Discover India: A must-do list of wonderful experiences 

The TLDR: As much as India frustrates, it fascinates. And at Urbanaut, it is our mission to stop pegging wondrous places and experiences in India to something abroad—“Himachal is the Switzerland of India”—by making incredible, world-class experiences a norm right here in our own country. Here’s what we’ve chosen for you this month.

So here’s a short list of some of these places that we hope you discover on your travels (with Urbanaut, we hope!). Many of these are bookable experiences, and some are just hidden gems worth checking out on your own time.

Flamingo Watching in Mumbai: Most people have no idea that Bombay is home to two Flamingo species—the Greater and Lesser Flamingo. There are only six species globally, so this is pretty rad, if you ask us. What’s more, these pink beauties hang out practically all year (although the early part of the year is the best time to witness them) in the Thane Creek and in and around Navi Mumbai. Do yourself a favour and take your friends and family (especially your kids) along for a Flamingo watching experience.

Riverside Picnic near Dharamshala: A village walk and a picnic in a cool mountain stream overlooking the majestic Dhauladhars. Mingle with locals, meander through picturesque villages, and then reward yourself with a traditional Himachali picnic-style lunch. 

Tribal Museum in Bhopal: We’re usually underwhelmed by public museums—not so with the Tribal Museum in Bhopal. A brilliant homage to the rich cultural tapestry of MP’s tribal communities, a visit to the museum is well-advised, even if Bhopal is just a short stop en route to the jungle. It’s a beautiful museum with incredible displays that truly do justice to the subject matter. 

A Garden Feast in Goa: If you’re tired of the word “xacuti” when you visit Goa, you absolutely must try this garden feast. The good folks here work tremendously hard to preserve traditional Goan-Portuguese recipes and serve you a literal feast. Skip breakfast and dinner and make the most of this lunch experience in beautiful Loutolim under the shade of a Mango Tree. Local, made by women, freshly prepared and oh-so-damn-good.

Murray and Co. auction house in Chennai: Did you know that Chennai is home to the biggest and oldest auction house in South India? Murray’s holds auctions every Sunday (and has been doing so for decades) and is known for showcasing quality artefacts and furniture. Our Chennai insider recommends visiting on a Saturday morning to see what goes under the hammer on Sunday, so you’re well-prepared to make your bids.

From Fruit to Feni in Goa: It’s cashew season! Which means niro (delectable cashew juice), uracca (fruity, fresh and Goa’s favourite summer alcohol) and the opportunity to stomp cashews at a feni distillery and partake in this age-old tradition. We’ve said it a hundred times before, Feni should be celebrated and honoured in our country. But first, it must be understood. There is no better season than this one (the window between March and May) to try this experience—so we recommend you get booking, stat. 

Heritage Transport Museum in Delhi: Our Delhi contributor Ganeev (who curated the fantastic Partition Museum in Amritsar, incidentally) recommends a stop at this museum on your way to Jaipur from Delhi, if you happen to travel by road. 

Vinyl Listening and Cocktail Session in Goa: India’s first (and currently only) vinyl record bar is in the achingly charming Fontainhas in Panjim, Goa. Head over for a groovy evening with a curated listening session with the very interesting and eclectic owner of the bar and be a happy guinea pig to his cocktail concoctions. Here’s a YouTube vid of this great experience:

We’ll be back with more exciting recommendations next month—from a very unique walking holiday in the Binsar Sanctuary (epic!) to surreal experiences in Manali and Dharamshala just when the mercury becomes unbearable everywhere else but the mountains. Thanks for reading!

Ok, it’s time for introductions—so you know who we are. Urbanaut curates authentic recommendations from those who know best—creative, discerning locals in different cities. We often joke that even if no one else ever uses Urbanaut, we have a treasure trove of places that we would have never heard of without this job. So win-win for us!

We’re an early-stage travel tech startup (fancy lingo for the win!), female-founded, and with dreams of being in cities and countries around the world. The discerning traveller is having her/his moment, and we’re here for it—and we’re sure as hell plan to be a part of it!

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