How to Vacation in India – Land of Religion, Culture and Contrasts

A vacation in India is filled to the brim with vibrant travel options for almost any type of traveler – except perhaps those that seek perfection. India is packed to capacity with a mix of interesting cultures, natural wonders, and religious contrasts.

The icy Himalayas contrast intriguingly with tropical Kerala and the Ganges river stands starkly against the Thar desert. There seem to be no two areas that are alike in this country of elegant beauty and harsh poverty. A vacation in India can feel like visiting two different countries.

The city streets of India are as different from the lush valleys as chalk and cheese and yet these are all part of a vacation in India. When you holiday in India you meet and interact with people belonging to and embracing a multitude of faiths and cultures. A visit to India brings into focus the importance of the caste system and you will meet people as markedly different as the Punjabis and Tamils – all in one great mass of humanity.

While on vacation in India you will have the opportunity to sample the temples and rituals that make up such an important part of the history of the country. Some of these practices date back to the era of the Egyptian Pharaohs. Mosques stand out sharply against the skyline and seem to encapsulate the region’s rich history.

But India has its modern side too and a vacation in India will bring this into focus. Thanks to free-market reforms in the 1990’s India has been introduced to consumerism, technology and western ways of life almost unheard of in the past. One wonders what Buddha would have thought of the fact that India is now the second largest producer of computer software in the world. The country even has its very own satellites and nuclear weapons.

But India has its problems too. No traveler (no matter how blasé) can fail to notice slums like those in Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta. In these regions of India many people still live largely uneducated, unsanitary lives. This poverty is based on the pecking-order of the caste system and it’s a fact that about 40% of India’s people are poor or destitute. If you want to vacation in India you will not be able to ignore this truth.

However, poverty hasn’t dampened the spirits of the slum dwellers and they are as happy to show you around their homes as they would be a five-star hotel. Incidentally there are plenty of these in India too, so you won’t need to be in discomfort as you travel. Every country has its good and bad side and India is no different – it may just be a little more pronounced. A vacation in India is not for the faint-hearted.

A vacation in India may not be perfect but there is plenty to see and do that makes it a worthwhile travel destination. Love it or hate it India won’t leave you feeling cold. Here are some options for a vacation in India:

* Adventure holiday in India – Deserts, Forts & Palaces
* Rajasthan
* Tamil Nadu
* Wildlife & culture India tour
* Southern India
* India adventure tours
* India family holidays
* Kanha tiger safari
* Land of the Tiger tour
* Delhi to Kathmandu holiday
* Dhaka to Delhi rail journey – vacation in India, by train!
* Himalayan Foothills
* Mountain biking in the Himalayas

(Source: http://www.responsibletravel.com/TripSearch/Asia/Country100125.htm This is a great resource for those wanting to vacation in India. Visit their Web site for more information on these and other tours.)

As you can see from the options above, there is no shortage of places to visit when you vacation in India and there really is something interesting to see wherever you go. While it may not always be the glitzy paradise of a first world destination it is not likely to leave you under-stimulated or uninspired either.

Many people feel the pull and tug of India’s deeply mystical side and it’s a great place to get in touch with the aspects of yourself that have become obscured over time. A vacation in India is not merely a holiday; it’s a really tangible experience. Walking through its busy shopping districts, filled with music, smoke and the pungent aroma of spices, dust and cow dung, you may well wonder if you have stepped into another world – and you’d be right.