It is often said that "if you haven't traveled, you haven't lived your life". This statement reflects the importance of travel. It not only gives us exposure to various places but further opens our minds. There are many of us who travel because we have to, but probably a few of us are born for it. Once you develop a love for traveling, there is no going back. For me traveling is important as it helps me in reconnecting with myself.
But all travelers are not the same, we definitely have variety amongst them. We have heard about travelers, with an adventurous edge. They are spirited, high on adrenaline, challenging self and look for exciting things to do, like bungee jumping, trekking, scuba diving, or mountain climbing.
The next category would be bag-packers. They are self-reliant and are a sucker for local experiences. They definitely plan their budget well, before traveling. They want to blend with the local culture. They know well to utilize any given opportunity to its maximum.
Then on the other hand fall another extreme category, which prefers traveling amidst luxury. They prefer booking a 5-star resort and enjoying lavish spreads. These travelers are on a lookout for premium category experiences like enjoying Turkish Hamam, staying in the gold plated rooms, and many such luxuries, about which we often read in the magazine.
Apart from the above-mentioned, we have history lovers, architecture buff, spirituality seekers travelers and the list goes on.
India has a lot to offer to any kind of traveler, it is well known for its diversity. One can easily witness this diversity not only in its culture but also in its landscape. The northern region of the country has the mighty Himalayas and the south is surrounded by ocean on all three sides. Moreover, India is a country, where you will be able to come across diverse lifestyles.
Historical Travellers:
India has got ruins of ancient civilization, reminiscent of the medieval period and marvels of the modern world. The country has witnessed invasions from Mughal, Persian, British, and Portuguese. If you are a history buff then you are on a treasure hunt.
On your visit to India, you will find buildings having the influence of British architecture. One can witness the presence of Mughal and Persian influence, in various mosques, forts, and other monuments.
Hampi's, Sree Virupaksha temple contains the best kept ancient secret, where all its pillars produce different musical sounds. The sound is eerie similar to what will be produced by any musical instrument.
A visit to the ruins of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, a cradle of the ancient civilizations would be thrilling.
Spiritual Travellers:
Spirituality and India goes hand in hand. The country is full of Holy places as Varanasi, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Kedarnath, etc, each place has its own USP.
In Varanasi, we can find beautiful ancient temples on the ghats of River Ganga. This place holds special significance amongst the Hindus. These ghats are fascinating, one can witness the complete human cycle happening here. At one end, a newly born will be introduced to the river, whereas somewhere else an elaborate hair removing ceremony might be happening. Simultaneously one can witness newlyweds offering prayers to the River Ganga and requesting her blessings for a blissful married life ahead. And finally, one can see a funeral pyre burning at one of the ghats. It is not an eerie sight, but it makes one realizes the fickleness of life. Everything is temporary here, and we will be gone soon, better to set our priorities right.
The spectacular event of Ganga aarti is also performed on the ghats. Indians have been worshippers of nature and you can be a part of it first hand, by attending the ceremony.
The southern part of India is filled with temples, reflecting rich dynasties that ruled at some point in time.
In the state of West Bengal, one can visit Dakshwineswar Kali Temple and the Jagannath temple in Puri. The northern regions, also have Buddhist monasteries and Chinese temples.
Traveling for Voluntary and social service:
You want to serve humanity, make a difference, welcome to India. This country will provide you wide options, participating in the cottage and handicraft industries, teaching underprivileged, or serving in the orphanages. There are many NGOs where you can work temporarily. India is all about spreading love and care.
Landscape Lovers:
India with its colorful topography offers you different landscapes, that can be an absolute treat to the eyes. One can see mountain ranges, hills, lakes, forests, lagoons, deserts, plateau, and oceans spread across the country. The weather of the country differs widely. Few places are hot and humid with high rainfall, and others are dry and chilly.
Rajasthan is a state which has large areas covered in desert. The eastern and western ghats perfectly demarcate the border of the country with hill ranges. You will be amazed to know there are around 400 rivers in India.
The Chilika Lake in Orissa is not only considered as the largest lagoon in India but also in the world. The lake directly connects with the Bay of Bengal. The Pangong Lake in Ladakh is also a spectacular scenic point and is located at the highest point.
If you want to check out the islands, then visit Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshwadeep is definitely suggested.
The Dark tourists:
If you are a lover of dark mystery, you will find places to quench your thirst for knowledge about the unknown. This is a land of mythology, where you will find the Tantriks who worship the dead and try to infuse life into corpses. The Aghori culture found in the country is more connected to black magic and the supernatural. These rituals also take place in the crematory grounds.
Visit a few of the haunted places like the Bhangarh fort and Kuldhara village of Rajasthan. This is declared by the Indian government "haunted", and the tourists are restricted from visiting the place after sunset.
If you want to witness the ill effect of the chemicals on human life then head to Bhopal. The ill famous Bhopal Gas Tragedy happened here due to poisonous gas leakage, the whole city perished over the night. The place has attracted many tourists.
Putul Bari in Kolkata is also haunted and open for tourists. The Roopkund lake in Uttarakhand is yet another place, here 200 skeletons were found.
So, what are you waiting for, pack your bags, and get ready to explore many wonders, in one place called India?
Though we wouldn't recommend, going their alone. It looks intriguing but in a few cases, it has turned out deadly, so better avoid.
