When I first set out traveling people always said to me India was going to be the hardest country on my list, oh how wrong were they!
Not put off by these comments, I made India my starting point for my six month trip to Asia. Believe me within the first few hours all I could think was ‘if this is as hard as it gets then this trip will be out of this world!’
Yes the culture is different, yes the way of life is a lot faster and yes the roads are manic but nothing takes away the incredible charm this country has to offer. It truly is one of the most fascinating places I have ever been! In the fine words of Karl Pilkington ‘my eyes have never been so busy, there’s always something to look at.’
Whether you are looking for a cultural holiday with lots of temples and monuments, a camel trek and camping trip in the depths of the desert, an adventurous time trekking up the Himalayas or a relaxing week on white sandy beaches with crystal clear waters, India has it all!
One thing you need to get your head around pretty quickly in India is that there is no rhyme or reason behind why they do things the way they do. Just go along with it, sometimes there's just no explanation.
As I said, India is another world! People say that Vegas never sleeps, well, neither does India. You get off a night train at 4am and the markets are already in full swing with everyone out buying their daily groceries getting ready to prepare fresh meals for the family. You can't beat a fresh curry first thing in the morning, well I don’t think you can anyway but hey I did live in Asia for years, my mum on the other hand doesn’t agree now I’m home!
I would rank Indian food second (only behind Sri Lankan) in the world! The rich and spicy flavours are out of this world and taste even better than the Indian takeaway down the high-street back home (Which is still my go to takeaway) A lot of people who travel India do decide to convert to Veggie whilst there as people believe meat may give you Delhi Belly however, those that know me know that telling me not to eat meat is like telling a child in a candy store never to eat the candy, it's just not going to happen, I am a meatatarian! I think I lasted 2 days before I gave up and risked it and I am so glad I did! Not only did I enjoy every meal I had after rebelling but I was lucky enough not to get Delhi belly (not through lack of trying the week leading up to going to the beach believe me.)
Other than delicious food, the people of India are some of the friendliest I have come across! They are so welcoming and sociable. Yes there are some not so nice people, like the man who jumped off a bus, chased me and my friend through the streets and got us lost but don't worry, thanks to quick running (yes I can run under the right circumstances) and a very friendly security guard we did get home safe and sound before dark. It's just another story along the road.
We were lucky enough to stay in a lot of home-stays throughout our trip and every host made us feel like we were part of the family. We were welcomed with necklaces made of flowers, given Bindi’s, joined family movie nights, had sari dress up sessions and were taught some Bollywood dancing (make sure you know your left and right before trying that!) Asian people in general are the warmest culture I have come across and they do everything they can to make you feel at home!
Throughout India there is no obvious divide in class when walking down the streets. You can pass huge mansions with security at the gates right next to houses made of bamboo and tarpaulins with no doors or windows (although some did have satellite dishes…. Remember don't question, just go with it)
The roads are mental! They are packed with cars, old and new, trucks, bicycles and tuk tuks. On some journeys we were even joined by elephants, goats, donkeys and camels not forgetting the people weaving in and out of all of that on foot! One thing I did learn is ‘walk with confidence’ when crossing the road! It may seem manic with people driving the wrong way down the road, two lanes turning into five whenever needed and that there are no rules at all but they will, well they did us, go around you (you do need to keep savvy)!
For people searching for a cultural trip, there’s so many sites to visit in India. India is a very religious country with the majority of people being Hindus and there are many religious (not just Hindus) temples, monuments and shrines up and down the country that are not to be missed. Obviously the main monument, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is the Taj Mahal.
Now this place.... Wow.... from pictures it is incredible but when you walk through the gate and see the Taj standing in the arch way it is one of the most captivating sights! This magnificent building took 22 years to build with 20,000 workers working 24hrs a day! It was built by the king for his third wife after she died. Although he had more than one wife this one was his favorite and both his and her tomb rest inside. Be warned a visit to the Taj isn’t complete without a photoshoot, people queue for hours to sit in the spot Princess Diana sat when she visited in the early 90’s, our guide took this photo op to a whole new level, I think the memory on my phone was taken up by this one visit!
Although the Taj Mahal is the most visited place there are many others not to be missed! New Delhi has The Gates of India, a monument dedicated to the men and women who lost their lives during the First World War. The largest Sikh temple, Sri Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, where you can visit the kitchen and witness the rich come together to cook food for the poorer community. The Lotus Temple, notable for its flowerlike shape. Raj Ghat, a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi and my favorite, the Akshardham Temple, the most beautiful temple I have seen. I would actually go as far as saying it's more spectacular than the Taj, the architecture and detail of this place is completely out of this world! Jaipur known as the Pink City (although it looks more orange) is home to Hawa Mahal and the Amber Fort, one of the most famous forts of Rajasthan.
The most popular route around India is the Golden Triangle which is made up of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur however we were also lucky enough to venture further north two hours above Palampur. First impressions weren’t great, the roads were windy, remember anti-sickness tables, the hotel was still under construction when we arrived, make sure you do your research, and there was no heating in this cold snowy town. Now I know I get cold but this was extreme! I was sleeping in two pairs of trousers and socks, a scarf, jackets and under four blankets with a homemade hot water bottle BUT we did have the best power shower in India with hot water, met lovely people and had views of the breathtaking Himalayas. We trekked up the mountain and my friend saw snow for the first time in her life (She's from Australia) it was worth the trip!
My favorite city though, Pushka, is a city that everyone must visit! Full of spirituality, its quaint streets and quirky shops are so peaceful and relaxing. All built around a holy lake that makes the perfect spot to look out over from a rooftop, drinking chi and having a spot of lunch.
Whilst here we also did a camel ride into the desert which was a amazing experience. If you haven't been on a camel before, my god they are huge, my knuckles were white from holding on so tight whilst we were moseying along the road with cars and bikes zooming past us but once we reached the desert it was a lovely calm ride, beside the sore bums. We walked for miles through the vast desert before coming across a little village that popped up out of nowhere, I don't know how they survive! We were then welcomed onto a beautiful campsite with lovely luxurious tents where we spent the night drinking chi (you do that a lot in India) and eating curry round the bonfire.
3 weeks in mainland India, although incredible, was tiring and it was onto Goa for a week on the beach volunteering at a school. Goa feels like a completely different country, it's cleaner, clearer and much brighter. You are surrounded by tall palm trees, beautiful houses and relaxing hammocks all meters away from pristine beaches!
We were volunteering in a school which was a little shack on the beach. When you opened the wooden door into this tiny room the walls were covered with numbers, letters and fruit that the children were learning. They all ran inside to clean the classroom before we began lessons. Children are so eager to learn English in Asia, the better their english the easier it is to get a good job and help support their family. It is such a privilege to be able to help others, taking a little time out of your holiday really can change people's lives forever.
I was lucky enough to visit India again, two years later when the company I was working for in Cambodia was planning to launch a tour over there. My hand had never gone up so quick when they needed volunteers to do a recce. I couldn't wait to get back there! To find and write a brand new tour which would show others what India has to offer made it all the more exciting!
Now, if your white in Asia people treat you like your famous, they stare alot and constantly want their picture taken with you, with your permission or not (as me and a friend learnt on a beach in Goa) and the second trip was no different although I wasnt the main attraction this time. I went over with my boss, white skin, bald headed and covered in tattoo's, everyone and I mean everyone wanted their picture with him. No matter how long you spend there you never get used to it.
We went to cities I'd been before so I had some knowledge but there's always something new to see in India. We visited a rescue centre for sloth bear, enjoyed a street food tour in New Delhi and drank a lot more chai. Although it was hard putting all the pieces together I loved every single minute of it.
India you were Incredible both visits and I would love to see you again sometime.
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