One of the most valuable assets of India is its people and diversity. You go from one Indian state to another and you will find a difference in culture, language, mannerisms, tradition and food and amazingly we coexist in a very peaceful way. Nowhere in the world will you find such diversity There are places to visit and then there is India. Here are some of the reasons why you should visit this great country.
The Taj Mahal
One of the wonders of the world, this single monument attracts millions of visitors to India. It’s a beautiful constructed piece of architectural marvel romantically built by a king for this dead wife. UNESCO has described this monument as “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”. You just have to come to India to view this monument. It is said that the world is divided in two parts; one who has seen the Taj and other who haven’t. Where do you stand? Here’s some facts about the Taj Mahal and how to get there.
Food
Having visited countries around the world, I shameless declare that Indian food is the best in the world. If you hate bland “fish and chips” or “scampi and lemon” or the mere soggy “cucumber sandwiches”; you just have to come to India to try the delicious Indian food. Many say that once in India, you just have to try the numerous street foods India has to offer. With a little caution, there is no harm in trying the amazing street food in India some of which include the chaat, gol gappa, pav bhaji etc. Here’s a street food guide. Here’s a list of 10 top foods to try when in India.
Bollywood
India is the home of Bollywood. Nowhere in the world will you get a range of movies made in India. You will find commercial movies to art movies that cater for everyone. Why not visit India and try some of the multiplexes in Delhi or Mumbai and I can assure you that you will love it. Some of the top theatres in India are Cinemax (Mumbai), Cinepolis (Amritsar, Bangalore and Thane), DT Cinemas, Fame Cinemas (Mumbai), Fun Cinemas, INOX, Pyramid Saimira Theatres Ltd (South India ), PVR Cinemas (Delhi) and Sathyam Cinemas (South India).
Volunteering
If you wish to volunteer why not come to India. You will find farms, schools, non-governmental organisations that will help you volunteer in India. You never know, you might like it so much that you might decide to stay in India for longer. I know many who have!
Spirituality
India is the epicentre for the Hindu religion, one of the greatest religions in the world. You will find temples, yoga centres, retreats and ashrams. Many come for the peace of mind that India’s holy places has to offer. If you are looking for a change in direction in your life, you must come to India. In addition, there numerous temples that you can visit such as the Konark Sun Temple in Orissa, Thanjavur Temple in South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the Somnath temple in Gujarat, Sanchi Stupas in Madhya Pradesh, Bodh Gaya Temple in Bihar and the Golden Temple in Amritsar along with numerous others.
Cricket
Cricket is said to be founded by the British but the biggest following of this game is in India. It is also home to the richest cricketing body in the world, the BCCI. Nowhere in the world, will you find such passion for cricket than in India. Why not visit India during the cricketing season.
Friendly people
I have visited many places in the world I have realised that people in many parts of the world are extremely boring and unfriendly. Nowhere have I seen such warmth than in my own country. People of India are genuinely friendly, honest, funny, loving and forgiving. You will not have a dull day in India; you will always have someone to talk to you. Indians will give you the best laugh of your life.
Higher education
India has some of the best education systems of the world comparable to Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard. No wonder students from all over the world come to study in India. If want to study in India, then you should come and visit some of the institutions India has to offer. Forget USA, UK and Australia, come to India for your higher education.
Emerging economy
You will find that India has changed. A country’s prosperity is defined by the number of middle classes in the country. Well, India has one of the largest middle class populations in the world giving India a huge consuming ability. No wonder, companies around the world are dying to come to India to set up their businesses. Come and see for yourself how India has changed for the better.
Shopping
India is a paradise for shoppers. There are numerous places you can shop from street vendors, to small shops to international outlets. If you are a shopaholic, you will love India. Here are 51 things to buy in India.
Bhang
Although marijuana is illegal in India, it’s difficult to completely ban this drug. Hence the government of India has come up with legal government shops where you can buy bhang cookies and bhang lassies (milkshake) without being arrested. Most of the legal bhang shops are in holy city of Varanasi. Read more about Bhang here.
I can mention hundreds of more reasons for visiting this existing and beautiful county but for the time being these 11 reasons for visiting India will do! Trust me, a holiday in India will be memorable like no other.