Travel Tips

In June 1998 I took my first trip to India, traveling for three weeks by car, train, plane, and boat. My friends and I ran all over the country, seeing temples, hill stations, ancient monuments, and cities. Since my friends are Indian, I had a fantastic introduction to a country that I've now been back to many, many times since.

In Rajasthan, one of the places we visited that didn't seem to get a lot of attention was Fatehpur Sikri, a deserted palace complex several hundred years old. It's on the way from Agra to Jaipur, and well worth a stop. When we were there, we just about had the enormous place to ourselves.

At the end of our trip, we traveled north to Shimla and then onward to Manali. The cool mountain air was heavenly at that time of year, and you could definitely understand why the British made Shimla the summer capital. It's a neat little city, with some architecture that will make you think you're in Europe. Manali, farther north in the Himalayan foothills, is beautiful, and home to a good-size community of Tibetans. They have Buddhist temples there that are really fascinating.

This picture is the Red Fort in Delhi, one of a huge number of sights in India that are spectacularly photogenic. I just wish you could take pictures that somehow included the sounds and smells of this country, which are an integral part of the experience. India is almost overwhelming but it's one of the most fascinating places I know. I'll be traveling there for a long time to come.