People travel to foreign lands for a wide variety of reasons. Some chase the sun and the beach lifestyle, while others travel for new perspectives and the thrill of being on the road. But most people, when abroad, have in mind a certain cultural exposure that they’re keen to sample. They want to board the flight home in the knowledge that, even just in part, they experienced some of their destination’s true culture. If you count yourself in this group of culture vultures, here are five ways you’ll be able to tap into India’s marvelously exciting cultural products.
Cuisine
The first stop on your experiential tour of India should be the country’s local eateries. In India, you’ll scald your tongue with some of the world’s finest curries. Look out for the restaurants locals go to – they’ll be the best value with the best taste. You can find the finest fish curries by the sea in states like Goa and Kerala, or you’ll be able to enjoy some street food and chai while roaming India’s famously vibrant streets.
Music
While music has tended towards a globalized ‘pop’ sound, there is still plenty to be experienced around the world when it comes to unique melodies cast by wonderfully idiosyncratic instruments. India is no different, offering Bollywood classics that are like the dance anthems in the western world. Head to a traditional dance to hear more authentic and old-style music, played on the sitar with drumming in time with the pulsing movements of that dancers.
Public Transport
A little less glamorous than food and music, public transport is where you’ll be exposed to the day-to-day lives of the inhabitants of the country you’re visiting. You won’t just meet hotel receptionists and restaurant owners – you’ll meet someone just like you, going about their daily business. The pinnacle of this kind of experience in India is no doubt on their train lines – most of which will take you on a sleeper bunk throughout the country, with the echoes of ‘chai’ rattling down the carriage by those who sell small cups of tea to passengers.
Handicrafts
For thousands of years, humanity has traded raw materials, and the handicrafts made from them, to engage cross-culturally and to admire the handiwork of people from foreign lands. This should form a big part of your own trip. Find some of the best souvenirs in India at tourist markets, museum shops or in the airport – they’re all products of the culture you’re visiting. Amongst India’s true gems are brass work and wood work pieces that are created with centuries of skills passed down through the generations.
Architecture
The final tip for your full-bodied cultural immersion is to expose yourself to as much of your host nation’s unique architecture as you can. Sometimes you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find India to be absolutely teeming with wonderful buildings – created in the Mughal era, or the time of the British Raj.
There are many ways to find deep appreciation in the sheer exoticism of India’s culture; above are listed the top five ways to really feel like you’re briefly getting under the skin of the country before you head back home.
