahal](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tajmahal_thumb.jpg)
30. Because the South Indian dosa is the most ridiculously delicious thing you can have for breakfast
![dosa dosa](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/dosa_thumb.jpg)
31. Because India has some mind-boggingly awesome forts
Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
![mehrangarhfort-jodhpur mehrangarhfort-jodhpur](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/mehrangarhfortjodhpur_thumb.jpg)
Gwalior Fort, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh
![gwalior-fort gwalior-fort](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/gwaliorfort_thumb.jpg)
MPHolidays.com
Chittorgarh Fort, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan
![chittor chittor](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/chittor_thumb.jpg)
32. And some delightfully colorful temples
Meenakshi Temple, Madurai, Chennai
![meenakshi-temple meenakshi-temple](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/meenakshitemple_thumb.jpg)
VedicOdyssey
33. Because Indian sweets are tastier than any frosted cronut chocolate cupcake pudding you can concoct
Jalebi
SanjeevKapoor.com
Gulab Jamun
SpiceOnlineOrder.com
Gajar ka Halwa (Carrot pudding)
![gajar-ka-halwa gajar-ka-halwa](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/gajarkahalwa_thumb.jpg)
RecipeStation.com
On that note, let’s make cronut chocolate cupcake pudding a real thing
34. Because one of the great joys in life is drinking sweet, milky tea at a roadside stall for $0.10/cup
![tea tea](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tea_thumb.jpg)
35. Because traveling through the country becomes a surreal experience around Diwali each year
![diwali-lights diwali-lights](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/diwalilights_thumb.jpg)
Lights, lights everywhere.
36. Because you get to discover the hidden little gem that is India’s North-East
Nohkalikai Falls, Meghalaya
![North-East North-East](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/NorthEast_thumb.jpg)
Via.com
37. Because India’s state of Rajasthan is like moustache porn for men
![mustask2 mustask2](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/mustask2_thumb.jpg)
LosStateMinor.com
![mustask1 mustask1](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/mustask1_thumb.jpg)
TheTourPlanners.com
![mustask3 mustask3](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/mustask3_thumb.jpg)
Reuters.com
38. Because you don’t know what “spicy” really is until you’ve dug into a bowl of Andhra mutton curry
![andhra-mutton-curry andhra-mutton-curry](https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/andhramuttoncurry_thumb.jpg)
MammusKitchen.com
What reasons do you have for heading out to India this year?