India is a country of stark contrasts. This is a country of magnificent beauty, ancient temples, towering mountains, steamy jungles, and hot, dry deserts. It’s also a country that is overpopulated and in some areas impoverished. Travel to India and you will love it and hate it, rejoice in its beauty and become disheartened with its squalor, fall in love with the people but get exasperated when they just won’t leave you alone.

It is no secret that we were not big fans of India during our five week visit here. In fact, we considered skipping the last several weeks, shortening our itinerary and traveling to Myanmar or Thailand early. But our time in India changed us in so many ways…how we travel, who we are as a family, and how we think about our place in the world.

It’s funny how time can change your perspective. Now, I look back on India with fondness. Even though not everything we experienced was pleasant, we did make some unforgettable memories. Sometimes, the things that challenge you the most leave the deepest mark on your soul.

Now, several years later, as I pour through our photos, I am feeling nostalgic for India. Journey through India in photos and just maybe get inspired to visit this land of stark contrasts.

India in Photos

Sunrise on the Ganges River in Varanasi

Sunrise on Ganges

 

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai

Mumbai train station

 

Kara’s view from our hotel in Jaisalmer

Kara in Jaisalmer

 

Oh, the food!

Indian food

 

India street art in Udaipur

India street art

 

Here’s a little more

Indian mural

 

One of our best memories…on the Ganges River

Varanasi birds

 

Yes, elephants really do walk down the city streets in India

Elephant in Jaipur

 

So do cows

Varanasi street

 

Here are more cows

Walking through Udaipur

 

Cows are found everywhere. This is the city center of Jaisalmer.

Jaisalmer street

 

Monkeys also roam wild…with the perfect sunset in the background

India sunset

 

Coolest memory for our family in India…an overnight camel safari in the Thar Desert

Earth Trekkers kids

 

Ghats on the Ganges River in Varanasi

Varanasi ghats

 

Chowpatty Beach, Mumbai

Chowpatty Beach

 

Kara getting a henna tattoo in Udaipur

Henna tattoo

 

Here she is a few days later…

Henna tattoo later

 

People loved taking our photo

Celebrities

 

It was almost impossible to escape the attention

posing-for-photos

 

Sometimes we would attract a huge crowd of people, with photo sessions lasting over 15 minutes. At first, we thought this was fun, but as time went on, this was something that became aggravating.

attracting-a-crowd

 

But we loved the people. And we took photos of them as well.

Kids in India

 

A guard in Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur

guard

 

Of course, there is the Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

 

And beautiful Ranakpur Temple

Ranakpur

 

And sexy Khajuraho

Sexy Khajuraho

 

The blue city of Jodhpur

Jodhpur

 

A city street in black and white

India in black and white

 

Boats in Varanasi

Varanasi boats

 

A crowded street in Delhi

Delhi street

 

Taj Mahal seen from the Red Fort in Agra

Taj Mahal from the Red Fort

 

Kara with a snake charmer in Jaipur

Snake charmer

 

Laundry day in Varanasi

Doing laundry in the Ganges River Varanasi

 

Walking the streets of Jodhpur

Blue Jodhpur

 

Walking the streets of Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer Street

 

One last view of the Ganges River in Varanasi

Ganges River

 

And finally, Tyler with a sadhu

India holy man


More Information about India

FAVORITE EXPERIENCES IN INDIA: Our favorite experiences in India was visiting Darjeeling during Diwali, seeing the Taj Mahal, trying street food in Mumbai, going on a camel safari in Jaisalmer, and walking through Old Delhi.

THE BEAUTY OF BHUTAN: Journey through Bhutan in our collection of photos and read about our experience exploring the highlights of Bhutan.

TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY: For more information about the camera gear we carry, check out our Travel Photography Gear Guide.

 

Are you planning a trip to India? Read all of our articles about India in our India Travel Guide.

 

A journey through India in Photos

 

All rights reserved © Earth Trekkers. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc.), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.

Julie

About Julie

Julie is the main author for Earth Trekkers. Hiker, foodie, photographer, and triathlete, Julie loves traveling the world in search of new experiences and then sharing them on this site. Her goal is to make your travel planning process easier and to inspire you to visit new places.

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