A Travel Ethnology of the Subcontinent India Nepal
India offers many things to the foreign visitor, beaches, mountains, temples, ancient ruins, interesting people, bizarre rituals. Even spirituality can be found in India, can travelling to an another country really make a traveler more 'spiritual?' This is an outstanding offer if true. Many people will say that the metaphysically talk of India is merely talk, and spirituality or consciousness has nothing to do with where you are physically and everything to do with where you are mentally. I would say YES India can offer many amazing things and even can make someone more spiritually or conscious. How does India do this? Through thousands of years of culture there has developed a national consciousness, while there are many religions in India there is one dominate culture of advaita, all is one, all is god all is consciousness. This way of thinking can not help but be contagious, the smiles and friendliness are real in India. No where in the world will find people who believe that the 'guest is god.' Domestic Indian tourism numbers one to two hundred million per year versus just five million foreigners (that was just 1 million five years ago!) Most of the 5 million foreigners in India are in Pune, Goa, Mumbai or Rajasthan, some in North India and many in Tamil Nadu. Most tourists are from America or the UK, then Europe and Australia. There are about 50,000 Israeli in India they even have numerous chabba's houses built. Ten years ago there where only a few domestic flights and they where very expensive about $400 from Delhi to Mumbai. Nowadays you can search cleartrip and find a flight for less than $80 to Mumbai -New Delhi (if you book in advance.) Also I'm a big fan of that search all flight in at once for international airfares, always finds the cheapest ones. Needless to say Indians attitude is starting to change towards foreigners. It is much easily for a local guest house to cater to local tourism than make an exception for foreign tourist. Foreign tourists expect certain 'things' and standard that often end up in a rude awakening in the middle of the night, may it be a bedbug bite or unscheduled maintenance in the vacant room next to yours - you may survive India. You may not. That's because over 100 foreigners die in India for various reasons, accidents, drugs, unknown causes. There are four sections to the site India, Nepal, the Maps and Photo galleries. Make sure you read the terms and conditions before proceeding. PS. If you haven't heard about the new visa rules, you'd better check it out.
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Enjoy India!

