India through a Czech traveler's eyes: the Taj Mahal and Delhi

Czech traveler Darebna went to India to see the Taj Mahal, try the local cuisine and get to know the country where yoga was born. Besides the “Golden Triangle” of New Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, she visited the rural Nimaj area and the “Blue City” of Jodhpur.

Skepticism before the trip

Before leaving, Darebna did not know what to expect: she was wary of India, largely because of other people's opinions. She had been told that people steal there, that dirt is everywhere, that animals are emaciated and that you should not go out alone. In her view, many such fears stem from ignorance: people fear what they have not experienced themselves, and perceptions are shaped by both the media and individual negative stories.

She does not deny the country's darker sides: smog, chaotic traffic and poverty. The most striking problem was the garbage, which on many streets lies right on the ground, and its recycling is far from the level Czechs are used to. Against the backdrop of magnificent palaces, the contrast is especially noticeable. India's reality, the traveler says, is too colorful to be described in a single phrase.

Green Delhi and safety

Right after landing, Darebna was surprised by how green New Delhi is: she had expected a gray, dirty city and instead found plenty of parks where locals jog early in the morning before work. Nobody robbed her personally in India, and not once did she land in a situation where she had to be afraid at every step. She does add that she traveled in a small group and may therefore not have faced any intrusive attention.

Europeans are as exotic to Indians as Indians are to Europeans, so people may look at you with curiosity or ask to take a photo with you. She had a similar experience in China and other Asian countries.

People and traditions

The main thing about the trip was not only the Taj Mahal. One of Darebna's most vivid impressions was a visit to the communal kitchen in a palace complex, where people from all walks of life eat together: seeing how food is prepared for a huge number of people was a powerful experience for her.

She was struck by the locals' friendliness, willingness to help and care about their appearance. Women wear bright shawls, traditional clothing and eye-catching jewelry, while men neatly tie their turbans and groom their beards. That makes India, in her words, one of the most photogenic countries.

The traveler was also intrigued by how Indians view karma. When something goes wrong in life, they often see it as part of life's path and believe that how they live and what they do affect their next life.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz