India goes full-colour once a year, when the country welcomes spring with the Hindu festival of Holi. For centuries it has been held each March over one evening and the following day, the celebration having its origins in various legends. One tells of a female demon, Holika, who was so enraged by her nephew Prahlad’s devout worship of the Hindu god Vishnu that she tried to kill him in a fire, only for the flames to consume her, representing the triumph of good over evil. Another legend is based on Hindu god Krishna who, as a child, was said to have been jealous of the goddess Radha’s fairer skin. In an attempt to calm him, his mother told him to apply colour to Radha’s face to make her look more like himself. Whatever the origin story, millions across India now commemorate these tales by taking to the streets to light bonfires, dance and throw brightly coloured powder called gulal over each other in one of the world’s most vibrant and joyous festivals. Holi falls on March 14 in 2025 and March 4 in 2026. Here’s everything you need to know if you are thinking of going to India for Holi.
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Where should I go?
Celebrations vary across regions, but the most famous festivities with city-wide powder-throwing and cultural performances take place in the northern towns of Mathura and Vrindavan, both in Uttar Pradesh, where Lord Krishna grew up. Rajasthan is a (slightly) calmer proposition for most tourists, with huge street parties in visitor-friendly destinations including Jaipur, Pushkar and Udaipur. Big cities including Delhi and Mumbai are also a safe bet, with organised events and festivals, often including performances from some of India’s biggest music stars alongside the traditional colour-chucking.
What should I wear?
Leave your favourite outfit in the suitcase. Wear old clothes — that includes your underwear — that can be binned afterwards if necessary. White clothes are best to get the full multicoloured effect once the powder starts flying, while many choose to protect their eyes with cheap sunglasses. Just remember to keep your phone out of harm’s way, or at least in a clear waterproof pouch. It’s also a good idea to apply thick moisturiser or coconut oil on any exposed skin and hair, before the fun starts, to prevent staining.
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How do I take part?
Just leave your hotel. The moment you’re on the streets, you’ll be doused in powder whether you like it or not, although festivities tend to concentrate on the areas around temples. If you plan to celebrate at an organised event, check ticket details online and buy in advance to ensure you don’t miss out. Typical events include Mumbai’s Colour Splash Fest, with renowned Bollywood performers and DJs, and Delhi’s Unite Holi Music Festival, with all-day bands, food stalls and bars.
Is it safe?
While Holi celebrations can be enjoyed by all, there have been reports of sexual harassment of women in crowded areas during the festivities. It’s advisable — and generally more fun anyway — to stay with a group of fellow travellers where possible and avoid particularly crowded places. Opt to celebrate in a city used to international tourists, and consider attending an organised event that will have visible security.
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How to do it…
1. Premium India in Depth, Intrepid Travel
Immerse yourself in Indian culture with this fully guided, 14-day tour across India with a maximum of 12 people, taking in Mumbai, Udaipur, Pushkar, Jaipur and Delhi. The included experiences really set this tour apart. Think dinner with a Rajput family in Bundi and a Brahmin family in Jaipur, a street food tour in Agra, and a sunset meal in the sand dunes of Pushkar watching traditional dancers. Though the tour is available year-round, book one that coincides with Holi in March to join local festivities with the group.
2. Cycle Kerala, Explore!
Get off the tourist trail and visit India’s remote villages, tea plantations and coastal towns with a cycling holiday through Kerala. In a small group of up to 16, you’ll get pedalling in Kovalam, visiting Varkala, Kollam, Kuttikkanam and Erattupetta, where you’ll celebrate Holi while staying with a local family. Expect a real taste of rural life on the way, with opportunities to meet tea pickers, fishermen and coir-making artisans. Just remember to bring your own cycle helmet.
3. India’s Golden Triangle, Tigers and Shimla, Great Rail Journeys
See the Golden Triangle in style with this fully escorted tour that includes four and five-star hotels, return flights from London and most meals. Bonus extras include talks from local historians, private car city tours and a picnic lunch on the Unesco-listed narrow-gauge Toy Train in the Himalayas. The trip is available all year long, but pick the one that departs London on March 6 to wake up in Agra on Holi, before continuing on to the preserved red sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri.
4. Holi Festival of Colours in India, Private Party with Locals, Viator
If you’re visiting Agra to see the Taj Mahal, there’s no need to miss out on the colourful celebrations. An ideal option for those travelling alone — or if you’re nervous about joining the festivities — this five-hour event includes pick-up and drop-off at local hotels, a professional guide and a poolside party alongside local families with a live DJ, mocktails and Indian snacks.
5. Rajasthan Adventure, G Adventures
Time your visit to India right and Holi celebrations will automatically become part of the package. This 15-day round-trip from Delhi, in a maximum group of 20, runs all year, but book to coincide with the relevant March dates to include the festivities. Other highlights include a trip to Jodhpur’s Sadar Bazaar, one of the oldest markets in India, a safari to spot Bengal tigers in Ranthambore National Park and a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra. Fourteen nights’ accommodation is included, though be aware that to keep costs down hotels are fairly basic.
6. Inspiring India, Wendy Wu Tours
No need to worry about logistics with this comprehensive Indian tour that can be booked to include the Holi celebrations. Almost everything is covered, including flights from London, 12 nights’ hotel accommodation, all meals, a carpet weaving demonstration, a walking tour of Pushkar and entrance fees at major sites including the Taj Mahal, Amber Fort and the Panchal Mahal Palace. There’s a maximum group size of 28, so there’ll be just enough people to throw powder on if you visit in March.
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7. India’s Golden Triangle, Exodus
There’s no better introduction to India than following the country’s famous Golden Triangle route, taking in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Though this classic seven-day tour runs all year, there are special festival departures to coincide with both Diwali and Holi, when you’ll have a group of up to 16 to hit the streets with. When not dousing each other in colours, you’ll squeeze in a guided tour of Delhi, a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, a Rajasthani cookery class and a tour of the market within the walled city of Jaipur.
8. India’s Golden Triangle & Mumbai with Goa Beach Stay, Riviera Travel
Recover from the colourful chaos of Holi with a five-night stay on the white sand beaches of Goa. This 14-day whizz round India’s major tourist sites leaves London on March 6, 2025, and tours the Golden Triangle before flying into Mumbai in time for Holi festivities on the 14th. There you’ll enjoy afternoon tea at the five-star Taj Mahal Palace hotel, a guided tour and a visit to the Prince of Wales museum as the city celebrates around you.
9. Mathura Vrindavan Holi Tour with Taj Mahal, Get Your Guide
Squeeze in some incredible moments on this two-day round-trip tour from New Delhi for Holi in 2025. A private car will whisk you from your hotel to the cities of Mathura and Vrindavan where you can participate in the celebrations in different temples, accompanied by a tour guide. Once you’re covered in colour, you’ll carry on to Agra for an overnight stay (and a much-needed shower), before a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal the following morning.
10. Special Tour of Colors Holi Festival, Get Your Guide
Holi doesn’t need to be about throwing colours. This five-hour experience on March 14, 2025, reveals the spiritual side of the celebration, including a visit to Varanasi’s Baba Masan Nath Temple for a drum ceremony and traditional anointing with ashes. Afterwards, you’ll mark the occasion with a special festival breakfast to remember.
11. Incredible India & Holi Festival, Women Who Explore
Guarantee safety in numbers by travelling with a group of like-minded women on a group trip specifically timed to coincide with Holi in 2025. You’ll visit Delhi and Agra before arriving in Jaipur to join a local festival for colour-throwing, entertainment, dance and street food, with colours and even a T-shirt provided. Other extra-mile inclusions along the way include a rickshaw tour of Old Delhi, a cooking class, a guided street-food tour and tasting in Jaipur, a Bollywood film screening and a henna tattoo by a local artist.
womenwhoexplore.com
12. Holi Festival Photography Holiday, Creative Escapes
Be inspired by the vibrant colours of Holi on a nine-night photography tour that includes daily tuition from a professional photographer as well as boutique hotel accommodation and transport within India. Travelling to Jodhpur, Jaipur and Agra, you’ll learn secrets of reportage photography and join an Instagram street-food shoot in Jaipur, before finding the best spots in Vrindavan to snap riotous Holi celebrations. There’s an exhibition of all your photos and a final one-on-one advice session with the pro before you fly home.
creative-escapes.co.uk
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