"I love India" a India Travel Page by PierreZA

I arrived at Mumbai airport from Johannesburg on 24 March 2004. It was about 2am when I stepped out of the airport building, greeted by heat, humidity, noise and lots of people. I was totally overwhelmed! The hotel sent a car and a driver. Driving from the airport to Colaba I saw many people sleeping on pavements, on cardboard box beds, and I thought of my own country, where we have many poor people. Many mixed thoughts went through my head. I organized with the driver take me on a trip around Mumbai the next morning. It must have been this driver, who introduced me to Mumbai, who played a major role in my liking of this city, and later India. He took me on a wonderful daytrip, showing me not just the city, but also the kindness of Indian people.

Since that first trip, I visited India every year and I will hopefully always return to this wonderful country.
Every time I visit this amazing country, I get to love it more. It is difficult to define exactly what it is about the country that attracts me so much. It might be a combination of many, many things including the people, food, culture, unpretentiousness etc.

There is a certain intensity about India. Although it is developing/modernizing fast, it seems that certain traditions are not abandoned. Things are still being done as it was for hundreds of years, and will in future within the modernity developing. Maybe that is part of the wonder and attraction of this amazing country.

If I have to choose a favourite part of India, it would be Kerala. It is so different from the rest of India. The people are extremely friendly and laid back, the food is different and it must be one of the most beautiful places on earth (God’s own country – as it is called).

I wish I had more time to visit India, as it is a vast and diverse country. Hopefully I will be able to return many times.
With this page, I would like to give an overview and not many, many tips on each city, as I have VT pages with more detail on the following:
Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi (Cochin), Chennai, Trivandrum and Alleppey

This is not easy, as I enjoyed every trip. But, I might mention a few, not a comprehensive list, or ‘must see’ things.
Visiting the Taj Mahal
On a road trip I took, I had some great conversations with the driver. We talked about India, the religion, food, culture etc. I will never forget those few days I spent with him, who taught me so much about this wonderful country.
Kerala is an amazing place. It is so beautiful and serene, it is a total different experience compared to many other places in India I have been to.
I attended a Hindu festival once, which was a new experience to me.
Another unforgettable experience was watching a movie in Chennai, I was the only foreigner.

I want to watch an ODI (Cricket) at Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Varanasi

Kashmir

I did not spend enough time in Rajasthan

After these, I’m sure there will be a new wish list!