The Society Global’s Australian correspondent, Georgia Hopkins, recently traveled to India and embarked on a month long adventure through this ancient and beautiful country. Below, in Georgia’s own words, is a little taste of her travels and even a few eat/sleep/shop tips for the curious traveler.
Inspired by India, Georgia has also started offering gorgeous hand-woven, vintage quilts. If you can’t make it to the Taj, bring some of the aesthetic right to your own home. To view the collection, click here.
“India is a highly emotive place; one can either love it or loathe it and sometimes both at the same time…” Fiona Caulfield hit the nail on the head in the intro to her amazing ‘Love Delhi’ guidebook (my constant companion for the five week journey). For me, it was the former. Just as I had feared, this big country, with an even bigger heart and soul, got under my skin. No doubt the beginning of a lifelong love affair…
First stop Delhi (sleep here). The smog is overwhelming. Chaos rules the roads. The humble horn, every driver’s best friend. I love it. Senses are alive. The colours, the smells, the sights, the chaos, the calm, the dust, the dirt, the contrasts… all amazing. A city walking tour hosted by the Salaam Baalak Trust was a definite highlight. Hosted by former street children, this tour takes you through the enchanting streets of the inner city of Paharganj and the New Delhi railway station area, which a number of children call their home. The city walk aims to sensitize people to the lives of the street children - as it stands the trust currently looks after 4500 children in the city, providing medical, counseling, education and housing services. Incredibly inspiring and rewarding, with all proceeds going directly to the trust to enable more opportunities to be made for the street children.
Also a highlight, a street food walking tour with British foodie, Pamela Timms. Introduced to the street food of Chadni Chowk - we sample everything from papro chaat, aloo tikii, gol gappe and then to add to the craziness of this town, Pavan’s fruit sandwiches – a slice of white bread with jam, paneer, thinly sliced apple, pomegranate seeds, and more bread. Traditional Indian grub? I don’t think so…but delicious, yes!. Pamela has created something of a sensation here in India, with her blog, Eat and Dust. Focusing on street food, it details her exploration of Old Delhi, a maze of 17th-century lanes and alleyways that lies to the north east of New Delhi’s 20th-century boulevards. Also responsible for pop-up dinner parties and high teas all over town, Pamela is a delight.
From Delhi to upper Dharamsala, in the foothills of the Himalayas - to visit His Holiness the Dalai Lama – but sadly the big guy is not home! Motorbiking on unmade roads to snow capped mountains - incredible. Tried guided meditation with a calming monk, and helped in English conversation classes with some Tibetan refugees. Such beautiful people, all with such harrowing stories of their escape out of Tibet and 25 day journey on foot across the harsh and freezing cold Himalayan landscape, dodging the Chinese army. Terribly moving and inspiring at the same time. Developed a serious obsession with Tibetan food – obviously a major player on the food scene in McLeod Ganj. Steamed momos the winner. A cooking course at Llahmo’s Kitchen another highlight.
From there it was off to Amritsar to see the Golden Temple – the largest Sikh Temple in the world – and then Agra (compulsory visit to the Taj Mahal – even more breathtaking in the flesh!) and on to Rajasthan. So many colourful, wonderful and interesting cities, all so different from the next. Favourites included Jaipur (sleep here and, for a break from Indian food, eat here) and Udaipur (sleep here, eat here, and shop here).
And that is just scratching the surface…
Incredible India. I am already plotting my return.
