Published 3rd Feb. 2023
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India is a country of every colour, from its technicoloured textiles, spectacular spice markets and brightly painted cities, to its deep green tea fields, sparkling white Himalayas and bright golden deserts. With Holi just around the corner, there is no place better to celebrate the festival of colour than India. If you are planning a trip to India this year, this round up of the most colourful cities in India will paint a beautiful picture of this spectacularly vibrant country.
Jaipur is first on our list as Rajasthan’s pretty-in-pink capital city. The buildings of Jaipur were painted a rosy terracotta hue to welcome the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria in 1876, and the city remains coloured with history to this day. Pink is known as the colour of hospitality in India, so you can be sure you’ll be welcomed with open arms here. Make sure to experience the spectacle of this blushed metropolis, home to a striking collection of forts, palaces and temples, glowing softly like pink powder at sunset. While here, you can also visit the City Palace and the Nahargarh Fort before making your way to the 300-year-old Hawa Mahal.
A trip to Rajasthan is not complete without visiting the bright ‘Blue City’ of Jodhpur. Make your way up to the Mehrangarh Fort to experience the majestic view over an ocean of cobalt houses and buildings that is sure to take your breath away. At ground level, wander through streets and alleyways to find bursts of bright pink window frames and a lacing of yellow and orange fabrics hung out on washing lines that stand out against the blue.
Photographers, painters and colour enthusiasts galore will find the cherry-on-the-cake of colour in the French Quarter of Pondicherry. This quaint and bohemian town overlooking the Bay of Bengal boasts beautiful French colonial architecture where flower-draped yellow townhouses only add to the array of hues found throughout the city. Snap a few Insta-worthy pictures before you wander through the French quarter, where shops selling artisan crafts and French-inspired food are interspersed with chic and elegant yoga and meditation studios.
In India’s south, Madurai is a city of temples that soar above the skyline and encompass every colour imaginable. Art and divinity come together in this fascinating city, where every temple houses its own unique history. The most famous in Madurai, and one of the most important in temples India, is the Meenakshi Amman Temple, dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi. This intricately designed sixth century temple is made up of thousands of brightly painted sculptures perched on the banks of the Vaigai River.
Alongside its bright textiles, architecture, and crafts, India’s natural landscape is a picture of pigments. In Munnar, situated in the Western Ghats mountain region of Kerala, the rolling tea fields are such a deep and vivid green, that you cannot help feeling both tranquil and energised as you take in this electrifying landscape. Enjoy a cup of local chai after a visit to the tea museum, or take in the natural beauty of the Eravikulam National Park, where a carpet of blue drapes over the hill slopes once every 12 years during the flowering of Neelakurinji.
Mumbai is the city that never sleeps, with every smell, flavour, texture and colour found in this bustling and vibrant metropolis from dusk until dawn and all through the night. Wander through Mumbai’s spice markets by day where heavenly aromas draw you to stalls lined with golden turmeric, bright red chilli powder and sage green cardamom. By night, the city is drenched in iridescent lights of every colour. The most beautiful display is found at the historic Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, lit up and glowing pink against the dark night sky.
Our eager experts have explored India from its mountainous north to its tropical south in search of the best destinations, experiences and properties. In-country, our passionate team of Concierges share a love of India and are always on hand to impart extensive knowledge of their country. Working with phenomenal local guides across the country, we tailor experiences to your specific interests, from family-friendly block printing in Jaipur to city food tours and off-the-beaten-track wildlife safaris. Whether you’d rather call a historic palace or a humble guesthouse home, we can offer your dream accommodation while in India.
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