Planning your trip can be a big part of getting ready to go. Where do you want to go in India? What do you want to see? Why are you even going?

India is not like other travel destinations. In fact for many people it might seem completely unappealing. An overcrowded, polluted, dirty place with terrible poverty and disease - who would want to go there?

Who would? Anyone who is interested in culture. Civilization has been thriving in India for 4000 years or more. It is home to a majority of the worlds religions including the birth place of Buddhism, Hinduism (the worlds oldest known religion as well as the most popular), Sikhism as well as others (more). Add in Yoga, ayurvedic medicine, the Taj Mahal, the Golden Temple and astrology to an incredible diversity of hand crafts and you have one of, if not the richest cultures on earth.

Who else might like India? Anyone interested in language. India has dozens of languages and literally thousands of dialects.

Got anything else? Sure, how about wildlife? Tigers, elephants, camels, monkeys, lemurs, the Indian Rhino, leopard, Indian lion, peacock, Cobra, birds of all sorts, crocodiles - you name it.

Is that all? No, don't forget the food, music, dance and chai (tea)! Last of all but certainly not least, world famous hospitality.

My Experience: Although India can be challenging, the reward is so deep and satisfying I cannot think of any place I would like to go to more.