India Travel Tips (5 of 5)

Continued from previous post:

India Travel Tips (5 of 5):

SECTION 15

Why should you go to India?

183) Have the experience of a lifetime. India will blow your mind. You’ll see some of the most crazy sights of your life. It’ll be a sensory overload (mostly in a good way). If you’re open you’ll meet some of the nicest people on Earth and your heart will expand. Every time I go to India which is now 7 times, my life improves for the better and my mind gets broadened from the experience.

184) The history is mind blowing. India is quite possibly the oldest civilization in the world. Many of the famous monuments are ancient yet so beautiful. You can just feel the history in the land.

185) Indulge in the best food you’ve ever had. I have had by far some of the best food ever while traveling in India. The exquisite flavors and care with preparation are to die for.

186) Enjoy the immense spiritual power.India is known for being the capital of yoga & meditation. It is from the many illustrious saints of that this knowledge comes from and is still very lively in many parts of the sub-continent. Some notable examples of saints include:Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (my guru), Buddha, Amma, Krishna, Brahmananda Saraswait, Anandamayi ma, Raam, and Shankara.

187) Discover wonderful cultural diversity.There is an incredible mosaic of cultural differences that exist in peaceful unity in India. It’s a delightful experience to travel from far north India through central Maharashtra state down to the southern tip at Kanyakumari. The diversity of food, dress, customs, language and landscapes are limitless.

188) There are endless things to see. India is jam packed with sights and experiences that exist nowhere else. From the Himalayas around Uttar Kashi to the beaches of Kerala and from the Taj Mahal to the tiger reserve at Bandhavgarh you won’t be let down.

189) Celebrate India style with one of their many festivals. It seems like there is a major festival almost every month in India. Here are some of the most popular ones:

• 190) Diwali – Festival of lights. The biggest and most important holiday in the Hindu calendar. Watch out for loud fireworks, extra pollution and wild parties.
• 191) Holi – Festival of colors or festival of love. This one is where everyone throws colored powder on each other. Wear clothes you don’t mind ruining and enjoy the fun!
• 192) Durga Puja – Festival of Durga. The celebration of the victory of “good” over “evil”. It can be a great spiritual experience.
• 193) Onam – The harvest festival. Celebrated in the state of Kerala. Wear new clothes and admire the beautiful flower arrangements outside peoples homes.
• 194) Raksha Bandhan – Festival of love & protection between brothers and sisters. Tie a string around your sister or brothers wrist to show your love.
• 195) Maha Shivaratri – The great night of Lord Shiva. Celebrating the convergence or marriage of Shiva (silence) and Shakti (dynamism) which are two fundamental energies in the universe. It can be an incredibly powerful spiritual experience.
• 196) Christmas, Kerala style –Celebrating the birth of Jesus. In Kerala there are a lot of Christians and they have their own style of Christmas which can be quite fun to witness!

197) Relax and rejuvenate. India is an incredible place to be pampered, relax and just chill-out. The ancient Indian healthcare system known as Ayurveda offers amazing treatments including massage and other rejuvenation techniques. Find a health spa you like and you’ll unwind like never before.

198) Bargain until the cows come home.India naturally has amazing shopping opportunities not just because of the great prices but also because of the unique items that are available. There is good reason why the Dutch East India Trading Company made so many trips to India and this holds true to this day.

199) You’ll help their economy. Last but not least, going to India will help boost their economy of which tourism is a major part. Since there are so many people in India living below the poverty line it feels good to be able to help even if in a small way.

200) “If you are a first timer in India, never arrive on a short visit of one or two weeks and expect to assimilate the essence of the country. If you are looking to travel across India, give it at least a month. If you can’t devote so much time, stick to any one region of your choice to make the best of your visit instead of hopping around the country.”

– Arun Bhat, award-winning Indian travel photographer and blogger at PaintedStork Photography.

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So, What’s The Bottom Line?

India truly is a remarkable place, but in order to enjoy it fully, you must be prepared.

I believe my tips will give you all you need. And, my free ebook is a handy way to bring all these tips with you on your trip.

Here’s one last dose of inspiration, from the wise words of Mark Twain. Even though it was written in 1899, he captures the essence of India perfectly!

201) “This is indeed India; the land of dreams and romance, of fabulous wealth and fabulous poverty, of splendor and rags, of palaces and hovels, of famine and pestilence, of genii and giants and Aladdin lamps, of tigers and elephants, the cobra and the jungle, the country of a thousand nations and a hundred tongues, of a thousand religions and two million gods, cradle of the human race, birthplace of human speech, mother of history, grandmother of legend, great-grandmother of tradition, whose yesterdays bear date with the moldering antiquities of the rest of the nations—the one sole country under the sun that is endowed with an imperishable interest for alien prince and alien peasant, for lettered and ignorant, wise and fool, rich and poor, bond and free, the one land that all men desire to see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows of all the rest of the globe combined.” – Twain, Mark.Following The Equator; A Journey Around the World. Page 26. New York, 1899. Print.

– Mark Twain, famous adventurer and author of the classic novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Enjoy your India travel!

All the best

From : Rajinder Pershad Jindal, Delhi, India.