India is an experience, not a destination

Willemien Calitz on 16 September 2008
Ancient history, amazing culture, spicy food, colourful saris, a nation obsessed with cricket, more than 15 national languages and thousands of dialects, the cultural phenomenon of Bollywood, the smell of street food, chaotic traffic, religious festivals, poverty vs. tremendous wealth… We embarked on a tour of the “Royal Rajasthan”. The journey started off in the bustling port city of Mumbai (Bombay). Stepping out of the plane into the sweltering heat, we were immediately whisked off on a horse-drawn “Victorian buggy” tour of the down town area, passing through the imposing Gateway of India. Then it was time for dinner. It was here we discovered that the food was a lot hotter than the weather! If you are not used to the variety of spices then it might be a good idea to specifically ask for the Westerner version of their food. I just loved the thick gravy and naan bread, the yoghurt-based drinks, the lentils, the masala, the kebabs, the Tandoori chicken… After a night in Mumbai we hopped onto a plane bound for the “Blue City” of Jodhpur. We visited the imposing, red sandstone Mehrangarh Fort. It is one of the largest forts in India offering breathtaking views of the area around. We made our way down the winding streets to the city centre. Here we experienced our first taste of the “Real India”. As we entered the colourful central market area, we were greeted by the stereotypical image of elephants, cows, dogs, tuk-tuks, bicycles, motorbikes, cars (constantly honking) and people, all battling for space on the narrow streets. (Cows always have right of way as they are considered sacred). I was in my element – I have arrived! From Jodhpur we made our way to Jaipur – the famous “Pink City” which makes up the third point of the Golden Triangle. A ride on a beautifully decorated elephant took us to the Amber Fort. We were awestruck by the amazing architecture, paintings and mirror mosaics. We also encountered our first snake-charmer! Again this was surreal to think I was watching this from only a few steps away. We then visited other attractions such as the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the wind), Jantar Mantar and the City Palace. The next stop was in the city of Agra – the Taj Mahal – the 7th wonder of the world! It is a bit cliché, but a must-see for anyone visiting that part of India. We visited in the early morning, when it was bathed in a pink glow as the sun came over the horizon. An emotional experience – the sheer beauty of this “monument of love” – a romantically sad story. We then visited the impressive Agra Fort – a UNESCO World Heritage site! It was mentioned the first time in 1080 AD. It is very difficult to imagine how huge these Palaces are until you stand in front of it. Our last stop was Delhi were we visited the memorial site of the Indian leader Mahatma Gandi. We drove through the India Gate – inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and had a view of some parliament buildings designed by Herbert Baker. The similarities of this in comparison to the Union Buildings in Pretoria were obvious and it almost felt like home. It was with a kind of sadness that I said goodbye to this fascinating country. A kaleidoscope of sights, sounds and aromas, where ancient culture intertwines with the hustle and bustle of modern day-to-day life. India is not a destination, it is an experience.