Contributed Collaborative Post
Visitors to India often come away with a feeling of tremendous affinity toward the country and its people. If you’ve picked out the right destinations and planned your India tours appropriately, it’s difficult to come away with any other impression.
Having said that, we should remember that India is an absolutely vast country. Thus, it’s possible to have many different kinds of experiences when you visit. Let’s take a look at a few of the features that make India so easy to fall in love with.
Celebrations
Arrive in the right place, at the right time, and you might be lucky enough to experience one of the country’s famously extravagant festivals. Diwali is an occasion for feasting and generosity, and there are big celebrations in every major settlement. There’s also Holi, the festival of colour, which sees Indians cover one another in colourful powder. The resulting images are likely to live long in your memory.
Of course, timing your trip such that it coincides with a major festival requires a little bit of planning a forethought. Bear in mind that these occasions tend to attract visitors, so it’s worth arranging your accomodation well in advance.
The Food
In the UK, we might think that we’re familiar with the food on offer in the subcontinent. But the truth is that Indian food is just as diverse and varied as its people. From the classic biryani to more exotic seafood curries around the coast, there’s something to appeal to everyone. You’ll want to make time for Gulab Jamun, which is a staple dessert served just about everywhere.
For vegetarians and vegans, the idea of a trip to India might hold a special appeal. The gastronomic culture here is still rooted in plants, which makes it fairly easy to track down vegan-friendly food, without compromising on quality.
Religious Diversity
India is tremendously diverse, religiously. The national religion is Hinduism – but there are plenty of branches of, and perspectives on, Hinduism. There’s also a sizeable Muslim minority, and sizeable pockets of Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. You’ll find many different sorts of religious building and practice in the country, which will give you plenty of think about, long after you’ve left.
Beautiful scenery
Think of India, and you might picture bustling streets, jam-packed trains, and the river Ganges. But given the size of the landmass, there’s obviously a lot more to uncover here, including stretches of magnificent, untouched wilderness. Head north into the Himalayas, and you’ll find a country that’s very different to the south. The culture in the north tends to be more relaxed, too – which is perfect for those looking to hike from one mountain monastery to the next.
This is a contributed collaborative post
