Go Wild! Travel Exclusive: From Jersey to India


Camels crossing through a farm in Katol, India
All photos by Gauri Joshi

By Gauri Joshi, WildNewJersey.tv          

When people think of India, they may think about its beautiful clothes, its spicy food, its huge Bollywood movie industry, or even the lives of its slum dwellers, thanks to the smash-hit film Slumdog Millionaire. The country has become a modern day success story, reaching new heights every day. Though you can read about it in books, or watch documentaries on it, India is one country that should be experienced first-hand by all.

A temple in Katol, India

I recently traveled to India, and though I’ve been traveling there all my life, every time I’m there it feels like a new place. Each different state feels like its own country, with one language per state, and several dialects thrown into the mix, it can be a bit overwhelming to a foreigner. But India has its own beauty, and that is found in it sights, smells, and sounds.

A boathouse in Pondicherry, India

When I land in Mumbai (Bombay), I hear the similar sounds of New York City, only ten-fold. When I travel to Nagpur, where most of my family lives, I am greeted with the greenery and cleanliness of the city (since it has been coined the “greenest and cleanest city in India”).  And just a 4 hour car drive away in the rural town of Katol, I am taken to a serene oasis of nature, farmlands, and fresh papaya on the trees.

Juhu Beach, Mumbai, India

If there’s one thing I can tell you after traveling to India many times, it is this-India is unique. Where else would you find a 5 story mansion, next to a person sleeping in a makeshift tent? Or a place where it’s perfectly normal to see pedestrians, drivers, cyclists, and cows all share the same street? A place that is criticized for its pollution, yet marveled at for its scenic beauty. In a lot of ways, India is like New Jersey, with a reputation that contradicts itself. One may feel at home in New Jersey, due to its substantial South Asian population. In fact one road that goes through Edison and Iselin has so much resemblance to India that it has been called “Little India” for years. Though “Little India” can offer people the tasty food, beautiful saris, and latest movies, it is no comparison to the real deal. This is what makes India a place to visit over and over and over again.

Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 8/5/2010 6:00 AM
Categories: Go Wild! Travel Exclusive
Tags: mumbai slumdog millionaire bombay india katol new york city pondicherry bollywood
 

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