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India Christmas Holidays

India Christmas Holidays

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Christmas (called Bada Din, “big day”) is a big occasion in India, particularly in the cities, with people of all religions joining in the seasonal festivities both in the traditional ways that we know, and ways that are uniquely Indian. You may spot Christmas trees, lights and decorations and food stalls serving up seasonal treats, as well as people exchanging gifts, singing carols and really feeling the merriment.

In the south of India, especially in places with larger Christian populations, like Pondicherry and Kerala, candles and fairy lights glow in windows and on rooftops and banana and mango trees get festive makeovers with colourful ornaments. Churches hold Midnight Mass and are beautifully decorated with poinsettias and candles. Food, of course, is central to the celebrations, some places even serving up turkey and others feasts full of local flavours like delicious biryanis and curries. The weather is sublime too – December is one of the finest months to visit India, with warm temperatures, minimal rainfall, low humidity and plenty of sunshine. 

Our Christmas Holidays

Christmas in India

Special Festive Experiences on Christmas in India

Special Festive Experiences on Christmas in India

Christmas in India takes you through the iconic sights of the Golden Triangle and beyond, exploring the treasures of capital city Delhi, admiring the awesome extravagance of the Rajasthani cities of Jaipur, Udaipur and Pushkar (where you’ll experience an aarti ceremony on the lakeside ghats) and venturing into the wilds of Ranthambore National Park to seek out Bengal tigers.
 
Enjoy Christmas Eve festivities at your hotel in Agra with the option of attending Midnight Mass in St Mary’s Church. Christmas Day is dedicated to India’s most famous monument, the Taj Mahal; you’ll have ample time to explore it at your leisure in the morning. Sit down to a Christmas feast for lunch before heading up to a rooftop to sip on champagne as the sun sets spectacularly behind the Taj Mahal. End the day with a spectacular performance of ‘Mohabbat the Taj’, a musical show depicting the love story between Emperor Shahjahan and his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
Special Festive Experiences on Christmas in Kerala

Special Festive Experiences on Christmas in Kerala

Explore the enchanting south of India, starting in Chennai and travelling through Pondicherry, Velankanni and Madurai. Cruise Lake Periyar and head up into the tea plantations of Munnar before the Christmas fun begins in earnest. 
 
Arriving in Kochi on Christmas Eve, take part in midnight mass at an Oriental Orthodox church before attending a Christmas Mass at St Francis Church the next day dressed in traditional Keralan attire. Explore the city before a festive lunch and then, in the evening, enjoy a riotous Kathakali dance performance. On Boxing Day, set sail on the serene Keralan backwaters, spending a tranquil night on a traditional houseboat.