Before we went to India we heard all kinds of opinions from people who'd done the trip before us. Many said they were glad they'd been there once, but wouldn't go back -- too much destitution and too much filth. Some said they preferred the north of India, others said they loved the south. People were split on whether it was worth going out of the way to see the Taj Mahal on a relatively short trip. Others said it was an absolute highlight not to be missed. So, for those of you who are considering a trip to India, here are my two cents, or rupees. I think Jeff, Sylvia and Ben would agree with me. First of all, I'm so glad I went and I would go back again. The sites are otherworldly, the people warm, hospitable and soulful. There's a large and growing middle class in evidence everywhere, and they're proud and excited to share their country with foreigners. Yes, there's squalor and noise, but they are part of the tableau that has to be experienced by all five senses and can't be conveyed by the limited dimensions of film and radio -- or even a multi-media blog -- as good as those depictions might be. As Americans we can't possibly know what it's like for the developing world without standing in the middle of it, and even then, we still can only imagine what it's like to live in the shoes of the more than a billion have-nots in the world. We loved the richly-spiced food and though we ate heartily, we all found we had shed a few pounds by trip's end. If you're a woman, bring scarves and tunics, leggings and long skirts, because you'll want to blend in as much as possible. But buying colorful local clothing was easy and inexpensive, too, and supported the local economy, so pack lightly and indulge.
Two weeks is not long enough to cover both the north and the south. If you have the luxury of a month, then go for it, and spend a little more time in each place than we did, adding a few more stops to the southern route to cover the technology centers in the southeast. But if it's two weeks you have, then we'd suggest sticking to the north and adding, perhaps, Varanasi and/or Jaipur and Rathambore National Park. Instead of early January, I'd suggest waiting till it warms up a bit in February and there's less morning and evening fog -- especially if you want to be sure to see the Taj Mahal at its best. We got lucky. And speaking of the the Taj Mahal, you have to see it with your own eyes. It's magical. Don't miss it. One of my mother's well-traveled friends, Rita, who has a great eye for art and beauty, said if she could only visit one sight in the whole world, it would be the Taj Mahal. And Ben, who has seen many of the natural and man-made wonders of the world in his travels, is inclined to agree. So go, and enjoy. And don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. As you no doubt have gathered, I've always got a lot to say! Comments are closed.
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