How about seeing India?

Hold on now!

Just because it might feel like it's a world away (both figuratively and literally!), that

doesn't mean it isn't a tourist-friendly country.

And more importantly, a trip to India won't cost you nearly as much as you'd think!

_____ But first, you didn't think I'd talk about

India and not mention the majestic Taj Mahal, did you?

This famous Indian landmark has been one of the Seven Wonders of the World for quite some

time, and seeing this architectural marvel in-person makes it pretty clear why.

The construction was commissioned in 1632, and it's believed that it took up to 21

years to complete the entire project.

I know you've heard of this monument, but did you know that it's a mausoleum?

Yeah, the emperor at that time, Shah Jahan, had this marble structure built to house the

tomb of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Kinda sad she never got to see this ivory masterpiece built just for her.

_____ Since we're on the topic, here's a fun

fact: there was an infamous Indian conman who repeatedly “sold” different landmarks

in the country, including the Taj Mahal and the Parliament House of India!

He was arrested as many as 9 times but somehow managed to escape from prison multiple times.

During his final escape, he was already 84 years old.

Aside from the fact that he was breaking the law, ya gotta admit, that's kind of impressive!

_____ Anyway, some tourists hope to avoid the crowds

at major tourist attractions like the Taj Mahal and prefer to take the road less traveled.

However, alone time might be hard to come by in India.

With around 51 births every minute (that's over 73,000 a day!), this country has one

of the fastest-growing populations in the world.

Roughly half of India's population is under the age of 25, also making it one of the world's

youngest populations.

India alone holds more people than the entire Western Hemisphere, and with so many people

comes a colorful tapestry of cultures, religions, and languages, which brings me to my next

point… _____

There are about 780 languages spoken in India, but some sources put it in the thousands.

Whatever the case, only 22 have been recognized as official languages.

Good thing English is in the mix too!

India has one of the largest numbers of English-speaking people in the world, 2nd only to the US.

This means you can enjoy this super diverse country without needing a translation app

on your phone each time you wanna stop for lunch or buy a souvenir.

_____ Oh, that's right!

Your smartphone is obviously your closest traveling companion because, let's face

it, taking pictures is probably the easiest way to document your adventures abroad.

You'll be happy to know that cell service and mobile Internet is very cheap in India.

So, there's one reason why your trip won't cost you nearly as much as you'd think.

You can share every experience and discovery with your friends and family back home without

breaking your budget.

That alone should put this fascinating country at the top of your bucket list of places to

visit! _____

Ok, now for another reason India won't leave you with moths flying out of your wallet:

the food there is so cheap!

Check it out: if you go to a restaurant and order a whole meal with chicken or even fish,

your bill could be as little as $1!

As for a cup of tea, it'll cost you about 20 cents.

I mean, can you imagine filling your belly for under 5 bucks?

Sign me up!

Given that you'll be saving so much on dining, you can dedicate more of that limited budget

to once-in-a-lifetime experiences, something that India offers in abundance…

_____ Actually, one of these is the food itself.

In case you haven't heard of the Land of Spices, India produces around 70% of the world's

supply.

That means each authentic local meal will be an adventure itself!

Hopefully your stomach will be strong enough to tackle the rich variety of flavors!

And for those of you with sensitive taste buds, here's a pro tip: take small bites

to test the intensity of the spice before biting off more than you can handle!

_____ I also have some good news for traveling vegetarians

that may be hesitant about the availability of meals suited for your dietary needs.

India is also well known for being a vegetarian-friendly country.

This is partially thanks to religious beliefs, but it's mostly just a personal choice there

out of respect for living beings.

A State of the Nation Survey in 2006 showed that up to 31% of the Indian population is

vegetarian, and another 9% do eat eggs but no forms of meat.

So enjoying local cuisine isn't reserved only for meat-eaters.

Like I said before, this is a diverse country with enough variety to suit anybody!

_____ Did you think I forgot about you, sports lovers?

Well, if you love sports as much as experiencing new cultures, watching a live cricket match

can be a way to enjoy both.

Cricket is the most popular sport in the country, much like soccer in Europe or football in

the US.

So why not get your hands on a ticket to a local game, pack a picnic basket, and spend

the day outdoors among locals to get a taste of true Indian sport culture!

_____ The Ganges River provides another outdoor

activity for nature lovers while still keeping the focus on experiencing the culture.

The Ganges is the longest river in India and serves as a hub of activity in this country.

This activity includes dolphin-watching as the Ganges Dolphin is unique to this river.

Unfortunately, their numbers are drastically decreasing due to increasing pollution.

Let's hope environmentalists can find a way to protect these creatures for future

generations to enjoy when visiting India! _____

Again, you can't talk about India without mentioning one of the many massive ceremonies

that take place there.

One of the most popular is the Kumbh Mela gathering, which is so big that it's visible

from space!

Kumbh Mela is the two-month mass pilgrimage of those of Hindu faith to bathe in the Ganges.

The host city of Allahabad welcomed a staggering 120 million visitors in 2013 and a whopping

30 million on a single day!

Even if you're not into crowds, you should still try to buck up and witness this incredible

event.

I mean, at least you'll be able to say you were present at the world's largest gathering

of people! Bragging rights! _____

Kumbh Mela is one of many festivals celebrated in the Indian culture, but the brightest has

to be the color festival Holi.

It celebrates love, the start of spring and end of winter, and the triumph of good over

evil in a very delightful way.

People take to the streets to drench each other with water and colored powder.

Everyone celebrates together in a spectacular display of good humor and, of course, lots

of color!

Now, I'm not usually one for a crowd, but this just seems too good to miss!

_____ As a matter of fact, color plays a very important

role in Indian culture.

It's apparent from the traditional clothes, festivals, local cuisine, and even their currency!

Yes, with a handful of rupees, you'll quickly see their bright colors and variations in

sizes.

Even if the notes' designers didn't do it on purpose, they seem to symbolically celebrate

the diversity of this nation.

Indian bills also have Braille markings so that blind people can read their values.

How considerate! _____

Another fun fact on the topic of Indian money: it's illegal for foreigners to take rupees

in or out of the country.

Sorry for the bad news to any of you coin collectors that like to keep different types

of money as a souvenir from your travels.

So, yeah, not just a fun fact but one you should take note of to avoid any trouble with

local authorities!

There's no limit on the amount of foreign currency you can bring with you on your visit,

as long as you declare any amount over 5,000 US dollars in cash.

But, then again, who's carrying that kinda cash on them anyway?

_____ Now, Queen fans might be aware of this tidbit,

but let's see if you are!

Did you know that the iconic band's frontman Freddy Mercury was of Indian descent?

His name at birth was Farrokh Bulsara, and both of his parents were from Bombay!

Mercury himself, of course, was born in Tanzania, but still!

_____ From beautiful music to beautiful people,

India has the highest number of winners for the Miss World competition with a total of

six!

Only Venezuela has produced the same amount of title-holders since the beauty pageant's

start in 1951.

The most recent Indian Miss World was Manushi Chhillar in 2017.

So in addition to the delicious food and fun festivals, you'll also be in the presence

of people whose beauty is recognized worldwide! _____

If you get tired of the hustle and bustle, you could also take a day and kick back with

some old-school board games.

You familiar with Chutes and Ladders?

Well, this popular classic dates back to ancient Indian times and was known as 'Moksha Patam'.

It made its way to England, where it was sold as Snakes and Ladders.

The name changed to the one we know today when it was first introduced to the US.

The idea of the game was to teach kids the difference between good virtues and bad vices,

represented by the ladders and shoots respectively.

Thanks for the good childhood memories, India!

So, would you like to go to India?

Let me know down in the comments, along with any other fascinating facts you know about

this country!

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to stay on the Bright Side of life!