Travels with Timi Gustafson: India

India has long been on my list of must-see destinations. That dream finally came true last year. As anyone who has ever traveled this vast subcontinent knows, India has many faces. I started in the north in New Delhi which is one of the great metropolitan cities in the world. I also made sure not to miss out on the old parts of Delhi where you still can get a taste of the "real" India. There is no better way to get around here than on foot or by rickshaw.

Naturally, I spent as much time as possible at the Taj Mahal in Agra, a half day's journey further to the south. I sat in complete awe watching the sun rise over this most magnificent monument which is rightly counted as one of the greatest man-made wonders of the world.

From Agra I went on to Jaipur. If you have only a week or two to spend in India, I recommend that you spend it here. Rajasthan is like a romantic fairy tale from another time, full of amazement and wonder. I also had the chance to visit Udaipur, another ancient city in the state well worth seeing. Its main attraction is the "Lake Palace," now one of the most unique and most luxurious hotels in India run by the Taj Mahal hotel chain.

Every hotel and resort I stayed at was first class by any standard. Oberoi Hotels, where I spent most nights at, is well known for its luxurious accommodations and outstanding service. They even have an old-world luxury motor yacht, essentially a floating hotel, which takes you into the backwaters of Kerala, another culturally completely different part of India far to the south.

I ended my journey relaxing at an exquisite seaside resort, the Leela Kempinski, where I spent Diwali, the feast of light and one of the most important holidays of the year.

India will overpower your senses, especially on your first trip. But if there is one thing that stays with me more than anything else I have enjoyed, it is the extraordinary food. Indian cooking is in a class of its own. Of course, I loved the festive dinners served over the holidays, but I also liked the simple pleasures you can get at a local market.

India may not be the right destination for everyone, certainly not for the faint-of-heart. But it did grab my heart and it hasn't let go ever since. Namaste India!
Timi Gustafson, Host of Backroads to Healthy Living (http://www.backroadstohealthyliving.com)

Category:

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• International
• Travel
• Adventures
• Health
• and
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• India
• New
• Delhi
• Rajasthan
• Agra
• Taj
• Mahal
• Jaipur
• Udaipur
• Mumbai
• Kerala
• Goa
• Hotels
• Oberoi
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• Leela
• Kempinski

[au1947]

great shooting..

[jeisenrich]

I've never been to India, but definitely want to go now!