I have a best friend named Antara who is from India. During my visit to India, I traveled to Delhi, Agra, Rishikesh, and Kolkata, where she lives. I’ve read a lot about traveling to India as a solo, blond, white, blue-eyed girl. Each of these cities was unique in its own way.
During my visit to Agra, I went to see the Taj Mahal, but I also visited Dr. Subhash Gupta School for local kids. The school is run by Anil (the founder’s son) and his wife Zuza. You can find more information on their Facebook page: Edukacyjne wsparcie ubogivh dzieci Im. Dr. Subhash Gupta, aniljoanna@gmail.com. Please consider contacting them if you’d like to support the local kids.
Rishikesh was my next stop, chosen for its yoga, the holy Ganges, and the Himalayan foothills. It did not disappoint! The town has a special charm, similar to Chiang Mai in Thailand. The food was delicious, the yoga classes were perfect, and swimming in the holy Ganges was so energizing! Did you know that the Ganges water contains oxygen levels 25 times higher than any other river in the world? This is one of the reasons for the self-purifying attributes of the River Ganga, and the high levels of oxygen in the waters of Ganga give it the unique ability to remain fresh over a prolonged time.
When I visited Kolkata, my friend didn’t allow me to walk alone there. Kolkata and Delhi have something in common: the smell… not very pleasant.
I came across the saying: “YOU ARE NEVER READY FOR INDIA. BUT THE GOOD THING IS, INDIA IS ALWAYS READY FOR YOU!”