Here I am at my fab rooftop ‘office’ with views of the gorgeous Taj Mahal

My 10 Best Experiences in India 

October to Dec. 2013 I traveled around India for 3 months, setting out on my self-dubbed ‘Easy Trip To India’. I first spent two months in the Indian Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakand (with a few quick side trips to cities on the plains) and then one month in the remote Andaman Islands.

The trip was a great success on all counts, particularly in terms of ‘Easy India’. In fact, India was just as easy, laid-back and enjoyable as SE Asia, believe it or not. I had a great time everywhere and left India feeling perfectly relaxed.

Of all the wonderful places I visited and exciting adventures I enjoyed, several experiences naturally stand out as favorites. Following are my top 10 best experiences in India during my three month travels. I hope you’ll be able to enjoy some of these yourself, sometime soon!

my helicopter in the Andaman Islands

#1. Riding a helicopter in the Andaman Islands

 Ironically, my absolute best experience in India isn’t even a specifically-Indian experience. It doesn’t have anything to do with India, per se. Helicopter rides are available all over the world. In fact, I already rode in a helicopter once before – in the Brazil Amazon. And man do I love flying in them!

 On my Andaman Island helicopter trip, views of the vast Andaman Sea and the tropical beach-lined islands was spectacular, of course. But actually not so very different from the views I had arriving by airplane from Delhi.

 What made the ride so spectacular was the whole unique helicopter experience.

 At the helicopter pad I climbed inside the ‘bird’, essentially a small glass-encased capsule. I sat right behind the pilots, so I could see all the control panels and watch the pilots run through their long pre-take-off safety checks, signal to each other and man the controls.

A helicopter take off is completely different from that of an airplane. Instead of accelerating down a long runway then finally tilting upward into the sky, a helicopter just starts lifting up off the ground from a standing position. It hovers and wobbles and turns a bit until the pilots get it stabilized, then the ‘bird’ just begins going upwards and forwards into the air. Cool!

 See my photo gallery of Neil Island in the Andamans

Triund – Himachal Pradesh – India

 #2. Hiking the Triund Trek in the Himalayas

 Triund is a gorgeous high-alpine meadow set on a rounded ridge-line at 2842 M / 9325 ft in the Indian Himalayas, not far from Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh State.

Triund ridge top looks smack into the face of three massive bare-rock Himalayan peaks. The opposite side of the ridge drops off – ka blam – all the way down to Dharmsala town and beyond to the Indian plains.

 I hiked up to Triund with three new travel companions from France, Japan and Sweden for an over-night stay. We endured a stiff 5-hour hike up (supposedly some people make it in just 2-3 hours) so I was mighty happy to finally reach the top. We spent the afternoon strolling around the boulder-strewn grasslands, basking in the astounding mountain scenery, the crisp mountain air and the clouds way below us.

 Sunset treated us to the unique experience of witnessing the sun set below us at our vantage point way above a sea of clouds. Night brought freezing temperatures, campfires, twinkling lights from distant towns far below, and a sky full of stars.

 The following morning we hiked up towards the official snow line. While my friends continued further, I returned back down to Dharamsala to sleep in my much warmer guest house bed.

 Triund was a fantastic over-night mountain adventure.

 See my photo gallery of the Triund Trek

Tibetan musicians playing for the Lama Dance in Clement Town

 #3. Staying in Clement Town Tibetan Colony & Temple

 I found out about this all-Tibetan town quite by chance. While at Rewalsar admiring a stunning Tibetan temple, which I’ve personally dubbed the most beautiful building in the world (sorry Taj Mahal), a monk told me it was designed by a Tibetan living in Clement Town, just outside of Dehra Dunn, Uttarakand State. I immediately decided to go there.

 Once there, I did not find the architect of my latest favorite architectural wonder, but I did absolutely enjoy a 5-day stay completely immersed in Tibetan life.

 I stayed at the main temple’s attractive guest house, which instantly became my very favorite room in all of India and which faced the main temple, surrounded by crisp, clean landscaped gardens. The entire town and temple complex was like an oasis within chaotic India: calm, clean, safe and peaceful.

By great chance I got to watch an all-day Tibetan Lama dance with musicians playing drums and the bizarre Tibetan horns. That evening I watched a dozen Tibetan monks create a huge sand mandala.

 I marveled at the highly-intricate, colorful temple interiors. I wandered through landscaped gardens and the town’s exceedingly clean and tidy residential streets. I ate delicious Tibetan food all day, every day. I even got to drink real espresso at a nearby cafe.

 Being completely surrounded by Tibetans was a kind of paradise. It struck me that perhaps I’d like to eventually live among Tibetans after I finally stop roaming the Earth one day.

Lash at Taj Mahal

#4. Visiting the Taj Mahal

 The Taj Mahal has been on my travel bucket list as long as I can remember. It’s been such a dream for me that it wouldn’t even have mattered whether I actually was impressed with the Taj or not in real life. Somehow, just having made it to the Taj Mahal felt like a giant accomplishment.

 Even better, I was not in the least bit disappointed. The Taj is a marvel. The inlaid stones in patterns of flowers, leaves, vines and designs are amazing. The equally intricate curving calligraphy in black stone, the cut marble slabs, and the symmetrical harmony created by the massive central dome and four outer pillars are truly superb.

 As if the Taj Mahal on its own isn’t sublime enough, it is further enhanced by large landscaped gardens, long pools of water, a beautiful Muslim mosque, the Taj Museum and other gorgeous buildings within the Taj complex.

 I arrived in early morning, promptly when the compound opened, and stayed until late afternoon. I then continued gazing at the Taj for 1 ½ days from a nearby rooftop restaurant while working online. What an office!

 See my photo gallery of the Taj Mahal 

The stunning Golden Temple of Amritsar

#5. Visiting the Golden Temple in Amritsar

 Unlike the Taj Mahal, I did not even know the Golden Temple existed until I read about it last September while preparing my trip to India. Boy, am I glad I found out about it!

 In all honesty, I loved the Golden Temple just as much as the Taj. I cannot claim one to be better than the other. They’re both amazing experiences. They’re not simply places to visit- they are full sensory experiences.

 See my photo gallery of the Golden Temple and my Guide to Visiting the Golden Temple

Tibetan woman making carpet

 #6. Day at Norbulinka Center – Tibetan Arts

 Norbulinka is a joint Tibetan-Japanese center for preserving and continuing traditional Tibetan arts. Located just 10 km south of Dharamsala, Norbulinka takes in Tibetan refugees to train them in Tibetan painting, metal statue making, wood carving, fabric making and other arts.

 The Norbulinka complex is another beautiful oasis in the midst of Indian mess. Simply arriving at Norbulinka entry gate, I found myself gasping, wide-eyed and muttering in awe. Considering the complex was created by Japanese and Tibetans, I should not have been surprised to find such a beautiful, refined stone wall and entrance.

 Once I got over my amazement, I stepped into a gorgeous landscaped garden full of stepping stones, water pools and flowering plants, all set under shady trees. An outdoor garden cafe serves delicious Tibetan meals, teas and cakes.

 A large store sells top-end hand-made products and art objects. And an absolutely stunning boutique hotel is located on the grounds. It’s superbly furnished with hand-made Tibetan fabrics and art objects, each room with its own theme.

 My pals and I were lead on a free guided tour of the art workshops, where we watched artists painting, carving, selecting gemstones for statues and weaving. We admired the fine quality merchandise on sale. We visited their unique museum, which displays 3-D views of traditional Tibetan life via exquisitely costumed figurines set in various scenes. And we relaxed in the peaceful garden for lunch. 

Mandi

#7. Mandi Town

 Mandi is a small all-Indian mountain town set at the confluence of the Beas and Suketi Khad Rivers. Historically, Mandi was a major stop along the old salt route between India, Tibet and China. Nowadays it’s most famous for its dozens of ancient Shiva temples, dating from the 1400s. The rustic stone temples, in all shapes and sizes, are scattered along the river banks and throughout the town’s narrow stone roads.

 Before arriving, I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy a chaotic, bustling all-Indian market town, so I was very pleasantly surprised to find Mandi utterly charming. The market area is set around an attractive sunken garden plaza with brightly colored shops, hotels and restaurants surrounding it.

 Emanating out from there are Mandi’s ancient stone roads and alleys, most of which are pedestrian only. They’re simply too narrow for cars. That made strolling around Mandi town very peaceful, quiet and mysterious.

 See my photo gallery of Mandi

Rewalsar Lake – Himachal Pradesh State – India

 #8. Rewalsar Lake

 As soon as I arrived at Rewalsar Lake a calm washed over me. I instantly thought, “I could live here.” As it turned out, several days was enough to satisfy, but I thoroughly enjoyed my stay. I dined at tasty Tibetan and Indian cafes, strolled around the ultra-calm lake and visited the four gorgeous Tibetan monasteries located there.

 I even discovered my latest most beautiful building in the world – one of the newer Tibetan temples. It was so astounding that I stood with my mouth agape and tears forming in my eyes. I sat for hours gazing at its intricate detailing and superb colors.

 See my photo gallery of Rewalsar

Ganges River near Rishikesh

#9. Riding a motorbike along Ganges River gorge near Rishikesh

 I never expected I could safely ride a motorbike solo anywhere in India. But once I began traveling in the Indian Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakand, I quickly discovered the region was perfectly safe.

 So on my day off in Rishikesh I excitedly rented a scooter and set out into the Himalayas along the beautiful Ganges River valley surrounded by dense forest. I rode up both sides of the tight river valley, enjoying superb views of the milky green Ganges, mountains and trees.

 Very little traffic ran along the roads and very few villages or houses interrupted the route, so most of the time it was just me and the bike surrounded by mountain scenery. I enjoyed a great sense of freedom riding that day.

Here I am riding a motorbike on Little Andaman Island

#10. Vacationing in the Andaman Islands

 As soon as I arrived in the capital, Port Blair, I realized that internet access was so bad I wouldn’t be able to continue working during my month-long tour of the remote Andaman Islands. I was forced into an off-grid vacation. How sad. Lol.

 Actually, I’d been planning a 2-week vacation over Christmas and New year’s anyhow. It just got extended, that’s all.

 Vacationing in those tropical islands of pristine jungles, empty beaches, quiet cycling roads, waterfalls and lakes did me a world of good! I quickly tuned-out modern life, stayed far away from my computer and relaxed in nature.

 My daily routine started with morning exercises/ stretches in my various thatched bungalows, a hearty breakfast, a long leisurely bike ride amidst shady towering trees or a long stroll along many-km-long empty beaches or snorkeling along off-shore reefs.

 Then I’d eat an Indian lunch of various curries and rice, take a midday cold shower, read a book while sitting in a forest, suntan on powdery sand, perhaps take an afternoon nap, followed by dinner, sunset, and an evening DVD on my laptop, either solo or with other travelers. I fell asleep every night to the wonderful buzz of insects.

 On various days I visited waterfalls, a lake, natural rock arch formations and more remote beaches. I got a great tan. I dined daily on delicious Indian and (oddly) Israeli cuisine. I read several books, something I rarely have time for during my usual travel/work life. In short, it was a real vacation!

 Now I’m back, revitalized, and ready to leap into 2014.

 See my photo gallery of Neil Island

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 QUESTIONS:

 If you’ve been to India, what were your best experiences?

Which of my favorite places would you like to visit? 

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You might also enjoy:

PHOTO GALLERY: Dharamsala India PHOTO GALLERY: Triund Trek – Overnight Hike in the Indian Himalayas Easy India pt 3 – 10 Great Easy Destinations in India PHOTO GALLERY: Stunning Tibetan Temples