Is there an Indian holiday that strikes a chord with you?
Holi has to be my favourite Indian holiday. It is unlike anything we have in the United States—an exuberant celebration with colours, drumming, and groups of friends coming together with unbridled joy. We have celebrated Holi at home with family, in our local community, and at a luxury resort, and each time was a different experience.
Cultures around the world always seem to have some similarities with one’s own. What about India do you think is closest to the United States?
I was struck by the vibrancy and entrepreneurial spirit that pervades Indian society. Coming from a relatively younger country like the US, I half-expected a culture that stretches back millennia to have slowed down a bit by now, but Indian society embraces the future with as much gusto as it honours its storied past.
What about the country surprised you, and what are your tips for travellers who are visiting India for the first time?
I was surprised to discover how easy it is to get around the country, even in the remote areas. Air travel is convenient and inexpensive, and local transport is plentiful with services like Uber and Ola. Make sure to get a local data plan and install a couple of key apps like WhatsApp, Uber, Yatra, and Paytm.
Which is your favourite Indian dish?
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November - December 2020-Ausgabe von Discover India.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November - December 2020-Ausgabe von Discover India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
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Going for a holiday just after you have lost your mother to COVID-19 may not be the most popular idea, but it was the only way for a grieving family to escape the agony with which they were living. And so, they headed to the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu in search of peace and recuperation.
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MORE than just FOOD
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Magical Moments
Travel blogger and dancer, Nina Okhotina, is also the founder of the clothing brand, The Dress Stories. Her fl owy, one-tone dresses add a touch of magic to her Instagram pictures from her Indian trips. The Russia-born social-media star reminisces about her time in India and the people that made it special.
