My name is Chitra Gopalan and I am an avid backpacker. Living in India makes the temptation to backpack even all the more enticing. The myriad landscape, the cultural diversity, the innumerable travel choices at one’s disposal truly inspires one to embark upon the amazing opportunity of exploring this great country. Backpacking is the best way to discover India. Only a country like ours can boast of such enormous variety, from the mighty Himalayas in the north to the vast desert in the west, the hills and dense forests in the east and the Indian ocean in the south. Each part of the country boasts of uniqueness. The magical experience of traveling through India leaves you spellbound. India features pretty high in the list of popular places , frequented by backpackers. So while backpacking, you often bump into like-minded fellow travelers , who like you are eager to explore this beautiful country, and not just the landmarks but also the real India, the tiny villages and hamlets, and take in the amazing and breathtaking scenic beauty.

I started my journey by going to Delhi, the capital of India. The city is extremely lively and the people quite friendly. I enjoyed walking through the by lanes of Paharganj, shopping in Janpath , eating chaat in Chandni chowk. The city bears testimony to various periods of history, and each monument reflects the influence of the bygone era. Delhi is also a shopper’s paradise, with goods coming here from all parts of the country. It also happens to be the foodie’s paradise. Gorge on the samosas and chaat and drink lassi[buttermilk]. But be careful not to go overboard or else you might end up with the famous “ delhi-belly”. Be vary of strangers, the city is famous for “Dilli ke Thug”. Try getting information from the Delhi tourism offices, located at various points in the city. The Indian railways is the best and most efficient way to travel. While buying tickets beware of fraud travel agents.

The next destination on my agenda was the quaint little town of Shimla .Nestled in the Himalayas , it used to be the summer capital of the British government in pre-independence India. The British influence is clearly evident here, in the architecture and the whole place has this old-world charm about it. I spent two days here.

My next destination was Manali, but on my way I stopped at a few villages to gain a first hand experience of rural India. The simplicity of village life, far from the maddening city life can be such a refreshing change. One of problems I faced in northern India and especially in these rural parts was of communication. I am not good at speaking in hindi, and mostly converse in English. In the cities I could still manage, but in the rural parts it was kind of problematic. What makes the problem worse is the fact, that different north Indian accents make even hindi sound different. In Delhi hindi was liberally smattered with Punjabi words, and in Himachal with their own dialect, so I had to resort to sign language at times to get my point across. Another problem was the heavy north Indian food, laden with oil and spices. Though lip smacking, it was a little hard to digest. So I suggest you stick to normal dal, roti but do indulge yourself once in a while.

When traveling in summer months try and stick to loose pants or salwars and kurtis to protect yourself from the harsh summer sun, winter clothing can consist of jeans and sweaters. Remember not to wear revealing or provocative clothing, its not looked upon favorably in India and may invite unwanted attention.

I stuck mostly to jeans and kurtis for my trip, but as I moved northwards it became considerably colder. Luckily I had warm clothes with me. Upon reaching Manali, I immediately set out to explore the place. Its so beautiful, each place is picture postcard perfect. I even took a little time out and went to the neighbouring Kulu valley, the place is known for incidents where tourists have disappeared. My advice- stick to a group and keep out an eye and you will be fine. Do try and go to the nearby Parvati valley, its ideal for trekking.
Ladakh featured next on my trip and I fell in love with the place the minute I laid my eyes on it. The place is heavily influenced by Tibetan and Buddhist culture, the food the place itself , the culture and customs all bear testimony to this fact. The people are extremely friendly and the food quite spicy. The place also boasts of a vibrant nightlife. Its also slowly turning out to be a favorable holiday spot with both Indians and foreigners.

Dharamshala was the last place on my itinerary. The place is famous for being home to his holiness the Dalai Lama. The place is well-known for its various monasteries. You can also enjoy trekking here. My journey ended here but my wanderlust has clearly not been diminished. Next on my agenda is a trip to the north east.