Author: Ana Srdoc
Photo by: Livingstone Archive
Source: Livingstone

The land of the maharaja, enlightened gurus, sacred cows, rivers and miracles at every step – one of those destinations that every true adventurer wants to discover.  The story of India begins 5,000 years before Christ and due to its tradition being maintained throughout this time, India still emerges with the aura of a holy empire. India is known as the land of the most incredible mixtures: it is full of color, with light and dark, rich and poor alternating at each step, in an unending contrast. Its inhabitants mostly smile and they welcome everyone with their traditional greeting “I greet the God within” (Namaste).

Delhi and Agra
Legendary Delhi fascinates with its new part where Qutub Minar, a 72 meters (236 feet) tall minaret from the 13th century can be found, as well as the parliament, the presidential residence, and the India Gate– a monument to Indian soldiers who died in World War I, tomb of Emperor Moghul Humayun, and the buildings of the secretariat.

It is also worth visiting its old part where you can see the memorial to Mahatma Ghandi - Raj Ghata, the red fortresses built by Emperor Shah Jehan, and Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India, built in 1656.

A visit to Agra is an experience that remains in the memory of all its visitors. There you can find one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal, a marble mausoleum that Mughal Shah ordered to be built in the 17th century for his wife Queen Mumtaz Mahal. Today you can find it on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Many global travelers are unanimous in the expression that this is the most beautiful building in the world. Agra Fort, with its magnificent halls and private chambers is also worth seeing, as well as other palaces.

The connection of Hinduism and Islam
We have to prepare ourselves that India will often take our breath away with its balanced beauty of architecture and the coherence of life and faith. A similar feeling can be experienced by visiting Fatehpur Sikri, the former capital of the Mughal State, built between 1570 and 1585 during the rule of Emperor Akbar. There you can find the impressive mosque of Jama Masjid, as well as Buland Darwaza (The Gate of Magnificence built in honor of Akbar’s victory in Gujarati), and the palace of Jodha Bai, an interesting bond of Hindu and Islamic architecture.

Of course, the pleasures of India don’t stop here and everybody can find something to enjoy. Lovers of romance will definitely like the Amber Fort, a classical, romantic palace where the main attraction is riding elephants all the way to the entrance of the fortress. A visit to the temples of Savitri (dedicated to the goddess Durga) and Brahma (dedicated to the Creator of the Universe) will introduce us to the oldest of Indian religious beliefs.
Jaipur city is also very appealing with the Palace of Winds, as well as the world’s largest astronomical observatory of Jantar Mantar, built of stone and marble by the astronomer Maharaja Jai Singh.

Food
Although it is hard to describe Indian food in just a few lines, there is some practical advice which is always valid everywhere. Even though most of the Indians aren’t officially vegetarians, the culture of nonviolence dominates in Indian society and meat is eaten very rarely. Cows are for Hindus (80 % of the population) sacred animals and you will find them everywhere, from meadows to city streets. Beef is therefore excluded even in their thoughts.

The most common meat is poultry and goat/mutton. For those who still cannot do without meat, a solid and reliable choice can be found at better hotels and restaurants. Thanks to the very favorable climatic conditions, numerous kinds of fresh fruit and vegetables are grown in India. With a variety of grains, India’s millennia of culinary traditions have created an exceptional range of gastronomy.

Indian food is often spicier (though not always) than that which Europeans are used to, and so that should be taken into consideration. In order to avoid inconveniences, it is enough to tell waiter that you don’t want your food too spicy when ordering a meal. They will probably be a bit confused, but they are already used to these strange customs of the Europeans.

Due to the danger that the hot climate spoils the food, it is good to choose well cooked or fried food (even in the better restaurants), and it’s best not to buy anything to eat from street vendors. In India, you should enjoy the varieties of fruits, as much as possible. However, again due to the fact that European body is not accustomed to Indian bacteria, it is recommended not to eat the fruit’s peel, e.g. of apples. It is a good idea to carry a substantial supply of alcohol wipes to disinfect the fruit, as well as to refresh yourself during the day.

The culture of living
In addition to all the tourist top destinations and special cuisine, the traveler will be fascinated by the Indian way of life. They say that the main motive of traveling is primarily to explore other cultures. Only by meeting the residents can we get to know the thin threads from which the Indian culture is woven, either while they drive us in rickshaws (surely the best and easiest way of urban transport), or during sightseeing. Then we will be able to better understand all these temples and material monuments with the eternal question – whether Indians are the way they are because of their religious principles and system of beliefs, or because they weren’t able to create different ones.

Trying to unravel the Indian mystery, loaded with air full of smells of flowers, spices, earth… while enjoying the magnificent Indian culture, buildings, their way of life, is a sufficient challenge for a comfortable journey full of experiences.

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