Learn From Locals on an India Travel Retreat

I’m excited to introduce this guest post from Karthika Gupta. She grew up in India and nows lives in the U.S. She’s sharing about a recent creative and cultural trip with a small group of ladies to India with tips on how you can do it too.

Let’s face it there is a little wanderlust in all of us. At some point in our lives, many of us dream of traveling the world to experience its beauty for ourselves. Travel has the power to open our minds to new possibilities and make us more tolerant and conscious as humans. What might be simple, normal and mundane to locals is often unique, challenging, and exciting to travelers. In the words of Gustave Flaubert, “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny space you occupy in the world.”

Yet, for most people, travel means exploring areas within the realm of what is comfortable, familiar and what is known. As creatures of habit we don’t want to stray too far from what we know and what we can handle – the fear of stepping outside the box is very real when it comes to travel adventures. Perhaps nowhere is it more apparent than in planning a retreat to India.

Now I may be biased, but I think India is such a fascinating country. I lived there for the first 20+ years of my life and yet so much of India is new even to me. From high altitude mountain tops to deserts, and coastal paradise, India seems to have it all. Something to entice any kind of traveler – adventure, family, solo, health and wellness, groups and everything in between. But ask the average person if they would like to visit India and I hear things like, ”Oh, It’s too loud”, “India is too crowded”, “Is India safe?”, “I don’t like spicy food so I am never going to find anything to eat there!” and countless other reasons why traveling to India is not for them.

A Few Facts About India

Before I go any future in addressing traveling concerns to India, I want to provide some facts about India as a country, as a people and as a culture.

• India has the world’s oldest, largest and continuous civilization – the Indus Valley civilization.
• India is the second-largest English-speaking country in the world and one of the largest democracies in the world.
• 90 countries from all over the world buy software from India.
• India has one of the world’s largest railway networks in the world and India’s road network is the world’s second-largest with 4,865,000 km of roads constructed.

So, as you can see, traveling to India is very much safe. But if you are still not convinced to travel to India alone, there are many options to enjoy a travel retreat to India in a small group setting where you have the luxury of traveling with others, yet get the feeling of exploring India at your own pace. Last year, I took a small group of women travelers on a one-week adventure to India

My Recent India Travel Retreat

We had a great time exploring Jaipur city which is the royal seat of India as well as the rural Rajasthani countryside with our amazing group. They spent time getting to know India, her people, and her culture. Jaipur city stole our hearts as we explored not just the touristy hotspots but the little by-lanes as well. We visited Hawa Mahal, Amer fort and City palace, but also meandered our way into the hidden temples and markets. We loved the sensory overload of sights, sounds, smells and tastes. To say one can eat their way through India is not a joke. The group was game for anything and everything India had to offer from a cultural and culinary standpoint.

One tip – if you want to explore the lesser-known parts of a city, hire a local guide. Not only are these people familiar with a particular area, but they also know the local shops and restaurants. Special requests like filtered water, dietary restrictions, etc. are easier to manage, especially if language is an issue.

We soon left the hustle and bustle of the city to head into the jungle and catch a glimpse of India’s national animal, the tiger. But this was no ordinary safari. With our veteran guide of over a 100+ salaries, we got a glimpse of the behaviors of the tiger as well as India’s various flora and fauna. Most people who travel to India don’t even know that India has over 166 national parks that offer a variety of wildlife, some that are not found anywhere else in the world.

Connecting With Locals

Being a creative travel retreat meant we got our hands dirty, literally and figuratively, with many of India’s arts and crafts. We also shared tea and stories with many women artists and artisans who are true change-makers in their rural communities. These women-based co-operatives are at the forefront of making a difference in the country. Most attendees mentioned that the trip to the NGO (non-government organization) and women’s co-operative really gave them a chance to connect with the locals.

I get it, India is a large country that is probably unlike any other you have visited or are thinking of visiting. The diversity in language, terrain, culture, and lifestyles can come across as slightly overwhelming, to say the least. But don’t let that scare you away from having the time of your life exploring this magnificent country.

Tips For Planning Your India Trip

Here are some things to look for when planning your own India travel retreat.

*Exploring a big city like Delhi or Mumbai is tempting but try to focus on smaller cities like Jaipur, Udaipur, Goa or even Chennai in the south.

*Take a few days to explore rural India to get into the villages and experience village life. Hiring a car and an English-speaking driver is a good choice if using public transportation is not for you.

*There are numerous NGO (non-government agencies) in India and several that have offices in the US and UK. Reach out and see if you can visit to get to know their work better and support them in some way (financial or volunteer).

*Include some cultural activities like learning local arts and crafts, cooking classes or even a Bollywood dance class. This can be a great way to get hands-on experience in Indian culture. Airbnb Experiences is a great place to find something that fits your needs.

*Visit some places of worship, be it a temple or a mosque. Indians are very tolerant of outsiders and tourists and this can give you insight into the culture of the country.

*Health and wellness tourism is gaining a lot of popularity in India. Explore those if that is your thing.

Of course, if you don’t want to do all this work and would prefer to join a group trip, I am leading another small group retreat to India in November 2019. This retreat will explore the Indian Himalayas and will include adventure, hiking, NGO visits, local cooking classes, yoga, and meditation. You can find out more information here.

Regardless of how you get to India, make sure to put this amazing country on your travel bucket list. You will not be disappointed.

Author Bio

Karthika Gupta is a photographer, writer, podcaster and founder of CulturallyOurs – a platform to collectively explore, showcase and celebrate lifestyle, food, art, travel, and culture from around the world. This is done through audio, visual media and in-person travel retreats

Tags: featured, India, India Culture, India Travel, Jaipur India Travel, lifelong learning, Small group travel, Tips for India Travel

Category: India, Asia, Destinations