From West to East: Travel Interview
For decades India has been a most sought after holiday destination for westerners. Since The Beatles made their first pilgrimage to Transcendental Meditation retreat in Riskikesh in 1968, India has been ever popularised and its image imbued with a sense of exotic mystery, spirituality and an essence of the unknown. Indian aesthetics are used throughout western popular culture and fashion, with designers in film, television and the music industry looking to India’s rich and beautiful culture and have woven it into western contemporary culture. To the western mind, India is a land rich with oriental magic, the ultimate escape for those wishing to ditch the overcast cold which plagues the UK most of the year. Advancements of globalisation mean it is now easier than ever to make these long haul journeys across the world to experience it firsthand.
Travel and Deal interviews Raj Singh Gore, a young British National of Punjabi origin about his recent trip with friend Sophie (also a young British National) as they travel to various destinations in Northern India.
On the banks of the Ganga (photo credit – Raj Singh Gore)
T+D: So first of all, tell me why you chose India as a holiday destination. What in particular drew you to travel here?
RSG: I traveled to my family home in Punjab earlier last year, in April, to attend the wedding of a family friend. I spent time with my cousin as he showed me around Punjab, and after seeing how amazed I was by the sites and scenes in Punjab said to me “If you think this is good, just wait until you see the rest of India!” and urged me to travel to other areas. I was just so intrigued by how vast India is, and amazed at how such a variety of cultures, landscapes and wildlife can exist within the same country. I mean, you’ve got beaches, snowy mountains, deserts, forests, hill tops and flat lands all in the same country. And the weather is so different from North to South. I wanted to explore different places in India and experience the rich variety the country has to offer, rather than only going to Punjab.
T+D: So as you’ve told me, this isn’t your first time travelling to India. How many times in the past have you visited?
Previous to this trip, I have been twice. Once when I was very young, I don’t remember much of that trip, and then again last year. The first two trips were with family, and this time I traveled with my friend Sophie.
T+D: As you mentioned before, this was Sophie’s first time travelling to India, and your first time without your family; did you have any concerns about that?
RSG: I was very nervous on the flight to India from the UK, but also excited at the same time. As soon as I arrived in India I realized that I had to learn to be independent, and the whole experience definitely has taught me that.
T+D: How did you travel once you arrived in India?
Our flight departed from Heathrow Airport in London, and our connecting flight was from Bahrain straight to Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.
While in Delhi we took the metro to travel around the city, which was absolutely amazing! The Delhi metro system is even better than the London Underground! It is much easier to use and more efficient.
We originally planned to stay at a hotel in Paharganj, but our hotel wasn’t as nice as it seemed on the website and we wanted to escape the hectic atmosphere of Delhi. So we found a tourist information center and booked a tourist taxi straight to Jaipur, Rajasthan. Once in Jaipur we used a mixture of public transport like trains, buses and rickshaws, and also walked wherever we could. I was lucky as a few of our rickshaw drivers spoke Punjabi, so language was less of an issue.
T+D: What did you do first once you arrived in Jaipur?
We only spent two days in Jaipur, and in that time we tried to see as many of the frequented tourist attractions as possible. First we visited Amber Fort in Amer, we were captured by the beautiful architecture of the building and the gardens. After visiting Amber fort we went to the famous Galta Ji ‘Monkey Temple’.
(The pink city – photo credit Raj Singh Gore)
However our favorite site during our time in Rajasthan was Pushkar. We explored the whole of Pushkar including the famous Jagatpita Brahma Mandir and were stunned by the vast rolling desert landscapes. Pushkar really stood out as my favorite place in Rajasthan, the atmosphere there was just so peaceful. I have seen a lot of the congested, chaotic side of India, particularly in Delhi which is known for its intense traffic and constant hustle. Pushkar was like an oasis of calm for me. There was just something about the place, something completely tranquil. It was refreshing to see places of worship of so many different religions all on one place; there were Gurdwara, Jain temples, Hindu Mandirs all in the same vicinity. You could really sense that this was a spiritual place; there was an almost holy presence there. I would definitely recommend going. Just hop on the train and go!
(Pushkar -Photo credit – Raj Singh Gore)
T+D: And after Rajasthan, what was next?
RSG: We went from Rajasthan to Varanasi by train.
It was just out of this world. I don’t even know how to explain how amazing it was! Soon after arriving there, we just sat on the bank of the Ganga River, not even doing much; we just sat there for hours on end. And what’s best is that we got to spend Diwali there! The fireworks were breathtaking, and we must have been out until 2 am joining in with the festivities.
One of my best memories of my entire trip to India was going to the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi, which was absolutely magical. It’s difficult to convey in words how brilliant it was. You just have to be there to really understand it.
T+D: How did the reality of India differ from your preconceptions of how it would be? And this goes for Sophie as well, what was her perception of seeing India for the first time as a UK national.
RSG: I really love India, I have been twice previously and already had an idea of what to expect, and this trip has only led me to appreciate it more. But I think Sophie found it a little more difficult to adjust. She found it very hectic, and the food didn’t agree with her. She found certain things shocking, for example the living conditions of the poorest in society, which is visible in the majority of places you go in India, and also the stray dogs and the condition many of them were in.
(Photo credits – Raj Singh Gore)
T+D: What did you find to be the most different culturally?
RSG: Definitely the driving! And the fact that people seem much friendlier in India. I think that was mainly due to the fact people knew we were tourists from the UK, but we found everyone to be so helpful.
T+D: Has your recent trip to India influenced where you would travel next?
RSG: Yes of course. It’s made me realize the possibilities of travelling alone, without family. So I am going to travel more of India, and hopefully more of the world! I think my next trip will be to South India.
