Our Travels Around India

By Oldest on the Bus

India... where do you start? Complex, busy, historical, tiring, beautiful, noisy, colourful, vibrant, mysterious, chaotic... In fact, all of those words would be apt.

Diverse is a great word after a lengthy time pondering that question. The reality is that it is a country the size of a continent, and as such, it has more than enough room for a mix of everything, from the snow-capped mountains of the Himalayan Mountain range in the north to sun-baked beaches with swaying palm trees around the coast. It is home to Varanasi, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Nestling on the banks of the River Ganges, it is a pivotal place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world. At the other end of the spectrum is the bustling, modern metropolis of Mumbai, where the glamour of Bollywood, immense wealth and the slums sit side by side.

Our book covers all the places that we have visited and explored across our years of travelling in India. The stories behind the places and people we have met along the way. Hopefully, it is done with a light touch, enough to set the scene, without feeling like a history lesson. We like to think it has a sprinkling of humour, some from the characters we have met along the way, but others from incidents and our take, or interpretation, on certain things. This is our travel story, our take, so it may be that others who have ventured around this incredible part of the world have a different view.

In the north of the country, we shared in the joy and fervour of a partisan crowd at the Wagah Border closing ceremony, now that really is a spectacle as Indian and Pakistani Border Forces have their nightly march off. The following day, we took in the serenity and breathtaking beauty of the Golden Temple as we learn about the Sikh way of life and viewed the world's biggest canteen. We also discovered more about a shameful episode in Britain's colonial past, the Jallianwala Bagh, or Amritsar massacre.

A Golden Triangle tour plunged us into the forts, palaces and temples of the old world of Rajasthan to New Delhi, designed by an English architect at the height of the Empire. Stories of wealth and power from Maharajas and Mughal Emperors of the past, through to Agra and the love story behind the greatest monument to love, the Taj Mahal.
In the central region, we visited Hampi, an incredible story of a kingdom that was once the world's second-largest medieval-era city and marvelled at some of the well-preserved remains. A little further south is Mysore, home of a palace spectacularly illuminated every Sunday evening, and the sweetest of treats, Mysore Pak, fit for a king.

Heading to the coast in Kerala, we witness the influence of the first European traders, the Portuguese, swiftly followed by the Dutch. A lazy trip on a converted rice barge, discovering the backwaters of Alleppey, whiled away the hours, before we headed to the hills to explore the never-ending sights of tea plantations. Making a trip to the southernmost tip of the Indian mainland is the pilgrimage town of Kanyakumari, where three oceans, the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean meet. It is also famous as being where one of the urns containing the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi was immersed upon his assassination. A memorial is built on that exact spot for visitors to pay homage to one of the greatest sons of India.

Goa provided the perfect place for relaxation, more Western in style than anywhere else in the country. It brings a gentle introduction to the chaos, noise and colour that make India such an addictive place to visit. By day, enjoy the sun-kissed beaches lying on a comfortable bed with an ice-cold beer by your side. Come evening, the place comes alive, with numerous restaurants and bars to chat the night away.

The country of India is a rich, if not the richest, of all tapestries; surely there is something here to suit everyone.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0BLFWPKPL
• ISBN13: 9798362183738
• Release Date: November 2022
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.49 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"