"There are some parts of the world that, once visited, get into your heart and won’t go. For me, India is such a place,” said Keith Bellows, of the National Geographic Society. India—with all her contrasts and contradictions—is a destination that cannot be missed. This is a land should be experienced and felt. Here are a few reasons why you need to pack your bags and prep for a trip to India:
The Innumerable Temple Cities
These cities are places where Indian spirituality is on display. Beware of fake spiritual tours and make sure you’ve done your research or hired a reliable guide, because spirituality can be big business in these ancient lands. Once you get to the good stuff, you’ll feel the real deal hit you like ice cold air on a hot summer day.
Vegetarian Food
Don’t listen to what you've heard about the food in India. Yes, it’ll be spicy, and your stomach may burn if you haven’t eaten chilli in awhile, but very soon you’ll acquire a taste for it. You’ll be enticed by the variety of healthy vegetarian recipes, while at the same time lured in by the aromatic flavours of kebabs and biryanis handed down through generations of cooks.
Architecture
The Taj Mahal will not only lives up to your expectations, it’ll exceed them. Every man and woman turns into a poet while standing in front of this dream home bathed in white marble. This structure is the tip of the iceberg in Indian architecure, however. India is home to the Mughal, Indo- Saracenic, and European styles of architecture. Spread across the country are architectural gems such as the Vithala temple complex at Hampi that has 56 musical pillars. There are also magnificent structures like the Iron Pillar of Delhi, which dates back to the 4th century and is made of 98 percent wrought iron. It has not rusted yet!
Culture and Festivals
Celebrate the festival of lights (Diwali) or the festival of colors (Holi) while in India. The Eid prayer at Delhi’s Jama Masjid, or Hyderabad’s Mecca Masjid and throughout the beautiful churches of Kerala and Puducherry are sights to behold. Come to India to witness people from different cultures assimilate as one nation.
Street Shopping
You’ll never find deals cheaper than the ones you get on the streets of Indian cities. Junk jewelry, clothes, antiques—everything is available for cheap in India for the true bargain hunter.
The Himalayas
It is the dream of most Indian college kids to ride their own Bullet (India’s speciality cruiser bike brand) all the way to Ladakh in the Himalayas via the Leh-Manali highway, where the average elevation is between 13,000 to 17,000 feet above sea level. The Himalayas have always called out to the adventure junkies, as well as to those who seek peace and tranquility. The Northern and Northeastern hill states of India will leave you enthralled with their beauty and you will have you coming back for more.
The Beaches
Western, southern & eastern India have incredible beaches. Apart from Goa, (which enjoys a considerable global fan base) the beaches of Maharashtra, Kerala & Tamil Nadu are great places for a soothing beach holiday.
Wildlife
India is a great place for wildlife enthusiasts. Home to the big cats like the Royal Bengal Tiger and an innumerable species of famous animals like Asiatic Elephants, Indian rhinos, leopards, wild boar, Nilgai and the Indian giant squirrel, the wildlife sanctuaries in India are great destinations to re-connect with nature.
History
India is home to 32 UNESCO World Heritage sites, more concentrated than any other place in the world. What more could you need to say about the rich history of this country?
The People
Traveling through India will never be a difficult task, especially if you’re a native English speaker. In Indian cities, even rickshaw drivers are able to give tourists detailed information in English. People will welcome you with open arms and try their best to make your stay memorable. In India, you will experience top dollar hospitality at a fraction of the cost that you would spend anywhere else in the world.
