To me, India has always represented the ultimate adventure; a mystic land, rich in history and culture, full of secret spots to discover. For as long as I can remember, I dreamed of seeing the Virupaksha Temple in person and catching a glimpse of an actual tiger, or taking in the grand majesty of the Taj Mahal and immersing myself in the Festival of Colours. So when I indulged my inner travel bug with a backpacking trip around India, I was ready for the adventure of a lifetime. What I saw was very much a melting pot of a country, shaped by its complex history and unique culture, driven forward by its people. By travelling off the beaten track, I got to see more than just your usual tourist traps. What I saw was a very different India; one full of natural wonders and architectural marvels, exotic culture and unique insights into life. There’s too much to cover in one sitting, but here are some of the highlights. A World of Natural Wonders Geographically, the country sits in one of the planet’s most volatile zones. Its climate and location can wreak havoc on the landscape and people’s lives. Cyclones, droughts, landslides and flash floods all make the news once in a while, but it is their frequency and ferocity that have a lasting effect on the country. The silver lining of such an eventful region though is the phenomenal natural landscape. Rugged Himalayas to the north, tropical Indian Ocean to the south, and all manner of deserts, wetlands, forests, caves, coastlines, lakes and rivers between. Some noteworthy natural wonders to visit: Dudhsagar Falls Translates to “Sea of Milk” this four-tier waterfall is on the Mandovi River and is a picture-perfect, jaw-dropping example of a waterfall Living Root Bridges There is something about the thrill of a rope bridge, but a living root bridge is a whole other story. A once in a lifetime experience that really gives you the best of both worlds, at one with nature and adventure Floating Lakes The floating lakes, with their polka dot “phumdis” islands, look unreal. Part of India’s unique landscape, they are a great sight to see first-hand Doddabetta Peak (Nilgiri) or Manali (Kullu Valley) Rugged mountains are part of what makes India’s scenery so breath-taking. Manali is simply stunning, offering everything from...