Arts & Culture

The streets around the thousand-year-old Brihadishwara Temple, built in Thanjavur during the artistic heyday of the Chola Dynasty, have a timeless feel. Artist studios lining the streets feature the traditional Tanjore style of painting, rich in color and inlaid with gold and precious stones. This ornate style sprung up in the 16th century and offers a fascinating window into Southern Indian culture. Nearby workshops produce classical stringed instruments called Veenas, each carved from a single piece of Jackfruit wood.

WHEN TO GO: Enjoy the timeless feel of the thousand-year-old streets and participate in the artistry workshops year-round. For the best experience, go when the weather is pleasantly in the high 60s and low 70s, from September to November.

In 1835, a wealthy aristocrat built this cavernous colonnaded mansion to hold his eclectic art collection. Some of his family members still live on the upper floors, but visitors can view the fountain-filled courtyard garden, lavish marble music room, baroque ballroom and statue-lined corridors hung with priceless paintings by European masters. Throughout the palace, Venetian crystal chandeliers, Ming vases, Belgian glassware and amusing kitsch of little value offer an enchanting taste of fine art and faded grandeur.

WHEN TO GO: Visit this palace full of sparkling jewels and exquisite paintings when the weather outside is dark and windy. The months of July to September are great to explore the indoor treasures India has to offer.

Art Deco buildings and havelis in Ahmedabad, the 15th-century epicenter of Indian textile production, house this world-class museum. Visitors can explore a comprehensive collection of Indian textiles, which include pichhwai, painted cloths that portray the god Krishna; traditional Mughal tents; brocade sashes called patka; colorfully embroidered garments known as phulkari and more. As only one 20-person tour is offered daily, early booking is recommended.

WHEN TO GO: The bright, pattern-filled museum of textiles is a staple to visit at any time of year, but it is recommended to book early, as tours cap at 20 people per day.

Tucked away in rural Maharashtra, these cave monasteries and temples are among the best surviving examples of ancient Indian rock-cut architecture, carved by Buddhist, Hindu and Jain devotees over the course of five centuries. Kailasa temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is the world’s largest monolithic sculpture and Ellora’s biggest draw. Carved into a steep rocky slope by thousands of laborers during the eighth century, Kailasa is intricately detailed yet awesome in scale, and set amidst dozens of smaller and often much older caves that feature carvings and sculptures.

WHEN TO GO: Visit when the weather isn’t too hot or rainy, so the caves don’t feel stuffy. Ideal visits take place during the September-December months.

It is fitting that Kathakali, a dance form that originated in the south Indian state of Kerala, translates to “story-play.” Performers are known to dress in flamboyant costumes, wear elaborate makeup that can take hours to apply and rely heavily on hand gestures to convey a narrative. Dancers are almost always men and they often dress in women’s costumes to portray female characters. Traditionally major social events, Kathakali performances can begin at dusk and last throughout the night.

WHEN TO GO: Any: The dance performances last year round, but are often performed in the evening hours, so make sure to keep your evenings open as you venture through Kerala.

Carved from red sandstone cliffs of the Deccan plateau, these sixth- and seventh-century works are incredibly well preserved and dedicated to Jain and Hindu gods. Visitors must climb a steep stone stairway to reach the series of caves, perched high above a holy lake and a village of blue adobe homes. The first cave features sculptures of Shiva, while others depict Vishnu, the Jain Tirthankara Mahavira and a rare representation of Harihara, a fusion of Vishnu and Shiva in one form.

WHEN TO GO: Visit these caves during the dry summer months of April to June. Avoid monsoon season and snowfall, as you must climb steep stairs for the payoff of beautiful city and lake views.

Vast and imposing, Bundi Palace dominates the landscape of rolling hills around its namesake city in Rajasthan. The grand antique venue features multiple chambers, halls and galleries over several floors, and the exquisite paintings throughout are among the earliest, finest, and best-preserved royal wall paintings in India. The city itself is a captivating scene of lively bazaars, ancient temples, and narrow lanes lined with blue painted houses built around a large tranquil lake.

WHEN TO GO: Visit Bundi Palace and the rest of the bazaars in Rajasthan in the months of March to May, and ease the transition from indoor to outdoor sightseeing.

This fascinating museum is tucked among the rambling halls, courtyards, and chambers of a former Rajput royal palace inside the towering walls of Jodhpur’s hilltop Mehrangarh fort. It houses one of India’s finest collections of miniature paintings, some representing the 17th-century Marwar school, which blended the traditional folk style and bold colors favored by Marwar’s rulers with the naturalist style of the Mughal emperors. Vintage artifacts, murals, and ornate interiors round out the collection, and there’s an excellent museum shop as well.

WHEN TO GO: Visit this visually enticing museum from November to December when the weather is between 50 to 60 degrees.

Shekhawati, a vast triangle of rural villages and desert landscapes in Northern Rajasthan, is sometimes referred to as the world’s largest open-air gallery. Its extraordinary hand-painted, and ornately decorated havelis were once the homes of rich merchants and are now open to the public. Many of these abandoned, art-filled mansions are found in tiny towns well off the beaten track, letting visitors experience traditional rural life in the desert.

WHEN TO GO: Visit the open-air mansions during the airy months from September to November, when the weather is warm and the villages are lush.

Ahhichatragarh, a vast 12th-century fort, underwent a meticulous restoration by the Mehrangarh Museum Trust of Jodhpur over the course of two decades. A group of palaces within the fortress showcase Rajput-Mughal architecture, while interiors display murals and intricate latticework. An annual music festival featuring live performances of Sufi music, dance and poetry has become a highlight of the Indian cultural calendar.

WHEN TO GO: Visit the fort toward the end of February for the Sufi Festival, where over 5,000 oil lamps are lit throughout the area.

Located near a sleepy town in rural Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho represents the pinnacle of Indian temple art and architecture during the Chandala Rajput dynasty. Built between the 10th and 11th centuries, the temples are superb examples of Indo-Aryan architecture, and the engravings depict a range of human emotions and relationships. Don’t miss the Kandariya Mahadev temple and its spired pavilion, dedicated to Lord Shiva and covered with exquisite carvings and erotic friezes.

WHEN TO GO: Explore the intricate carvings and detailed architecture of the Khajuraho Temples from September-November and bypass the incredibly hot summer months.