North Indian Hospitality

Visting India the first time back in December 2011 has made me realize that people here really believe that old saying:
"atiti devo bhava"

Literally, it means that the guest is God.

I couldn't have been treated better in a five-star hotel than on my tour. I got personal treatment everywhere I went, and people were surprisingly friendly. I didn't understand it first.

People in India, especially at my first stop, Badaun were not used to tourists as much as we are. They looked at you more like a guest and less than a commercial venture.

I have been to small village schools where all the polite kids shook hands with me and said "how do you do", and visited farms where they made mint for the largest toothpaste companies.

The journey was unbelievable and changed my life. 

You only have to mention something once, and everyone will start trying to arrange a trip, I was interested in yoga at the time, and since I became a qualified yoga teacher, When I mentioned my friend that I wanted to find a person who teaches authentic Yoga, he found me two people. One of them was teaching me for a week, every night, for free, as he was a member of the Art of Living movement.

When I wanted to get a facial before Christmas, I was presented with an address, a taxi, and the prices in just five minutes by the hotel manager, who was also our tour operator.

If you ever visit India, you will leave as a friend, no matter how far you came from.

Do you have a question about travelling to India on a budget? Send a comment below and I will try to help.

Until next time.

What is the deal about Chai in Inida?

When you visit India, you are offered Chai a dozen times a day.
Why, you might ask.
I just found an interesting article about the traditions:
https://www.gonomad.com/58620-in-india-coffee-tries-but-will-never-top-chai

Golden Triangle Tour - North India

If you ever wanted to see the Taj Mahal you need to visit Agra. It cannot be missed out when you plan a North India tour, and there are no words to tell you about the experience when you first set your eyes on the magnificent building; one of the Seven Wonders of the World. If you have only a few weeks or a week for touring, the best option is to choose the Golden Triangle Tour. This is the most popular package of most India tour operators, as it covers Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, the capital of colorful Rajasthan. We had all three cities included in our tour with MerryGo Travels, and you can read the detailed description of their Golden Triangle Tour Package on their website.

Delhi

Delhi has enough to offer for a week or months, really. A historical building on every corner, and life never stops. Old and New Delhi are completely different, and you need to see the contrast to understand what I mean. While New Delhi is well laid out and planned with real avenues and great buildings, wide roads, Old Delhi is something old, narrow, crowded and still full of life. There are loads of markets to visit, but you want to see the most important monuments first. You first need to see the Red Fort, which was built by the Mughal Emperors of India. It is something magnificent. The Jama Masjid is another spectacular building, a mosque built in 1650. The building called Humayun's Tomb is really a complex of tombs with gardens, and has recently been awarded a World Heritage status. 

However, for those who would like to spiritually develop, the Lotus Temple is a must. It provides a neutral place for meditation for everyone from any race or religion. 

We have also seen Raj Ghat, the memorial place of Mahatma Gandhi. 

Agra

In Agra, there are two main attractions: Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort. Not telling the readers about the legends of the place and the stories; you need to hear them there and then. If you take a guide you will be a couple of hundred Rupies lighter but an experience richer. 

The Taj Mahal is under renovation on Fridays, therefore, you should visit it on other days. The morning visits are the best, as you will see the lights coming upon the magnificent building. No words can describe the experience, you need to be there. The ticket office opens at 6.30. Some people will try to sell you VIP tickets but they are a waste of time. The only point is to get you to take a guide. Queues move fast in the morning, so there is no point at all. 

In Agra Fort, you are likely to spend hours even without a guide, There is so much to see and explore, such as the different features of architecture, rooms and features. It is also a good place to take a photo of Taj Mahal. 

Rajahstan - Jaipur

As a city, we did not think a lot about Jaipur; the traffic was horrendous, loads of bars though. On the other hand, seeing the real colors of Rajasthan and experiencing the lifestyle, it is a good place. We sort of dropped into a street wedding by taking photos and were invited to march with the crowd. People in Rajasthan and Jaipur are very friendly, even though it is a tourist place. The Pink City will be the favorite of the ladies; a street with only pink buildings. The highlight was Hawa Mahal: the Palace of Winds. 

We loved the architecture, however, if you are scared of heights, you should take it easy; it is five stories. It did almost beat the elephant ride up to the Amber Fort. It costs 900 Rupees, and you are not allowed to take photos with the elephants. However, there are some "paparazzi" on the side of the road taking photos. When you come down they will spot you and chase you until you buy them. I actually had to shout at one of them to let us be, but hey; this is just a part of the experience. 

Overall; the Golden Triangle Tour is enough to give you a good taste of India, introduce you to the culture and traditions, if you have limited time. 

Our North India Trip

Highlights of the North India trip

Planning your trip to India

When you are planning a trip to Inida, there are many things you should get prepared to. It will not be a smooth journey but I know that you will think it was worth every hassle.

Visa

The visa requirements of India are clearly displayed at http://www.worldtravelguide.net/india/passport-visa. There are also government sites in India such as the online form you need to fill in on the government's website.  However, it is advisable that you still need an appointment with the authorities at the Embassy of your country after sending the application for a visa over. My experience is that it is better to pay a professional company to get it all sorted. Unfortunately, some companies are not reliable, therefore, always check the reviews before you do make a commitment and try to call them to find out more about their work ethics. The one company that did our visa urgently after being let down by another agency is Visa Express in London. If you are a woman, it is said that many officials in the Embassy would just ignore you or feel uncomfortable speaking to you, so let one experienced company handle it and save yourself time and hassle. The visa is stuck in your passport, valid for 6 months. If you are planning to re-enter the country (this is valid for Nepal trips, too) you should apply for a multiple entry visa.

Vaccinations

Depending on the country and surgery, you will need to start the vaccination process about 6 weeks before the travel. Make a note of the itinerary or print it off for the nurse, so they can check the recommendations online. Some surgeries have 3 in 1 vaccinations, others ask you to come back after a week. The most important vaccinations you will need are Yellow Fever and Malaria. You might also get Typhoid and Hepatitis vaccinations and Rabies as well as Cholera. The nurse will ask you whether you are going to visit rural places and meet wild animals. The better the accommodation you stay at is the fewer times they will stab you. 

Research

Nobody can plan your Indian trip for you better than yourself. Therefore, checking the Internet and reading guides is important. You just have to remember that there are huge distances in India, and you don't want to spend days traveling. As trains are slow and roads are not the best at least, you have to consider staying in 1-3 provinces (still around 700 miles across) if you are going for 2-4 weeks. Travel agents will recommend trains when the roads are unsafe or underdeveloped. Pick a few places, towns and attractions within a 300 mile radius and build up your trip.

Travel Inquiry

A couple of weeks before the travel, I have sent some enquiries to travel agents in India with the list of things we would like to see. Comparing the options, prices and mostly the attitude of the agency is important to make an informed decision. We were lucky by choosing MerryGo Travels in Delhi for our trip to India, as they were very helpful, took into consideration our budget and we felt safe all the way through. They also reply to emails fast, unlike some other companies that took weeks to get back to me. Remember that if there is something you would like to change/amend or add to the trip you have the right to do it, as you are the customer.

Udaipur, North India

Further information about safety and getting around: MerryGo Travels