21 Quirky, little reasons why I love India so much
It’s no secret how much I love India – since I first set foot in this incredible country in 2013 it has taken me on a life changing, exhilarating journey. At first it was difficult and a little overwhelming, but now I feel incomplete whenever I’m not in India – this country has just captivated me so much!
For me, travel is all about the experience, it’s more about feelings than iconic sights. I don’t travel to tick off a bucket list of famous sights and often I find that it’s the little things beyond the tourist attractions that give you the most meaningful connection and insight into a country. These become the things that you love the most, that remain as the most treasured memories and linger long in your mind and heart even after you’ve left.
These are the moments that made me love India, the moments that you can never truly experience by looking at photographs, reading an book or even watching a movie. It’s the little things that count, that create the journey and for that you have to go there to experience it yourself and to fall in love!
Traveling in India is an experience for all the senses and the reasons I love India are not due to the obvious, famous attractions like the Taj Mahal or even the beaches of Goa (although they are pretty hard to leave!) It’s the little everyday things, everyday sights, sounds and smells that leave a lasting impression and keep me returning to this incredible country again and again…
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Here are 21 little things that made me love India
- There are animals everywhere, holy cows, skittish goats, friendly dogs, mischievous monkeys, pigs and wild boars and even the odd elephant and camel all freely roam India’s crazy, chaotic and captivating streets.
- The smell of incense and the sound of soft chanting from the temples at sunset and the golden dewy glow of sunrise or sunset across the paddy fields that give everything a magical and mystical aura.
- The flash of colour and glitter of the colourful and elegant saris
- Watching the countryside rumble past from the open windows of the train
- Life is lived in the open and is uncensored and unsanitized, it may be a little overwhelming at first but it’s real and it makes me feel so alive!
- India is so diverse, everywhere is different it feels like many countries all in one. With so much diversity you could never get bored – in fact it would take a lifetime to see and experience all India has to offer!
- Everyone is family, everyone is auntie or uncle or sister or brother. The unity and tolerance in this densely populated country is quite inspiring.
- The kindness of strangers is humbling – there is always someone to help you out in India not to mention the famous Indian hospitality. You will never feel lonely in India and the people are one of the biggest reasons I love India.
- Sweet, milky chai in the morning and creamy mango lassis
- The Indian head wobble – confusing at first; it could mean yes, no, maybe, I haven’t a clue, but you’ll soon start to make sense of it and it’s infectious you’ll soon find you own head wobbling too!
- God is everywhere! The colour, variety, stories, devotion and tolerance in India’s kaleidoscope of religions is intoxicating. There is a god in India for every inclination and a festival for every occasion.
- There is a surprise around every corner and every day is a new adventure.
- Getting change in sweets.
- Vibrant festivals and the celebration and embrace of simply being alive!
- I love how everything is decorated even the trucks – making a utilitarian object into something of joy and celebration in a unique Indian way!
- Life is lived more fluidly here, it may seem chaotic at first but there is a method in the madness.
- Everything is possible in India!
- India can teach you to worry less, to just go with the flow and let go of the need to control, understand and explain everything.
- ‘Jugaard’ – Indian’s have ingenious and imaginative ways of fixing things it’s fascinating to watch and after a while you may find yourself thinking creatively and coming up with your own ‘jugaard ‘solutions!
- India is imperfect, it is raw, it is real and the beauty in the dirt and the faith within the chaos reassures me that it’s ok not to be perfect.
- India can really teach you alot and can be a transformative and life changing place to travel in.
How has traveling in India changed you? Why do you love India!?
Want more?
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Also Check out
30 travelers share why they love traveling in India – BreatheDreamGo
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67 comments
“Getting change in sweets” made me smile. Had a really awful day. Thank you for the smile. I love the way you write.
Thank you so much for your super kind comments Sangeeta! So lovely to hear from you and what a compliment – you’ve made my day – that is until I get my favourite sweet as change! I love it because I don’t feel guilty about buying and eating sweets when they are just given to me instead of change! 🙂 Hope your day improves!
Very well written
Especially love #20
Thank you so much! 🙂 I think India can teach you alot – the part about not having to be perfect was a good lesson for me to learn!
I love all the points that have you made. After my returning from my second to trip in India, I found a lot more reasons to love India. I couldn’t agree more… amongst all the choas there is a method to the maddness. I really hope to return for a third visit in July. Happy travels!!
Thanks Angie! 🙂 Yes, I also find that with each trip I love India even more and now it’s almost impossible to bring myself to leave! It takes a bit of getting used to I guess but once you see the method in the madness I think you develop a whole new appreciation for this captivating country! I hope you get to return soon – I miss India so much when I’m not here!
I love India so much and mainly for the reasons you have mentioned in your great article..
I miss it as soon as i leave.. can’t wait to get back and explore yet another fascinating region of this incredible country..
Yes, I know how you feel! I feel the same!
After reading about Jugaad, I can say that you really know evertyything India has to offer.. :). So inspired with your post. I have started to see India in a different way, appreciating even more that India has to offer.
Thanks so much! Such a wonderful compliment – I love so many things about India but still there is always more to discover, learn and love. India surprises me everyday! 🙂
After almost 6 years on and off in India I can say: All the points are true! And like one American nicely put it: India is organized chaos in perfection 🙂
Thanks, Wow, that’s such a great quote! I love it – so true! I might use it in a future post! 🙂
Thank you. Your points sum up how I feel about India perfectly. In 2 days we leave Australia for our fourth trip to India in 3 years. People constantly ask us why we keep going back – these points sum up our passion for Indian culture and people perfectly.
Thanks so much! So glad to hear that you like my post! 🙂 Yes, I’m on 4 visits in 3 years too and people always ask me why I spend so much time in India and why don’t I travel somewhere else but there is just so much to see, learn and love it would take a lifetime and so I find it hard it leave! So glad that these points resonated with you and hope you enjoy your trip! 🙂
Love the list! I’m heading off on my second India trip soon. What do you suggest for avoiding getting a parasite and subsequent hospital trip this time??
Thanks! Glad you liked it! I got sick on my first trip too but have been OK ever since I think your stomach gets stronger and more used to the Indian germs I also drink pro biotic yogurts which I think make the good bacteria in your stomach stronger. I haven’t written about this yet but theres some good tips here – http://www.asherfergusson.com/2012/10/7-tips-for-eating-in-india-as-a-tourist-who-avoids-getting-sick/ Hope you don’t get sick on your next trip! 🙂
what about andaman ,lakshwadweep island
I haven’t had a chance to go there but would love to!
ME ALSO 🙂
Great!
Thank u so much mam
Come to UTTRAKHAND sometime Mam..I will Show u much more.
I want to visit hopefully one day!
Yes. I agree with all 21 reasons ……
Thanks! Glad u liked it
I agree with all 21! When people ask me why I love being in India so much, it’s easy to talk about the colour, the food, the architecture, etc, which are definitely good reasons. But as you’ve said in a number of different ways, the real reason I love being there is something much more intangible and hard to explain – it’s to do with vitality, honesty, openness, acceptance, love, energy, spirit, connection, possibility, wonder and feeling – something like that!
Yes I totally agree with you – there are all the obvious reasons but then there is something spritual that you just can’t explain to people who haven’t been to India!
AwW…ANNA, I just loved this article it was awesome….!!!!
I love India …in fact i ve been there once, I love to go there, live my life, and have my own joys and absolutely my experiences,but, my dad…pooh-pooh!he wont let me because he was with me on that trip, he is so strict and obsessive that’s why he wont let me, because he believes that countries like India are not safe enough for girls, besides he thinks people can only make progress in countries like America, etc. so I can admit he is more interested in western culture but unfortunately I’m not, I love eastern architecture, culture, their foods, and THEIR HISTORY the most, ill be a fashion designer soon and more interested to start my job in a country I love in all of my sketches you can find so many Indian features in fact I’m only able to draw thing in this way I think its better to follow you heart than just stay see what happens …!
Anyway, I enjoyed it a lot…thanks for your phenomenal words,for a second I felt they were my own words!
Love, all the way from here(!)
Wow! Thanks so much for your lovely comment. So nice to hear from someone whos as passionate about India as me! I’m so glad you liked my post and I’m sorry to hear that your Dad won’t let you go to India – maybe show him this blog and others it will prove that solo women can travel in India safely and enjoyably or perhaps take a tour – safety in numbers right!? Anyway hope you get to visit India soon – the culture is so fascinating and rewarding and the clothes are super colourful.
Hi Anna, I loved your “Jugaard” comment! It is so true!!!!
Ha ha! Thanks! 🙂 I do love jugaard and I’m getting quite good at it myself.
I’m so touched by your sweet views about India(I’m Indian also). Often found people who hate India and Indians just because India is a developing country and not much developed like other countries. You made me smile at the end of the day. Thanks. God bless you☺
Hi Aish. Thanks so much for your kind comment! I love India, its full of spirit and character and the people are amazing. I can’t get enough of the place and I’m so glad you liked my post 🙂
welcome to East and Northeast India mam, a wonderful place, one of the beauties present on earth, a gift from Nature
Yes, I’ve visited North East India twice now! I loved it there such a special place – you can read about my adventures meeting headhunters and tribal people in Nagaland, Arunachal and Assam here – http://www.global-gallivanting.com/category/india-2/north-east-india/ 🙂
Thank you 🙂 I visited North East India – I especially loved Arunachal and Nagaland and I also went to the Sundarbans! So many amazing things to see and experience in Incredible India! 🙂
Great post! I enjoyed a lot. You have captured the essence of India. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful piece of information about Incredible India.
Thanks so much! Glad you liked it – there is so much to love about India! 🙂
Hahaha love this! Totally agree with you. I live in Punjab and you see jugaards everywhere aka the temporary permanent solution!!! Rather than replace an iron one uses cardboard to wrap around it. Who needs a lock on the bathroom door when you can pull it shut with rope attached to the handle when you need to go. Their creativity astounds me. Love your work.
Ha ha glad you liked the post 🙂 Yes jugaard is one of the many things that makes India so fascinating – I did a jugaard myself today – I did too much shopping and needed a bag but feeling too stingy to buy one so I found some boxes instead but it was too small so I tore up two boxes and fashioned them into a box that fitted my shopping and stuck in together with tape and rope – worked a dream and I thought to myself ‘ I am turning so Indian!’ 🙂 Thanks for stopping by 🙂
So many lovely things about India, some I’ve never heard of before. Love getting change in sweets!
Yes India is different from anywhere else and always surprising! 🙂
Your are one of the most resourceful blogs that we consider relying upon. We hope to see you going higher
Great to hear! Thanks 🙂
Glad to find someone who loves India for the very same reasons that make people hate it 🙂 goes to show how everything is subjective, eh?
Come to Karnataka sometime, I’d love to show you around!
Hey Bhumika – thanks 🙂 yeah some people have a love/hate relationship with India. I like Karnataka spent time volunteering in Bangalore and visited Mysore, Belur and Halebid and a few more places but still lots more to see! Where abouts in Karnataka do you stay?
I love all the points that have you made. As an Indian, I am totally agree with you Travelling in India is such a great experience for every visitors. It’s culture different from other culture. It is a spiritual country.
Thank you – yes India is amazing and traveling here can be a spiritual journey
Hello I’m Michelle Andrews and I was reading your blog and it was good. And the topic you wrote is actually India, it is a great country for travel and I like to travel to India also. So thanks for continuing to share and share these amazing posts.
Thanks Michel! India is certainly such an amazing place to travel in and explore! 🙂
Hi Anna,
do visit the places in Andhrapradesh like Thirumala, Vijayawada temple, godavari districts which are named for natural beauty, araku valley near Vishakapatnam city.
you should taste the food like Gongura, Avakaya, Pappu, hyderabad chicken biryani and many more tastes (but a little more spicy than Tamilnadu)
Thanks so much for the tips! 🙂
Nice article! I’m glad you love my country so much! I’m yet to explore so much about my own country but I’m getting there albeit slowly! Come to Bombay (Mumbai). I can show you around 🙂
Thanks so much for the offer – no plans to visit Bombay again atm tho
nice post i also love india culture thanks for sharing this
Superb Article
Please come to RAJASTHAN in INDIA
Thanks, I love Rajasthan I’ve been many times 🙂
I used to hate my country due to some reasons but after reading this I’m in love with my country! Thank you so much!💞
Glad you liked it – I love India its really such an amazing country! 🙂
Thanks for sharing these all wonderful reasons, Dancing is one of India’s most highly developed arts and was an integral part of worship in the inner shrines of every temple. It is notable for its expressive hand movements.
This is such an awesome list Anna! Some points made me feel proud of being an Indian, while others made me laugh hard in appreciation 🙂 Thanks for sharing so many wonderful things about India!
Thanks! Glad you liked it 🙂
With many regions, attire, languages and food habits, the culture in India is rich to explore. Thanks for sharing your words with us.
Thank you so much to write this article.
I enjoyed your article. Your article is really educational.
I’m also a blogger and Youtuber. I also write articles on Indian culture.
Thanks Tousif – glad you liked my blog. Happy writing and traveling to you too 🙂
I enjoyed your article, thank you so much