Anyone been to India?

My wife and I were in India 6 weeks (Nov., Dec.) in 2010. There are 3 approaches to India for westerners: 1) Everything first-class, diminishing contact with all the "bad" things that are everywhere there. 2) Immediately catch the next flight home because it's too much. 3) Realize it's a whole different reality there, a river of existence totally foreign to anything you've experienced thus far. Jump in and swim (we chose 3). It will start with the taxi from Mumbai Airport; as soon as you leave the airport you will be in another world. Traffic lights mean nothing, cows in the streets, oxcarts, the newest Mercedes, big trucks, everything. If you're serious about gaining experience there, just go with the flow - it will get you to where you want to go.

3 weeks are really too little to get a grasp on what's going on. Every moment of every day you are confronted with things you never imagined. It's important to speak with locals to get even a small glimmer of what's happening around you. They will be eager to talk to you, take advantage of that.

A good friend (from India) and his German girlfriend are hiking in Kashmir right now; it's pretty quiet right now, so no danger to tourists. That's India-light, though, the most extreme you will see will be in the northeast, south of the Himalayas.

If you want a beach but not Goa, go to Gokarn, 1 hour south of Goa. Quiet beaches with plenty (but not too many) of tourists to talk to. We went from Gokarn to Hampi - extremely beautiful and safe - for a week, then flew to Varanasi. Veranasi is not for everyone. It's the most holy city on the Ganges in which to die and be cremated. We're talking bodies being burned on open fires 24/7. It's in your face, and was the place that affected me the most. I must return to see it again. That's India: it will infuriate you, but once you return home, you can't wait to go back.

Take the train somewhere 2nd class (night trains are best), totally cheap, fantastic food, and you will meet middle-class Indians eager to talk to you. Just keep your eyes open and nothing bad will happen. They're people like us...

In short, India is unbelievable and totally worth visiting.

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Wife hasn’t travelled very much so I hope I’m not pushing the envelope too much

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Lmao

That made me laugh too. It may help to get higher end accomodations. It helps people who may be overwhelmed to recharge. There is definitely a lot going on all the time.

I liked India a lot because it isn't easy and I felt like Indiana Jones. We were basically celebrities there.

The queues at the Taj Mahal are separated by male/female and local/tourist and my "line" which had no foreigners in it was right next to the local male line. I high fived 5,000 Indians like I was a QB running out the tunnel.

In Jaipur, there's a movie theater called the Raj Mandir. I caught a Bollywood blockbuster called Chennai Express there. It was awesome as the theater is huuuuge. Definitely take in a movie if possible.

I had Varanasi on my itinerary but I went during monsoon. Which wasn't that bad where I was but the Ganges was flooded, so I went to Udaipur instead.

High end India hotels are Taj, Leela, Oberoi etc. I didn't have the money for those at the time but stayed at two Trident hotels which were really nice and between $120-$200 a night, something like that. They are a division of Oberoi.

Bring some Pepto bismol (pill form works) and just take that every day. Try "India hot" maybe the first day for the experience, then get "mild" after that.

Obviously, stay away from the produce/water for the most part. Though I ended up in a vegetarian village one night and they made some steaming stuffed thing that was pretty good.

India is a diverse and culturally rich country with numerous fascinating destinations to explore. While I haven't personally visited India, I can certainly share information about three popular places that are often recommended by travelers:

Taj Mahal, Agra: The Taj Mahal, located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, is one of the most iconic landmarks in the world. This magnificent marble mausoleum was built in the 17th century by Emperor Shah Jahan as a testament of love for his wife. Its exquisite architecture, intricate detailing, and picturesque gardens make it a must-visit destination.

Jaipur, Rajasthan: Known as the "Pink City," Jaipur is the capital city of Rajasthan and offers a vibrant blend of history, culture, and architecture. The city is famous for its stunning palaces, including the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) and the City Palace. Visitors can also explore the Amber Fort, indulge in traditional Rajasthani cuisine, and experience the colorful bazaars.

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: Varanasi, situated on the banks of the sacred River Ganges, is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. It is considered a significant spiritual destination for Hindus. Visitors can witness mesmerizing Ganga Aarti ceremonies, explore narrow alleyways filled with temples, and experience the traditional rituals and customs associated with this ancient city.

These are just a few highlights among the many incredible places to visit in India. Each region offers its own unique charm, history, and attractions, making India a diverse and captivating destination to explore.

I spent a couple of weeks there a few years ago. It was a birding tour and I ended up being the only one taking part. The price went up by 50% for that reason, but was still less than half of what a typical tour with a dozen people in it would cost in the rest of the world. I had a private driver and an excellent bird guide for two weeks which was pretty awesome and weird. India is sensory overload. It started on landing in New Delhi - there were surprisingly few lights at night and that turned out to be due to amazingly bad smog. Literally the equivalent of smoking two packs of cigs per day. They get the smog every year due to a weather inversion and burning of crops, but this was bad even for India. On arrival I waited in the customs line for two hours before it moved even an inch. Apparently all the Indians got checked through first. I was so happy to have a driver, driving seems to be a game of chicken, the drivers aim right for each other, or go even left of center of the other car, only to swerve right barely in time. And traffic is really heavy almost everywhere. People are everywhere, just standing around even in remote areas. It looks like all the ruble from WWII was hauled to India and scattered randomly in front of buildings. And I won't even try to describe the smells; both good and really bad. First rule - pack toilet paper with you and carry some. After a couple of days I figured out it was better to find a spot in the woods than use the public restrooms. Indian people are really nice though. And it's one of the few truly unique places in the world. We did have success with a tiger hunt at Jim Corbett which seemed like an omen just before LSU beat Alabama in 2019. The Taj Mahal was impressive for a while but to be honest I was more impressed with Hagia Sophia which I saw a couple of weeks later and which has much more history. My favorite part was several days in the foothills of the Himalayas. Much cooler, no smog, not crowded. There were stunning views of the truly high mountains that were more than 50 miles away. The hotels were budget and really hit and miss. Some very nice ones and some dumps. The food was awesome (mild), I've eaten a lot of Indian food in the states because of that trip. There was a huge sigh of relief when the plane out got airborne and I could relax. But I really want to go back and will next year, to the northeast, but more time in Bhutan than India.

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 And traffic is really heavy almost everywhere. People are everywhere, just standing around even in remote areas. 

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you reminded me of a game my wife and I played while there and still talk about. This is very true. After a while driving on their version of an interstate, we started noticing that it didn't matter where you were, you'd see at least one person. The game would be, here comes an empty break in the woods by the road, let's see if anyone is there. Sure enough, some dude would be walking across it with no destination in sight. Hard to explain but you noticed it too!

We were probably the Facebook profile picture of like 50 families.

They'd get their kids in the photo too

Not that I would before, but after that I'd never ask a celebrity for a photo. It seems like a low effort thing to do, but it's a PITA doing it over and over. The celebrities that do it really are going above and beyond. It really shouldn't be treated as a baseline for them to meet.

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You will only experience privacy in India when you close the door to your domecile. Wherever you go - mostly - you are the center of attention. You will be surrounded by people just staring at you; I always wondered what they were thinking, but no way to find out. I see India as a mirror, a constant challenge to see how you react to that reality. You will be tested, but the good thing about it is that you have the chance to re-evaluate things and react in a positive way. With every discomfort is a reward (which can be infuriating :).

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This 1000%. Spent 2 weeks there for a wedding and travel and it's strange having tons of eyes on you at all times. The pictures part can get overwhelming too. Overall would do it all again because the culture shock and the experience is unlike anything/anywhere I've ever been.

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I went solo in May 2018, and it was hot as frick. I’m talking 110-115 at times

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You didn't Google how hot it is before monsoon starts? Ouch