A holiday in India is a trip through one of the world’s most fascinating and chaotic countries. From the cool foothills of the Himalaya to the warm sands of Goa, India unfolds like a silken sari. It’s a feast for the senses; where the air is heavy with spice and the stench of slum living battles with the cacophony of never-ending traffic and countless textures, colours and distractions jostle for attention.
India can be overwhelming, infuriating and exhausting, but a holiday in India will never be dull.
Travel to Delhi to discover squalor and splendour in equal measure, where the frenzied, raucous streets, markets and bazaars of the old city crawl at a sacred cow’s pace towards the majestic grandeur of New Delhi with its wide, green boulevards and modern colonial take on life. A city of contradictions and contrasts Delhi beguiles and frustrates the newcomer, swept up into its sensory-smashing vortex of daily life.
Nearby Agra represents the finest and nastiest of India. The streets are rank, the air polluted and in the alleyways around the Taj Mahal you’ll bump into the most relentless touts and rip-off artists on the subcontinent. But the magnificent sights make a visit worthwhile. Just 200km south of Delhi, it makes an easy day trip by train, but it’s worth spending at least a night to appreciate the Taj Mahal and its many moods. Built solely of white marble, this spectacular tribute to undying love co-exists serenely with the unpleasant atmosphere of its host city.
India’s largest city, Mumbai is another example of contradictions. From the hype, colour and glitz of 'Bollywood' to the abject poverty and filth of its beggars and the smothering heat and smog, travellers are confronted with a micro-view of India; where extremes are a way of life, and life goes on in its own tumultuous, chaotic and exhilarating way.
Fortunately, there are some havens of peace and calm on this chaotic sub-continent, and visitors seeking a less confronting break might consider house boating at Kerala, or rail journeys to some of the cool hill station towns high up in the Himalayan foothills.
India fun facts
Over 100 elephants were used during the construction of the Taj Mahal
There are over 1500 software companies in Bangalore
Indian Railways is the largest employer in the world, employing about 1.6 million people
India Initial Insights
Sunday 15th December 2002
Travel Counsellor: Kerrie Croft
What a diverse country and one that is best explored either longer term or over several visits to different regions. I have spent around five months travelling north to south, east to west, so have a good idea of what it has to offer.
It has something for all tastes from the hippy shores of Goa, to the spiritual ghats of Varanasi on the holy Ganges River; from the poverty sprawl of Albanian born Mother Theresa’s hometown of Calcutta to the majestic architecture of the Taj Mahal in Agra; from the camel treks in the expansive deserts of Rajasthan to the old colonial style luxury houseboats in Srinagar, Kashmir; from the protected sacred cows freely wandering the streets to the tigers, Indian elephants and plenty more wildlife in virtually unknown National Parks; from the street barbers and dentists to the crowded public trains, there is such a range of sensations that I have described India as my number one favourite country as a whole.
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