Besides Yoga, Meditation and the Taj Mahal.
1. Ski. Don’t act so surprised. India lays claim to the Indian Himalayas, which are very high mountains blessed with tons of powdery snow. Boasting the only first class ski resort in the Himalayas, Gulmarg, which lies in Kashmir and features the world’s highest gondola, India attracts adventure sports enthusiasts from across the planet. You’ll pay about five bucks a day for a ski pass and roughly the same for hostel-like accommodations. Factor in a good deal on airfare and you can ski or snowboard for a month in Gulmarg for under two grand.
2. Shop. It’s worth the airfare for the goodies you’ll score at one-fifth to one-tenth the price those same items sell for in the US and Europe. Jewelry, clothes, bags, rugs, art, furniture, textiles, traditional Indian musical instruments, spices, essential oils, skin care products and spiritual tchotchkes, outdoor markets, shopkeepers who insist you first share a chai before haggling over prices. Once you experience an Indian shopping extravaganza you will never enjoy paying Western prices again.
3. Paraglide. The hills of Solang Nulah, a few kilometers up the Himalayas from India’s most popular adventure tourism town, Manali, are covered with expert pilots who will give you a tandem joy ride that lasts about 10 minutes for under $10.
4. Trek. The Himalayas are a natural choice—you can trek from Manali, Dharamsala, Shimla, Dalhousie, Kullu and zillions of other towns to sacred lakes and mountain peaks. Mountaineering institutes offer rock-climbing courses. From Darjeeling you can trek to the top of Tonglu (approx. 10,000 feet above sea level), where, on a clear day, you can catch a glimpse of Mt. Everest. In Sikkim, you’ll need a special permit to trek. Down south, the Western Ghats offer bucolic respite from sweltering Southern India.
5. Volunteer. Tibetan Refuge centers in northern India, orphanages and animal sheltersthroughout the country. Volunteering is one of the best ways to connect with locals, other travelers, the culture, and give back to a destination.
I was surprised by this list, and pleased by this list. Not what one usually gets when talking about tourism in India.
The Himalayas, home of the snow, is the most impressive
system of mountains on the earth, and for centuries the setting
for epic feats of exploration and mountain climbing / treks.