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India Travel: Major Highs and Extreme Lows – An Honest Journey
- Jenn & Leon
- Oct 11, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 21
Welcome to the first post in our India series!
We spent 12 days touring 5 cities in the world's most populated country.
This was a trip of epic proportions, as we planned to move around on trains, planes, buses, taxis, and rickshaws.
We certainly did that and some!
In this post, we will give you a bit of background as to why we went to India, along with a sneak peek at what is to come in the series.
To give context, the story of India begins back in a pool hall in Kuala Lumpur, where we were spending a super fun evening with our travel buddies Jackson and Marjo.
Our friends are relatively new to full-time travel, having left the Netherlands and starting their world trip just a few months ago.
For us, it has been over four years.
Travel Resources
Why Did We Travel to India?
As seasoned travellers, we always knew that India would be a big travel project.
Many hours of research on YouTube will tell you this is not exactly a country for beginners.
There is so much to India, and it requires some serious planning.
That being said, it is a gateway to connecting with the world's largest population, immersing in a unique culture that has been around for centuries.
So we all discussed it over a few beers, we all cheered and hi-fived, as we all agreed, and got super excited to be going to the land of the rising sun with Jackson and Marjo.
Our friends, whom we had met in Jakarta back in July, and had gone on to join up with in Langkawi in Malaysia before heading to Kuala Lumpur.
It was the perfect scenario, as traveling as a group of four is far more assuring than just two, not just for the fun, but also for security, safety, and support.
India is a notoriously hectic place, and this is something we could all agree on for sure.
While our friends were en route to Cambodia and Thailand after Kuala Lumpur, we went out to the Philippines for a month.
We then flew to Singapore for an epic few days, before taking a bus to Malacca (Malaysia).
A few days there and we were back on the road, this time taking a coach back to Kuala Lumpur for a night.
Then, the date had approached, September 11th. It was time for India.
In all truth, we had the time to plan India in the Philippines, as we had been there for a month in the same spot.
Jenn does a large majority of our planning and has mapped out an itinerary, with our friends happy to join us.
We all had certain spots that we wanted to see too, such as the Taj Mahal and the Wagah Border Crossing in Punjab.
What Was Our Plan?
So we planned to start in New Delhi for a couple of days, check out places like the famous Connaught Circle, Akshardham Temple, and the India Gate.
Our hotel was booked, and we opted for a more budget option here.
We had then booked train tickets to go to Agra for a few days, for a hotel with a rooftop view of the Taj, and then from there we were taking a 6-hour coach ride to Jaipur.
The City Palace, Hawah Mahal, and the famous Nahargarh Fort awaited us, with a plan to take another coach from there to Udaipur, the city of lakes.
From Udaipur, we would then fly to Mumbai, before checking out Goa, Kerala, and Chennai.
It was a massive route across both the North and South, and we were a little daunted but prepared for it.
Needless to say, things did not work out exactly as we had hoped. India was full of drama, with major highs and major lows.
It was also super challenging on so many levels, with every ounce of strength, stamina, emotion, and endurance tested.
We managed to accomplish half of our list, which we are happy about.
It is a tad bittersweet, as we had no choice but to leave, and we kind of wish we had started in the 'calmer' south before hitting the north. But it is what it is!
What Will You Find in Our India Series?
In this India series, we are trying something a little different from our 'normal' blogs.
While we still plan to provide you with the best sights, food, accommodations, and more, we will be telling the story from a more day-to-day perspective.
India left such an indelible mark on us, and as much as we want to promote the country and tourism there, we have to tell it as it is.
So that will include all of it; all of the things we saw, the people we met, how we felt as foreigners, the testing times we experienced, and of course, our true thoughts and learnings from the country.
Our India adventure will be told from a day-to-day angle, and there are 12 jam-packed days to get through!
We are excited to have you here, and we can't wait to bring you the sights and delights, the rough and tough, and all the in between.
India Travel Tip: Consider Taking a Tour
One of the most popular ways to explore India is by guided tour.
Skip the line for the Taj Mahal, tour cities like Mumbai and Delhi, or enjoy the wonderful sights in Udaipur and Jaipur.
Check out a host of different options with GetYourGuide.
No matter where your travels take you, GetYourGuide offers the best way to connect with your destination.
Coming Up: Day One in New Delhi
We arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport after a long travel day pretty late in the evening.
We were weary and tired, and most grateful that our first hotel had been able to arrange a pick-up service directly from the airport.
Finding our driver was easy, but from then on, we had to contend with India's own Lewis Hamilton on the G20-laden roads out of the airport. (It was a wild drive for sure!)
After some pretty intense moments for our first take on India's infamous roads, we eventually made it to the Staybook - Hotel City Stories - By Aira Xing, Paharganj.
Well, at least that is what it is called on Expedia.
From what looked like an excellent 4-star hotel, online became a 2-star reality.
So much so that we barely took footage from it! It was not clean at all, and very rundown.
Shocking actually. We were sad, but after meeting our friends (who also booked the same hotel), we felt better.
The staff were very friendly too, which helped. But more on all of that next time!
Day one was new, and we were all super pumped to get out and about and explore New Delhi.
We decided on Connaught Place, the famous business hub known for its circular Georgian-style buildings.
After a crazy first time SIX IN A RICKSHAW ride, we were dropped off in the wrong place, at a what felt like a scam 'tourist shelter', and then eventually found ourselves at a zombie bar where we went on to spend no less than EIGHT HOURS!
Why We DIDN'T Want to Stay at the Staybook Hotel in New Delhi
The water was so bad we couldn't even shower! The hotel is totally different from the photos online, too. Our review of this budget hotel in Delhi.
Scam in India, SIX in a Rickshaw, Connaught Place, and Dr Zombie
Experience the chaos and charm of Connaught Place in New Delhi! Join us as we navigate through scams, rickshaws, and a very unique eatery!
Watch Our First Impressions of India on YouTube
This is our first time visiting New Delhi, and the sights, smells, sounds, and energy of this city hit us like nowhere else on Earth.
With a population of over 34 million, Delhi is massive, loud, and alive — and we’re diving right into the chaos and beauty.
If you enjoy our video and want to follow more of our adventures, please like and subscribe!
Your support truly is invaluable to us, and we will always strive to produce the best content we can from around the world!
Safeguard Your Trip with SafetyWing
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Book Transport
Taxis, Trains, Planes, Buses & Ferries in Advance
Closer Lives has partnered with 12Go, a leading online travel booking platform for Southeast Asia and Europe, to offer a seamless transport booking experience.
Interactive Map
India
Check out all of the places we visited in India courtesy of this interactive map from Wanderlog.
(Tap for more info)
Wanderlog is a free travel planning app where you can create itineraries, organize flights, hotels, and car reservations, view places to visit, and collaborate with friends.
Closer Lives Travel Hub
Destinations, Tips & Essentials
Head over to our Travel Hub – it’s packed with free country guides, helpful travel blogs, videos from the road, and tips to help you travel smarter (and cheaper!).
Whether you're dreaming, planning, or already out exploring, we've got resources to help you every step of the way.
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Ahhh India, what can we say? There is so much to unpack from our 3 weeks there, and our India blog series certainly covers it all. Highs and lows are definitely the way to put it!