What is traveling India really like?

India is an experience. Simply stepping foot in India, there will be so many different impressions. Sights, sounds and smells. It is not a place you simply travel, it’s a place you experience. India has something for everybody. Mountains, beaches, backwaters, waterfalls, sacred sights. The list is endless. Besides from that you will be met with interest everywhere you go. You will have incredible food, too much maybe, and your senses will be on constant overload. People have often asked me “What is traveling India really like?” In this post I try to explain my experience.

Attack on your senses

I mean this in the best way possible, as I have grown to love it. But India really is an attack on your senses. As soon as you leave the airport you will feel it. Your senses will be on constant overload, as there is just so much to take in. There is constantly something happening. Sitting in my hotel room in Jaipur writing this, I still hear the constant honking on the street below. And it’s not just about the sounds, sights and smells. It is your taste buds as well. There is so much flavor in Indian food, no matter which region you visit. Everywhere you go you will have different tasting experiences, as there is so much diversity in the food.
Driving down the highway you might encounter a few cows, maybe walking, maybe just lying down on the road. You are sure to experience them at some point though. Another thing that you most likely have to learn to live with, are the monkeys. It is not rare to see monkeys running around in the cities.

The scenery

To me, India is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. What first attracted me to India was the cities. Cities such as Delhi, Jaipur, Agra and Varanasi. I’m not a city person in particular, however for some reason, I found those places to be extremely interesting. I wanted to experience them myself, and hopefully capture a few beautiful moments. I quickly realized, that India is so much more diverse, and it’s not only about the big cities. There is Ladakh, Spiti Valley, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Kashmir, Odisha, Kabini, Nagarhole, Jaisalmer, Sikkim, Kerala and Hampi. To you those might just be names, but to me, each represent a place of beauty. The scenery in India is extremely diverse, and you will always have a different experience, depending on which area you are in.

Interest

I write interest due to the fact, that you will get a ton of stares, when walking around. Even when driving around. Especially during the current situation. Walking around in Jaipur it was obvious that people are no longer that used to seeing turists roaming the streets. It seemed that many people simply stopped what they were doing as I walked by, just to have a look. Say hello, and they will break out in the greatest smile. That is one of the reasons I love walking around with my camera. Whenever I photograph someone and show them they photo after, they will give me the biggest smile.
A stare is harmless though, and as you smile to the locals and do the head wiggle, you will have made their day. I got so many great smiles, just walking around.

Help

Even with the language barrier, I have found that people are always happy to help out if you need something. Whenever I have needed something, I have always had help right away. Or at least someone trying to help me. Often help arrives before I even ask for it, if I look a bit confused. Anyway, Indians are super helpful and will honestly go out of their way to help you, and ensure that you have a good time. At least that’s my experience.

Pollution

Unfortunately the bigger cities in particular are very polluted. During my recent visit, I explored Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, and all had very bad air pollution as well as trash laying around. Many places there seemed to be entire alleys filled with trash. Also, the air pollution in Agra was much worse than I have ever experienced. It is a shame really, especially when seeing people throw plastic on the ground, not really caring. It is a huge problem, and I hope that in the future, it is something that is being taken care of.

Transportation

First off, I love the Indian transportation network. There are so many connections, and in many cases it is almost always possible to get a direct ticket to where you want to go. Whether that be by bus, train, flight or even taxis. I love riding the trains in India, especially the overnight trains are an experience, but during my recent trip I found myself taking taxis simply due to covid. It felt like the safest option. Through a friend I discovered Gozo cabs, which gives really good prices, especially if you are traveling with a group of friends, it will end up being super cheap. In many cases, you will need an Indian number. Just ask for help in your hotel or hostel and you will have it.

Prices

When talking about traveling India, we can’t leave out the prices. I have mentioned in another post, that you can travel India as cheap or as expensive as you would like. For westeners it is probably one of the cheapest countries to travel around. Food, transportation and accommodation can be almost as cheap as you want it to be. You just have to be willing to travel in a certain kind of way. There are plenty of hostels that cost just a few euros. Food can be eaten extremely cheap on the streets, but expensive in some restaurants and hotels. Same goes for transportation. If you travel like the locals, train rides will be extremely affordable. However you can also opt for flights or even taxis. It all depends on you and your level of comfort.

Adventure

Traveling India is an adventure. I don’t think there is any other way of putting it. The fact that there is constantly something happening, constantly something to look out for and have in mind. Even crossing the street can be adventurous. However, there are also so many proper adventures to be had. Sailing along the backwaters in Kerala. Star gazing and hiking up in the north. India has something for everyone. Both everyday adventures, as well as planned adventures.

The food

Before we end this I have to talk about the food. Indian food is some of the most delicious and diverse I have ever had. The food changes depending on the regions you visit, and the food you have in the north can be completely different from what you have in the south, or even the east. One thing that is similar for most places though, is the way it touches your taste buds. There are so many different spices in every food you have, that it touches your taste buds in completely new ways. Every new dish is honestly an experience.

So, what is traveling India really like? I hope I have helped you answer that question. My number one recommendation, is that you go yourself and find out.