With its sumptuous mix of traditions, spiritual beliefs, festivals, architecture and landscapes, your memories of India will blaze bright long after you’ve left its shores.
Lonely Planet introduction to India
This inspirational quote is courtesy of Lonely Planet. Typically I very much dislike travel guides because they have a conflict of interest, they get paid when you buy their book to travel so why would they give a negative outlook on anything. The passage above is an example of a less than accurate portrayal of India. I feel that any introduction to a country should be similar to the 30 second rundown the typical traveler would give. Sure, the line that your memory of India will blaze long after you’ve left its shores is highly on-point but that is not due to traditions or landscapes. Rather it is due to abundance of trash in the streets, shit in the water (look it up, the fecal content in the water they bath in is at astronomical levels), the annoying cry of hawkers and rickshaw drivers, and how you’ll spend several days becoming acquainted with the India plumbing situation (get ready for Delhi Belly over a squaty potty). If you talk to anyone who has been to India outside an Instagram-Friendly-Yoga-Retreat they will tell you about the trash, fecal matter, and extreme announce of the locals hounding you to spend your money on their “best price”.
I am being a little unfair… to both India and The Lonely planet. The travel guide does say…
Expectedly Unexpected
A go-with-the-flow attitude will help keep your sanity intact when traversing the chaotic canvas that is India. With its ability to inspire, exasperate, thrill and confound all at once, be prepared for unexpected surprises. This can be challenging, particularly for first-time visitors: despite India’s wonders, the poverty is confronting, the bureaucracy can be frustrating and the crush of humanity may turn the simplest task into a frazzling epic. Even veteran travellers find their nerves frayed at some point. But love it or loathe it – and most visitors see-saw between the two – to embrace India’s unpredictability is to embrace its soul.
Lonely Planet India Summary
“The poverty is confronting” skirts the true India a bit. The poverty will punch you in the face, “the bureaucracy” will drive you fucking insane, and the “crush of humanity” will make you question your belief in God (Allah or whatever high being you may or may not believe in). They get it right when even veteran travelers will find themselves pushed to the limit, which is what makes India great. These punch in the face moments will leave you shaken to your core but for those seeking the adventure side of travel, who have been around the block in Europe and South America, backpacking India is a good destination to test your mettle. The constant badgering of sidewalk salespeople and rickshaw chauffeurs combined with a new level of infrustructual degraderity is one of a kind. Just be sure to read between the lines in the rose tinted guide book. India is not easy, not nice, and will beat the shit out of you.
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