Treat yourself to a passionate potpourri of exotic landscapes, intricate architecture and colorful cultures. From the austere Buddhist monasteries of the high desert Ladakh province, guarded by the monolithic Himalayan peaks, to the sultry tropical jungles and beaches of the south region with its vibrant marketplaces and spicy cuisine, to the magnificent Taj Mahal and hordes of pilgrims bathing in the Ganges, India will ignite your sense of wonder and send you home transformed.
India: A feast for the senses. A kaleidoscope of cultures and landscapes, India is the 7th largest country in the world with the 2nd largest population. From the sprawling cities, with their surging throngs of humanity, to majestic mountains, rivers, forests and deserts, be prepared to surrender to a tsunami of sensations and startling contrasts: Elaborate palaces next to shanty towns. Garlanded cows sauntering down sidewalks and herds of people bathing in rivers. The serenely sacred Hindu & Buddhist temples in stark contrast to Bollywood flamboyance. Wherever you wander, you will encounter tantalizing cuisines, exotic ceremonies and architectural splendor reflecting the time-worn traditions of India’s ancient heritage.
Journey from the bustling capital city of Delhi to nearby Agra, which showcases the intricate marble masterpiece, the Taj Mahal. Built in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the emperor Shah Jahan had only splendor and majesty in mind with its creation. Observe firsthand the rituals of life and death in Varanasi, one of the seven Hindu holy pilgrimage sites, where cremation ceremonies are played out alongside the Ganges River while pilgrims purify themselves in its sacred waters.
To many, the essence of India is portrayed by the colorful state of Rajasthan, housing Jaipur, the “Pink City,” Jodhpur, the “Blue City” and vibrant with waves of women in brightly-colored saris pulsing through the open marketplaces. Also at your fingertips are floating palaces, epic forts, elephant rides and even a camel ride through the Thar Desert to a Bishnoi village where protection of nature is part of the religion. Many parts of the country are home to exotic wild animals and one can go in search by private jeep safari.
To the North, guarded by the massive Himalayan is the high desert region of Ladakh, a Tibetan Buddhist enclave of villages tucked in among dramatic rock outcroppings, forested gorges and rushing rivers. Rest your eyes on white-washed stupas and monasteries with tattered prayer flags fluttering in the crisp mountain air. Visit with the smiling and open-hearted people who grow all of their own food and live in ecological balance with the land. Each September, one may participate in the Ladakh Festival, a 2-day celebration where masked monks and villagers in traditional costumes parade through the streets and sing folk songs. For outdoor enthusiasts, this area is a myriad of exiting choices such as white-water rafting, trekking, fishing or seeking the elusive Snow Leopard.
The Southern region of India feels almost like a separate country, with it’s radically different Dravidian architecture and more tropical climate. Poised between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, it offers miles of heavenly white-sand beaches dotted with tiny fishing villages, most notably on the west coast of the states of Goa and Kerala. Inland from this coastal paradise, take a river cruise through verdant jungles or go on a jeep safari through the amazing Mudumalai National Park to photograph tigers, elephants and leopards in the wild. Treat your senses with a ride through the fragrant ambience of the spice plantations and tour the historic tea estates by train. And if you dare, turn up the heat with some of the spiciest cuisine on the planet.
Whether you choose a quiet retreat in one of the many yoga or spiritual ashrams or plunge yourself into the center of its eclectic sensory feast, you will be forever changed by the passionate pulse of this enigmatic country.