Ever wondered what the real India is like? Traveling off the beaten path, the author discovered India to be a vast and varied landscape of every reality imaginable and some that were unimaginable. This account is not only a trip behind the scenes; its an explanation of what is going on in this world of unique religious thought and cultural reality. Moving slowly through time on train, bus and ox cart, Nancy visited mountain villages, rural ashrams and hill stationsan India that tourists rarely see.
On the picture; Shore temples at sunset, looking out of this world, in Mamallapuram. Video hosted on Youtube. Everywhere she traveled, she talked to the people, whether a saint or a camel herder. She took the time to investigate their ideas and customs. Her journey through India included Pondicherry, the home of the sage Aurobindo, Ramana Maharshi's ashram, Mahatma Gandhis ashram, and the famous temples at Chidambaram, Arunachala, B. R. Hills and Madurai. She enjoyed the wonderful forested mountains in the Nilgiris, B. R. Hills, Andhra Prasesh, Mt. Abu, Indias Switzerland in Rajasthan, as well as nature's waterways at the beaches of Pondy, Madras, Bimili Beach and the Kauveri River.
She met many sages including Vimala Thakkar, Ram Sahdu, Swami Chinmayananda, Swamini Sharada Priyananda, Swami Nirmalananda, Father Bede Griffiths and Satya Sai Baba. The story is based on personal encounters giving facts and observations not available in previously published sources. Along the way, the author gives insight into philosophical thought and superstitious lore behind these descriptions, as the Indian culture is so inextricably bound with a belief system. Her goal is to demystify India for the Western world and just maybe it will help the modern Indian know what they had and what they are giving up when they imitate the modern American way of life.
India will sideswipe you with its size, clamour and diversity - but if you enjoy delving into convoluted cosmologies and thrive on sensual overload, then it is one of the most intricate and rewarding dramas unfolding on earth, and you'll quickly develop an abiding passion for it. Nothing in this country is ever quite predictable; the only thing to expect is the unexpected, which comes in many forms and will always want to sit next to you. India is a litmus test for many travellers - some are only too happy to leave, while others stay for a lifetime.
Climate plays a key factor in deciding when to visit India. Keep in mind that climatic conditions in the far north are distinctly different to those of the extreme south. Generally, India's climate is defined by three seasons - the hot, the wet (monsoon) and the cool, each of which can vary in duration from north to south. The most pleasant time to visit most places is during the cooler period: November to around mid-February. The heat starts to build up on India's northern plains from around February, and by April or May it really hots up, peaking in June. In central India temperatures of 45°C and above are commonplace. South India also becomes uncomfortably hot during this time.
Late in May the first signs of the monsoon are visible in some areas - high humidity, electrical storms, short rainstorms and dust storms that turn day into night. The hot season is the time to abandon the plains and head for the cooler hills, and this is when hill stations are at their best (and busiest). When the monsoon finally arrives the rain comes in steadily, generally starting around 1 June in the extreme south and sweeping north to cover the whole country by early July. The main monsoon comes from the southwest, but the southeast coast (and southern Kerala) is largely affected by the short and surprisingly wet northeast monsoon, which brings rain from around October to early December.
Things don't really cool down: at first hot, dry and dusty weather is simply replaced by hot, humid and muddy conditions. It doesn't rain all day, but it generally rains every day. Followed by the sun this creates a fatiguing steam bath environment. Around October the monsoon ends for most of the country. This is when India sees most tourists - however, it's too late to visit Ladakh (May to October is the optimum period). During October and November it's generally not too hot and not too cool (although October can still be hot and/or humid in some regions). In the thick of winter (around mid-December to mid-January), Delhi and other northern cities can become astonishingly cold, especially at night - and it's bone-chilling in the far north. In the far south the temperatures become comfortably warm during this period. It's worth checking the dates of particular festivals - you may be attracted or repelled by the chaos (and jacked-up prices) that attend them. There are virtually no festivals in May/June. The wedding season falls between November and March, when you're likely to see at least one lively procession through the streets.
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