Story and photos © Barb & Ron Kroll 1. Multifaceted way of life Culture is the first reason to visit India. Varanasi, 700 kilometres southeast of India’s capital New Delhi, is home to more than 2,000 temples and shrines. The Ganges River ̶ which Hindus believe is the goddess Ganga ̶ flows through this sacred city of the Hindu god Shiva. During an unforgettable sunrise boat tour, our guide explained that every Hindu wants to make at least one pilgrimage to Varanasi. Many come here to die, believing that they will be liberated from the cycle of reincarnation (rebirth) and go straight to heaven. 10 Reasons to Visit INDIA A trip to India shatters preconceived notions Before we travelled to India, its name triggered images of maharaja’s palaces, ornate Hindu temples, the Ganges River and the Taj Mahal. During our travels through this democratic republic of 1.6 billion people, we discovered that India encompasses muchmore than we had initially imagined. The seventh-largest country in the world (about onethird the size of Canada), India is many countries in one. Architecture, scenery, attractions, language, religion, traditional clothing, foods, festivals and handicrafts vary regionally. Five thousand years of history, decades of British rule and 76 years of independence have created a country that’s endlessly fascinating and guaranteed to provide sensory overload. 24 | www.snowbirds.org Travel
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