I purchased a guide book for India with the hope that it would prepare me for my trip, but in all honesty it did not- in short, India is amazing and no book could relate the many aspects of its culture.
In Old Delhi we took a rickshaw ride through the narrow streets filled with souks (markets). The sights, sounds and smells were beyond description. The attached video will give you my view from the rickshaw. The vibrancy was palpable- as if one were in a stream with thousands of people going one way or another.
There is a palate of colors in the dress, in the food, even in the foreheads of the people. India is now the most populated nation on earth with 1.4 billion and it is a young nation with a high percentage of the people under 30 years old.
We were able to see historical sights in our time in India as well. Gandhi spent the last 144 days of his life at a house in Delhi and unfortunately this man of nonviolence was assassinated by an extremist on the grounds of the complex. A touching memorial has been created with steps leading from the house to the spot of his murder. In the garden a small stone monument has been erected marking the spot of the shooting.
The Sikh Temple prepares food everyday for over 40,000 people at no cost. Can you imagine feeding 40,000 people a day? It doesn’t matter your religion or circumstances, you may eat for free at the temple. I went through the kitchen where they prepare the food and there is an army of people involved.
The city of Jaipur is known as “the pink city” and home to the famous Amber Fort. It is an immense area with a moat, huge wall, turrets, and filled with places and temples. It is a popular place for wedding couples to have their picture taken. It is at the top of a large hill, so you can either ride an elephant or take a jeep.
Culturally, the family structure is very strong with extended families sharing a home. Several generations often live together and provide care to the young and old. In the Hindu tradition, it is all about the family.
On the itinerary there was a stop at a step well and I really didn’t understand it until we arrived. The well is a huge area that goes down about 200 feet with over 3,000 steps that allow people to get water no mater what the level of water in the well is at. The water in the well comes from the monsoon rains.
Finally, of course we saw the Taj Mahal - the most amazing building on earth! It was built by Shah Jahan as a tomb to honor his wife who died in childbirth. It is a massive structure made of white marble with inlaid gemstones throughout. It was a real highlight of the trip- I had always heard about it, but to see it was most inspiring.
I have mentioned only a few of my Indian experiences and hope to share more in the future. In a campaign ad for tourism in India they use the phrase INDIA IS INCREDIBLE and I have to agree!
