India with Caroline Paris - ROCS Travel Traveller's Tales

C A R O L I N E P A R I S I dia W I T H

What did I do in India? I travelled in a cinema in the sky And lived on a train I saw a wonder of the world And been on safari I met some of the kindest people And tasted amazing food I had lunch and tea in a palace, And dinner in a fort I rode in a TukTuk And made friends with a cow

Day 1 I travelled to India in December 2017. I didn’t know too much about India before I got there and most if was from what new, movies and the general world reports. I landed in Mumbai, jetlagged and tired but immediately I was hit by the different smells all around and of course lots of colour, My Indan experience was living onboard a train which travelled from Mumbai to Delhi. The train is called The Deccan Odyssey, it is a luxury train that travels around India offering you the experience of a sort of ‘cruise on land’ or as I’m calling it – the experience of living like a princess for a week.

Day 2 The first stop on board the India Sojourn was Vadodara - An important, historical city that houses the important UNESCO World Heritage, Champaner- Pavagadh Archaeological Park, the only Islamic pre- Mughal city that has remained unchanged. Lunch was always served on board the train and after lunch, we were taken to Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum which houses a spectacular art collection. It was followed by a remarkable experience - high tea at the wonderful Laxmi Vilas Palace with special folk performances and the chance to experience authentic henna tattoos.

Day 3 The second stop was Udaipur - known as the City of Lakes it is also renowned as being one of the most romantic destinations on the planet. Post breakfast we travelled to the City Palace complex that was erected during the span of 400 years. This place boasts some beautiful art and so many hidden corners with beautiful details to discover. We then enjoyed a boat ride on the lake.

Post lunch we went on a walking tour of Old Udaipur. This was pretty mesmerising, the first time we immersed ourselves in the streets of India, got to watch the people who lived in this magical place walk about their daily lives, shop at the different market stalls. We saw the women in their colourful saris balancing heavy bags on their heads and simultaneously carrying their babies. The spice stands and street food vendors are a sight to behold and the smells as always hit you first tantalising your taste buds.

At every stop, at every train station, we were greeted by traditional dancers who danced the local dance and performed in their colourful costumes, sometimes greeting us with flowers.

Day 4 Third stop was Sun City of Rajasthan - Jodhpur. We started the day with a trip to the Bishnoi tribal village. We visited some artisan craftsmen in their homes, we visited a potter, a weaver and I even bought a carpet to take home with me. It was interesting to speak to the villagers about their plans to expand their businesses, how they’re trying to ensure that in spite of capitalism, their artisan crafts which they are so proud of continues to thrive. And then itwas time for an incrediblehighlight - theBlue City. A tour of the village from different vantage points and a ride in Tuk Tuk was how we kicked the afternoon off. We then made our way to the Mehrangarh Fort, it was erected by Rao Jodha in 1459, on a 150 m high hill. This fort is impressive in so many different ways, the collection of paintings, costumes, armoury and all around, these amazing views and amazing structure. And as the sun set, we were greeted by musicians and dancers, who led us through candlelit path up to the top of the fort for a specially set Marwar barbeque, the lovely views were simply magical.

It is hard to properly describe India, there are so many different sensations, smell, sound, colour that at times it can feel a bit overwhelming. It ’ s definitely busy, each place I visited, barring the farmer ’ s villages on the outskirts was noisy, horns constantly being touted, cars everywhere and lots and lots of activity. It didn ’ t bother me though, it seems to blend in harmony with their way of life. People aren ’ t frustrated or angry, everyone is smiling and seems content. Women in the most beau- tiful sarees are everywhere, carrying groceries on their heads, taking care of the children or tending stalls. It feels that although their traffic and way of life is chaotic, it is organised chaos that in turn keeps them at peace with themselves and others.

Day 5 The next day, we started on the long journey to Agra . The City of Love. As many photos as you might see before visiting the Taj Mahal, nothing truly prepares you for its grandeur and magnificence. First of all, simply put it is enormous, secondly, it is absolutely stunning. It was built by Shah Jahan to house the body of the love of his life, his first wife Mumtaj Mahal.. For this reason, Agra is called the City of Love. It took 22 years to build. This love story is a beautiful one, their relationship was not an easy one, frowned upon by his father and stepmother, Shah Jahan had to actually leave his home and leave with the love of his life elsewhere. Eventually, they were reconciled and after his father’s death, he became the Mogul Emperor.

It is one of those places that will always defy expectations however high they may be.

We also visited Baby Taj, a marble mausoleum that was commissioned by Nur Jahan, Emperor Jahangir’s wife in memory of her father, Ghiyas Beg and Agra Fort, another Mughal architectural gem.

Day 6 On the 6th day, we travelled to Sawai Madhopur – Ranthambore National Park. We started the morning with a walk around the village understanding the way the villagers lived their lives. And then it was time for the Safari at the Ranthambore National Park. This park is renowned for tigers but sadly no tigers made an appearance however it was still fantastic, plenty of deer, wild boar, birds and crocodiles. The terrain itself and the scenery is also spectacular…. had never seen anything quite like it before. When I packed, somewhat last minute for India, I checked the forecast and saw highs of 24 degrees, so I packed mainly summer clothes, what I didn’t realise is that towards the north of India it gets colder and colder and on certain days reaches lows of 7 degrees. The safari was on an open-top jeep passing through dusty terrain with the cold wind blowing and it was absolutely freezing. The trip was followed by high tea at a hunting lodge that used to belong to the royal family – the Maharaj of the region.

Day 7 On the 7th day, it was time for Jaipur and the renowned Amer Fort and the Place of the Winds. There’s so much pink in this city, I felt right at home. It’s possible to ride an elephant at Jaipur to visit the Amer Fort but we opted not to as it is not considered that safe. One of the things that struck me though was watching elephants hare the road with cars. The traffic congestion in India is a sight to behold, horns are constantly pressed as though stuck in that mode, parking spaces are seemingly impossible as a multitude of cars block each other as though creating a maze. Somehow, however, actual traffic accidents are scarce and there seems to be a method to what might initially appear to be madness. The Amer Fort, more than 400 years old, made of red sandstone, doesn’t feel real, making your way to it is like entering a fairy tale. We also walked around Old Jaipur and visited some local stores, I tried haggling over a pair of leather shoes and some bangles.

Day 8 The final destination was Delhi . We had one day in Delhi before catching the flight back to Malta, we had a local guide booked to take us around the city. We rode a rickshaw around the old city. Delhi was a bit of a shock in a way after the ore peaceful villages we had visited. Old Delhi is much busier, more people out and about and I felt happy to have a guide with us, navigating the roads. We visited a stellar spice store and picked out some herbs and spices to bring back home with us. We also visited the stunning Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in Delhi, the complex is truly impressive, built in the time when Delhi was better known as Shahjahanabad, capital of the Mughal Empire, 1638 -1857.

We also visited the New part of the city and had lunch at the Imperial Palace and visited Gandhi’s grave.

Day 9

Sadly, it was time to go back home.

My trip to India was not a long one but it was enough to make me fall mad, and deeply in love with this country. To fall in love with a nation who truly know how to appreciate the simpler things in life, who rather than always seeking more, take the time to appreciate what they have and protect it. It was enough to make want to own and wear a saree, to wish to learn how to carry a heavy basket on my head, to admire their jewellery and hair braiding techniques. It was enough to dream of Dhal curries and devour platefuls of lentils. India I can ’ t wait to be back.

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