"India - A continent in a nation?" India by NEILHALLIDYA

India Travel Guide: 27,721 reviews and 75,579 photos

The Joy of Text? Ladakhi Monks communicate

These pages are work in progress...

In India lots of things are not what they first seem. And some things are.

India is not easy to summarise. It is a place full of contradictions and oddities that appealled to me but would not appeal to all.

A vast, vast, nation with the second highest population in the world and an incredible geographical and cultural diversity. It is also a country where pollution and poverty are fairly common place. In India the challenge to your senses is unsanitised.

My holiday centrered around the North of India and I left India keen to return and visit other areas.

My journey........

Involved New Delhi as a base. A fascinating city of contrasts. Fast moving (too much so at times) and frantic but beautiful in its own way. Click for link.

Trekking and climbed in the Ladakh range in the far north of India. A predominantly Buddhist area in the state of Jammu and Kashmir where snow capped peaks sit above a high altitude desert. Click for link

Bollywood billboard

An incredible day in Armritsar. The predominantly Sikh city that stands on the border of the Muslim Pakistan and (again predominantly) Hindu India. Click for link

Visiting Mcleod Ganj, Upper Dharamasala, the home of exiled Tibetans (including the Dalia Lama) in Northern India. This place changed my views on a couple of things in a surprisingly negative way. Click for link

Visiting Shimla. The Summer retreat for the Raj in Himmanchal Pradesh where Indian Honeymooners now eat candy floss and ride horses. Click for link

I interspersed this with several "interesting" bus journeys, taxi and rickshaw rides.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Scenery, culture, people, diversity.
Cons:Con men, heat, sitting for extended periods of time on various toilets.
In a nutshell:Mad

Last visit to India: Oct 2005
Intro Updated Nov 27, 2005
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Reviews (12)

Swastika - Indian Meaning Not Same Local Customs (5)

As you travel around India you will see numerous swastikas on Hindu, Buddhist and Jainist buildings. It has... more travel advice

Go to a movie - Bollywood Things to Do (2)

No trip to India is fully complete unless you have seen a Bollywood Movie. Attractive women bound about in a state of... more travel advice

Explore religions - Temples and people Things to Do (2)

India is predominantly Hindu (80 - 90% population) but its minority religions are significant and diverse (Buddhism,... more travel advice

Diwali/Deewali - The Festival of Lights Local Customs (5)

I was fortunate enough to be in North India in late October-Early November a time which coincides with Diwali. Perhaps... more travel advice

Comments (4)

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adite Mar 26, 2006 at 10:24 PM

You have captured the essence of India. Cheers!
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cheesecake17 Nov 20, 2005 at 4:58 PM

welcome back!!..wow so much great information on your pages....I agree , sanitation is a big problem in those countries....but not to stop from trying the food...:)..ursula
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kikalena Sep 24, 2005 at 8:22 AM

Have a nice stay in Leh and the Indian Himalaya:)
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umashanker Sep 15, 2005 at 10:38 PM

Best wishes for your forthcoming India Travel.