You can discover these places during your volunteering experience…
India is one of those countries that is difficult to explain until you experience it for yourself. Intense, vast, diverse and full of contrasts, it can take you in just a few hours from the fast pace of a big city to the silence of a temple, from the mountains of the Himalayas to the desert or the beaches of the Indian Ocean.
Taking part in a volunteering experience in India allows you to discover a side of the country that often remains outside the traditional tourist routes: sharing daily life with the local team, connecting with the community, discovering its customs and gaining a deeper understanding of its way of life.
But during your stay, it is also worth setting aside some time to travel and discover everything India has to offer.
The country is enormous, so it will probably be impossible to see everything in just one trip. That is why we have selected 10 must-see places in India that you can try to include during or after your volunteering experience.
1. Agra and the Taj Mahal
If there is one image that immediately makes us think of India, it is probably the Taj Mahal.
Located in Agra, this enormous white marble mausoleum was built during the Mughal Empire and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
Although you have probably seen hundreds of photographs of it, standing in front of it is a completely different experience.
The best time to visit is early in the morning, before the largest groups arrive and while the first sunlight begins to illuminate the marble. Afterwards, you can continue exploring other places in Agra such as Agra Fort, Mehtab Bagh gardens or simply wander through the streets of the city.
Agra is also part of India’s famous Golden Triangle together with Delhi and Jaipur, making it relatively easy to combine the three destinations on the same trip.
A classic, yes, but for a very good reason.
2. Jaipur, the Pink City
Palaces, forts, markets, tuk-tuks, street food stalls, colourful fabrics and plenty of movement.
Welcome to Jaipur.
The capital of Rajasthan and another of the cities forming the Golden Triangle, Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Jai Singh II and is one of the most interesting destinations for discovering the historical heritage of this region of India.
Among its best-known landmarks are the Hawa Mahal, with its iconic façade full of small windows; the City Palace, which is still linked to Jaipur’s royal family; and the spectacular Amber Fort, located around 11 kilometres from the city centre and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
But one of the best ways to experience Jaipur is simply by walking around.
Explore its bazaars, watch local artisans working in their small workshops, try street food, buy spices or sit down for a chai while watching everyday life unfold around you.
Because in India, some of the most interesting experiences happen between one monument and the next.
3. Delhi: history, chaos and everyday life
Delhi will probably be one of the first places you pass through during your trip, and it is also one of the best places to begin understanding the scale of India.
Delhi is huge.
In a single day, you can move from modern avenues and commercial districts to narrow streets filled with food stalls, temples, markets and historic buildings.
One of the most interesting areas is Old Delhi, where it is worth walking around Chandni Chowk and visiting the impressive Jama Masjid mosque.
You can also discover places such as Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, India Gate and the Red Fort complex.
But beyond sightseeing, try to spend a few hours simply observing the city.
Take the metro, try a local dish, visit a market and watch this enormous urban ecosystem where millions of stories are happening at the same time.
Delhi can feel overwhelming at first, but that is also part of its personality.
4. Varanasi and the River Ganges
Few places allow you to experience the spiritual dimension of India quite like Varanasi.
Located on the banks of the River Ganges, it is one of the country’s major cultural and religious centres.
Life in Varanasi revolves around its ghats, the long flights of steps leading down to the river.
From early in the morning, you will find pilgrims performing ritual baths, people practising yoga, vendors preparing their stalls and small boats slowly crossing the Ganges.
One of the most special experiences is taking a boat ride at sunrise.
In the evening, you can head to Dashashwamedh Ghat to watch the Ganga Aarti ceremony, where fire, chanting and religious rituals completely transform the atmosphere.
Varanasi is also a place that should be visited with respect and sensitivity.
Some ghats, such as Manikarnika, are places where cremations are carried out according to Hindu tradition, so it is especially important to behave respectfully and avoid intrusive behaviour.
It is an intense, unique and unforgettable city.
5. Rishikesh and the gateway to the Himalayas
After the constant movement of cities such as Delhi or Jaipur, Rishikesh offers a completely different experience.
Located beside the River Ganges and surrounded by the foothills of the Himalayas, the city is internationally known for its connection with yoga and spirituality.
Here you will find numerous yoga centres, ashrams, small cafés and travellers from all over the world who come looking for a few days of peace and tranquillity.
But Rishikesh is also a great destination for those looking for adventure.
The region offers trekking, rafting and excursions around the surrounding area, as well as the opportunity to discover small villages and mountain landscapes.
You can start your day with a yoga class, walk alongside the river, cross one of its bridges and finish the afternoon watching a ceremony beside the Ganges.
It is an especially interesting destination if you are looking to disconnect from the big cities for a few days during your volunteering experience.
6. Amritsar and the Golden Temple
In the state of Punjab, we find another of India’s most special places: Amritsar.
The city is mainly known for being home to the Golden Temple, or Harmandir Sahib, the most important temple in Sikhism.
Its reflection on the surrounding water is spectacular, particularly at sunrise or at night.
But visiting the temple also gives you the opportunity to discover some of the fundamental values of the Sikh religion.
One of its most interesting spaces is the enormous langar, a community kitchen where thousands of people can receive a free meal regardless of their religion, background or financial situation, thanks to the work of volunteers.
Beyond the temple, Amritsar is a great place to discover Punjabi culture, explore its markets and try its particularly rich cuisine.
It is one of those places where you are not simply visiting a monument: you are observing an entire community functioning around it.
7. Jaisalmer and the Thar Desert
From busy cities full of traffic and movement, we move to the silence of the desert.
Jaisalmer, in Rajasthan, rises from the dry landscape of the Thar Desert like an enormous golden city.
Its impressive fortress dominates the skyline and still contains homes, shops, restaurants and temples within its walls.
Walking through its narrow streets allows you to discover ancient havelis, traditional houses decorated with elaborate stone carvings.
But one of the most popular experiences in this area is leaving the city behind to explore the Thar Desert.
You can take an excursion through the dunes, visit small rural communities and spend a night in the desert beneath a sky almost completely free from light pollution.
After several days exploring India’s large cities, finding yourself surrounded only by sand and silence reveals another completely different side of the country.
8. Udaipur, the City of Lakes
We stay in Rajasthan, but the landscape changes completely.
Udaipur is surrounded by lakes, hills and historic palaces, creating a much calmer atmosphere than many of the state’s other cities.
The enormous City Palace dominates part of the shore of Lake Pichola and is one of the city’s main attractions.
You can also explore the old town, visit Jagdish Temple or simply sit on a terrace and watch the sun set over the lake.
One of the best ways to enjoy Udaipur is without making too many plans.
Walk around, visit small workshops, discover local craft shops and enjoy the slower pace of the city.
If you are travelling through Rajasthan, Udaipur is a perfect stop to balance the energy of Jaipur or Jaisalmer.
9. Kerala and its backwaters
India can also be green, tropical and surprisingly peaceful.
To experience this side of the country, you only need to travel to Kerala, in southern India.
One of its main attractions is the famous backwaters, an extensive network of lakes, canals and lagoons surrounded by palm trees and tropical vegetation.
One of the best-known places to explore them is Alappuzha, also known as Alleppey, where you can travel along the waterways aboard traditional boats while observing the everyday life of the small communities living beside the water.
Kerala is also an excellent destination for discovering a completely different side of Indian cuisine, with coconut, rice, fish and spices playing an important role, as well as dishes traditionally served on banana leaves.
If you have several days available after your volunteering experience, travelling through southern India can help you understand just how much the country changes from one region to another.
10. Goa and the Indian coast
And after so many cities, temples, markets and kilometres of travelling, it may finally be time to relax.
Goa is one of India’s best-known coastal destinations and can be a great place to finish your experience.
But Goa is much more than beaches.
Its Portuguese colonial past can still be seen in some of its architecture, churches and even certain elements of its cuisine.
You can spend a few days discovering its different beaches, exploring local markets, visiting small villages or simply relaxing by the sea.
The atmosphere changes considerably depending on the area you choose, with some places being much livelier and others offering a much quieter experience.
After spending several weeks volunteering and travelling around India, a few days by the ocean can be the perfect way to end your trip.
India is much more than a list of places
We could keep going.
Hampi, Mumbai, Ladakh, Jodhpur, Pushkar, Darjeeling, the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, national parks, small villages across Rajasthan…
India is almost impossible to fully discover in a single trip.
And perhaps that is exactly what makes the country so interesting.
During a volunteering experience, you have the opportunity to discover India from a different perspective. Not only by visiting monuments, but by spending time with local people, understanding different ways of life and becoming part of another reality for a few weeks.
After that, every excursion and every journey takes on a different meaning.
Because travelling is not only about ticking places off a map.
It is also about learning how to see them.
And if there is one thing India offers, it is endless ways of seeing, understanding and discovering the world.
Ready to discover India during your volunteering experience?
Combine your days of volunteering with short trips, make the most of your weekends and, if possible, reserve a few extra days at the end of your programme to continue travelling.
You will probably return home with plenty of photographs.
But above all, with an India that feels completely different from the one you imagined before you arrived.
