Other India

Don’t think anything wrong, Goa is a very beautiful state with beaches and waterfalls. But the atmosphere prevailing in the tourist area is too reminiscent of Adler, Kemer or any other popular resort with standard European lunches and the predominance of vacationers over representatives of the local culture. Stupid to eat in India Burgers for lunch and toast for breakfast. It is sad that in such a large and interesting country tourists see only beaches, cafes and souvenir shops. What about another India?

 

We have a country where you can see everything from the sea to deserts and mountains. Where I come from in winter snow to the knee, continues the neighbor.

And if we had not climbed a mountain a few days ago, about 2,500 meters above sea level, I probably would not have believed him. It is very difficult to imagine snow, sitting under palm trees and listening to the sound of the surf. And India, if you look at it, is not such a big country. But it really has everything you want.

 

We rounded the entire southern part of the coast from west to east, capturing a few towns in the central part and headed north. So I can confirm that the diversity of landscapes in this country is really impressive. If you love nature, you should definitely visit here. The most beautiful cities in India In terms of natural attractions, in my opinion: Munnar, Rishikesh and Hampi. In fact, these are not even cities, but towns and villages with their own unique atmosphere.

 

 

The mountain town of Munnar is located at an altitude of 1,532 meters above sea level. The air temperature there is much lower than below. When we got to Calcutta, I didn’t think that India I might need a jacket again, but in Munnar even a hat was not superfluous. Despite the fact that the winter temperature on average is +26 during the day, and at night it drops only to +12, these +12 degrees are felt quite differently than at the bottom. There is a different air, very clean and fresh, in the morning it is foggy and in this fog the distant mountain ranges blue.

 

 

Humidity and mountain air are excellent conditions for growing the very tea for which India is famous. Here in Munnar, you can watch tea plantation workers. I don’t know why, but I was very impressed. Who else can boast that he saw with his own eyes how to collect tea?

 

Who else has ridden an elephant? In the Munnar "Elephant Park" this is possible. And you can also ride on the mountain serpentine on a bike, swim on the lake on a boat and meet the dawn on the top of the mountain.

 

 

Munnar is replete with hiking mountain trails with landscapes of simply incredible beauty with hills, lakes and waterfalls. And, by the way, there is no abundance of European tourists here because Munnar is a favorite holiday destination of the Indian elite. Locals often spend a vacation or honeymoon here. In general, the atmosphere is very authentic and calm. Do not forget to buy spices that are also grown here and try the local homemade chocolate.

 

 

And the theme of plantations can continue in Hampi. Here, as in many other cities of India, rice is grown. Plantations look great at sunset, when in the water among bright green sprouts reflected colorful sky and palm leaves.

 

 

But the village is not famous for that. Hampi is among the ruins of the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire.

 

 

There are historical monuments and temples at every step. It feels like I was in the set for a movie about Indiana Jones or Lara Croft. Only the age of these “decorations” is more than 400 years.

 

 

There is also a unique place in Hampi that is not written about in guidebooks. This is Hanuman Temple, the temple on the mountain. Come at sunset, there is a great view and do not forget to buy bananas. Why? Oh, you'll understand when you get up. You will watch the sunset in a rather unusual company.

 

 

I recommend you to ride round boats on the lake and swim. The water is warm and clean, and around stones, stones, stones. This is generally a feature of Hampi - huge blocks and collapses of stones everywhere. No wonder this place is considered a mecca of bouldering - a type of climbing without insurance. By the way, a very interesting experience and absolutely safe if you follow the rules and have an instructor. All the stones in Hampi are marked on a special map by difficulty category, so there is entertainment for everyone.

 

 

Rishikesh is a town in the foothills of the Himalayas. The Ganges here is close in its origins, so the water in the river is cold, clean and bright turquoise. If in Varanasi it does not occur to you to drink from the Ganges, then here this idea does not seem strange. In fact, the locals do this, drinking directly from the river. And, despite the fact that this city is mostly a European resort, it is beautiful and unique.

 

There are many waterfalls in the vicinity, two beautiful suspension bridges are thrown over the Ganges and there are a lot of cafes and hotels overlooking the magical bright blue river. For those who prefer a more active holiday, there is entertainment that you will remember for a lifetime. Ganges rafting. How is it? That sounds cool in itself, but what lies ahead is beyond praise. Hindus know a lot about entertainment, just trust your instructor.

 

For a relaxing holiday there is another place, this time, near the sea - Gokarna, Karnataka. It's almost near Goa, but it's quieter and cheaper here. Bungalows can be rented for 300-400 rupees, and eat for 150-200 in a civil cafe on the beach or for 50 rupees (40 for fried rice with vegetables and 10 for tea) in the square behind the main beach. Actually, it's a place you don't talk about, it's for your own. So if you go there – just relax and enjoy the sea, sun and beautiful rocks. Shanti-shanti, you don't have to make any noise here.

 

 

And finally, the big cities. On our trip we visited all the major cities, missing only Chennai. Calcutta, Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi are beautiful in their diversity, noise and color. They contrast the tranquility of small towns, they are always rushing somewhere. And this noise, dirt, garbage underfoot, smog and crazy traffic can really exhaust and drive crazy, but in order to see the real India, you should visit at least one of its major cities.

 

 

Only here you can clearly feel the contrast between different social strata of the population, see the characteristics of each. Look at modern India and see in it the main milestones of its history. Here's the old temple, here's the remnants of colonial architecture -- the dusty and cracked heritage of the British, here's the new temple with the tiles and the bars inside. Watching all this, you gradually begin to understand how these people think and why they behave in this way and not otherwise. When you understand, you forgive mistakes.

 

India repels and frightens many. This is happening for so many reasons that perhaps it is a topic for a separate article. But if you have a dream about this journey, then you are ready to look for something to love it for. And you're sure to find it in the quiet atmosphere of small cities, and in the crazy flavor of big cities. You will find another India.