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Published: January 25th 2009
Delhi
Gandhi Salt March Memorial statueI'm just now in the throes of getting ready to travel to India for the third time (or "thrice," as Ajay would say in his upper-crust Indian accent!). Deciding to go was EASY. I bought my ticket months ago (and got a very good deal), motivated by both the carrot of returning to India and the stick of another ghastly Canadian winter. So, I am leaving on January 30 and returning on April 1.
Deciding where to go was HARD. I really agonized over it -- though of course it was a kind of sweet agony. I had to contend with various factors, such as the limited amount of time, the even more limited amount of money, the enormous length of my India destinations wish-list and the desire to sell travel stories about my trip.
This explanation about how I arrived at my itinerary is from my WORDPRESS blog < http://lemonindi.wordpress.com/>:
"In the end, I got my inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi and Slumdog Millionaire. In the movie Slumdog Millionaire, the two young brothers jump on a train to escape Bombay and ride around India, using their wits to survive. Watching this part of the movie reminded me about
Delhi
Ajay and I at cousin wedding in 2007 how much I like train journeys in India, and also reminded me of another great movie, Gandhi, and of course of the man himself.
"The first “tourist” spot I visited in India, back in 2005, was Raj Ghat, the place where Gandhi was cremated. It is now a large and peaceful park by the river Jumuna, which runs through Delhi. I was moved by the simple marble slab and eternal flame that pays respect to this incredible man. Later, I spent an afternoon at Birla House, also known as Gandhi Samadhi, the place Gandhi lived when in Delhi — and also the place where he died by assassination.
"So, I decided to take a train journey that would allow me to visit both of Gandhi’s ashrams in India — Sabarmati in Gujurat and Sevagram in Maharashtra, as well as Jaisalmer and Varanasi, my top two wish-list destinations. I am buying a one-month train pass and in early February I will travel from Delhi west to Rajasthan; then south to Ahmedabad (Gujurat), Mumbai and the Konkan coast; and then inland to Sevagram ashram, Kanha and /or Bandhavgarh National Parks in Madyha Pradesh (for tiger spotting); and finally a week
Delhi
Lodhi Garden ... a delightful place ... in Varanasi; then the overnight train back to Delhi, arriving the day before my birthday, March 7."
Well, that's the plan! But anyone who is familiar with travel in India will know that your enjoyment of the trip -- sometimes your very sanity -- depends on abandoning your plans, surrendering to fate and going with the flow. Maybe that's why I like traveling in India so much: with the price of your ticket, you get a profound life lesson.
And India is a great teacher. Among other things, she teaches the open-minded traveler about the currents of life, the importance of the moment and the illusion of control. And of course about relationship. India, and Indian society, is built on a deeply humanistic regard for the primacy of relationship in every day life. (To the degree this is possible in a country that is beset by poverty, social problems and, sometimes, religious strife, of course ... But, you'd be surprised ...)
I wonder what lessons India has in store for me this time, while I am on my "India Thrice' journey ...
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AnnaAdventuring
Anna Louise
Wonderful photos of an amazing place. I've recently just returned from my third trip to India (and struggling to get organised about the blogs!) It's such an amazing country and I wish I could have longer to explore it. I look forward to seeing more of your blogs as it looks like you will be travelling to areas I haven't as yet been lucky enough to see. Enjoy your travels.