India:

India Trip

November 2008

After a total of nine flights, a week in Bhutan, and three weeks in India, we are very happy to be home, especially for Thanksgiving. We are both hetitlehy, titlehough the pollution did get to my throat. India is the most incredible place we have ever visited. Beautiful…by no means; exotic, no question! It’s hard to imagine millions of people living side by side daily among cows (the most sacred animal), camels, horses, goats, chickens….living in huts, on outside mats, sleeping or defecating anywhere, beggars everywhere and many are children….a culture so hard to imagine. Yet, they appear to do this in harmony.

India overwhelms you with its diversity…love or hate India’s extremes for the country’s identity is complex, and its allure is magical. Nothing in this country is predictable; the constant chaos can charm or repulse. You cannot feel neutral about India; it is a challenge for many travelers; it was for us. Some are happy to leave, while others will return or stay a lifetime. One thing is certain…India will always be in your memory!

Humanity presents itself in an electrifying burst of cultures, religions, races and tongues….a daily confrontation with pollution, dirt, spice, poverty, castes and tradition, incredible traffic and confusion. In spite of the chaos, there is a spiritual calm within the soul of India. Life today is only important as to improve the karma of tomorrow. It tempts your mind, dazzles your eyes and consequently, we found India's extremes fascinating.

Home to Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jews, India welcomes you with an open mind. Hinduism has by far the greater following; however, India is incomplete without Islam, its influence is pervasive. India’s caste system is based on dharma and karma, the responsibilities one must fulfill in this lifetime and what effect they will have on a future life. Each person is born into a specific caste which predetermines profession and status. Indian newspapers list brides and grooms available for arranged marriages under their specific caste system.

Movies are big in India! Their output is even greater than in Hollywood, and their industry is known as Bollywood. Films have become the ideal mass entertainment. They reach out to a mostly illiterate audience (70% of India is illiterate). Most films are unrealistic morality tales referencing traditional values.

Modern day India represents the largest democracy in the world. There are 28 states and additional territories. In the 20th century, civil unrest led by Mahatma Gandhi helped bring about the independence of British India and its division (1947) into the separate Hindu and Muslim countries of India and Pakistan. From British rule they inherited deep poverty but also parliamentary government, the English language, and a rail system, consolidating the multiethnic country into a secular democracy. New Delhi is the capital and Calcutta is the largest city. Population: 1,040,000,000. titlehough 81 percent of the people are Hindu, India also has more than 138 million Muslims—one of the world's largest Muslim populations.

India’s travel experiences for us have been many! We visited a multitude of ancient marvels: the forts and palaces of Jaipur; historical monuments of Delhi; the Taj Mahal (the 7th Wonder of the World at Agra… and I will say that this is the most beautiful sight we saw in India); the festival at Pushkar (we stayed in tents for two nights in the desert area) where the men raced and traded camels and horses, and the women celebrate in their finest dress; the religious rites at Varanasi along the Ganges River where we witnessed thousands of Indians bathing in the Ganges for they believe it sacred, and at the same time, they were cremating their loved ones first by dipping their bodies in the water and then burning the bodies on a pyre riverside); We visited many World Heritage Sites; witnessed religious festivals; and tracked Bengal tigers in a game sanctuary (didn’t see any though); and we explored erotic temple sculptures. Our time in India was exciting, vibrant, breathtaking and never dull. However, we tired of the same food (particularly Jim who finally found some french fries and a strawberry milkshake….in McDonalds.

To see the photos of the areas of India we visited, click on each area listed under India in the Asia menu.

India Photo Gallery

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