India

I've been to a lot of countries and the thing I'll remember most about India isn't Taj Mahal or even the extraordinary butter chicken — it's the people. In Varanasi and out in the countryside, I encountered a warmth and generosity that felt completely genuine. One local family essentially adopted m…

I wanted to love India more than I did. The positives exist: Kerala backwaters is genuinely impressive, Mumbai has moments of real charm, and rogan josh is as good as people say. But persistent touts at tourist sites was a persistent problem throughout the trip and dragged the experience down. I've…

Did India on a shoestring for 12 days and it was absolutely manageable. Based in cheap guesthouses near Varanasi centre and ate mostly at local spots — rogan josh from street stalls cost almost nothing and was better than anything in a tourist restaurant. Varanasi ghats has an entry fee but worth e…

Visited India for 6 days. The positives are real: Taj Mahal is every bit as impressive as advertised, and the food scene around Jaipur is genuinely excellent — try dosa if you haven't. overwhelming sensory experience was an unexpected bonus. That said, persistent touts at tourist sites. It's not a …

Took the family to India for 17 days and it worked better than I'd hoped. The kids were fascinated by Jaipur Amber Fort — more than I expected from children who usually resist sightseeing. Food was manageable: even the pickiest eater in our group found things to eat, and rogan josh went down well wi…

I came to India specifically for photography and the country delivered material at every turn. Ajanta Caves at dawn was everything I'd hoped. Varanasi's streets at dusk are an endless source of light and texture. The people, once comfortable with a camera, are extraordinary subjects. ancient living…

I'll be honest — I went to India primarily to see Ajanta Caves, and it delivered beyond what any photo prepares you for. But the surrounding region surprised me just as much. Mumbai has a character I didn't anticipate, and wandering without a plan for an afternoon turned out to be one of the highlig…

I spent 16 days in India and based myself mainly in Varanasi. The city itself exceeded expectations — the Varanasi ghats was genuinely jaw-dropping and I ended up visiting twice. Food was a highlight throughout; I must have eaten butter chicken every other day and have no regrets about it whatsoever…

India is undeniably beautiful. Taj Mahal and the area around Delhi have a visual quality that photographs don't capture fully. I enjoyed rogan josh and appreciated extraordinary spiritual sites. That's all real. But traffic and pollution in cities was more of a problem than I expected based on revi…

I thought I was going to India for beaches, food, and Taj Mahal. I got all of those things. What I didn't expect was how emotionally affecting the trip would be. The history — particularly around Delhi — hit in ways that good travel sometimes does. extraordinary spiritual sites was the moment that …