I love hearing from our Trip Leaders, and I get especially excited when they send me photos featuring some of their favorite—and most memorable—group experiences. Here, one of our Heart of India Trip Leaders, Prabhu Bhati Singh, shares a few images of Hal Weiss—a 5-time traveler from Sun Lakes, Arizona, and a traveler in one of his recent groups.
Here are some life-changing pictures from Hal Weiss, one of my travelers on a recent Heart of India adventure …
Hal enjoys one of India’s traditional modes of transportation—an ox-cart.
A smooth rowboat ride along the Ganges River at Varanasi.
Making friends with some of India’s locals, including this cobra.
If you’re like me, when preparing to visit new destinations, you immerse yourself in the sights and culture you’ll be traveling to with books, movies, and photos about these very places. But (as history has proven to me many times before), no matter how much research I do prior to my travels, I always discover something unexpected—whether it’s a fantastic local restaurant, a hidden stall with spectacular crafts in a market, or the amazingly intricate décor of a building that’s only visible in person.
That’s why it doesn’t surprise me that many OAT travelers tell me about the unexpected moments they’ve encountered while traveling with us. Here, Luise U. shares her memories of the unanticipated places she discovered on her adventure to India, Valerie J. describes what made her recent visits to Nepal and Tibet so special, and Mary & Curtis K. explain what they enjoyed most during their trip to South India …
There were a few things we saw on our India adventure that were great surprises we had not read about before. First was seeing the Lotus Temple in Delhi. The modern architecture was overwhelming—both the outside and the inside.
We were wondering how many OAT travelers are lucky enough to spot a Bengal tiger during their visits to Ranthambore National Park. Lo and behold, our group of 16 belonged to the very fortunate ones. During our morning drive, we saw a tiger for a significant period of time, running along the road, crossing over the road, and then running along the other side of the road, until she finally disappeared into the bush. On our evening safari, we drove on a different route and luck was on our side again. This time, we saw another tiger sitting at the end of a large pond, relaxing and looking at us with her beautifully marked face (our guide informed us that it was a female tiger). We stared at her for about ten minutes before she got out of the water and sat down at the edge of the pond. Eventually we left, still looking with fascination at the regal animal. We could not believe how lucky we had been.
Another total surprise occurred during our visit to the Abhaneri Step Well. When our Trip Leader said we would “stop at a step well,” nobody knew what to expect. My jaw literally dropped when we walked closer and closer, finally seeing the complete 13 flights of steps encircling the 19.8 meters-deep square of open water. What an architectural wonder! There are supposedly a number of these step wells in Rajasthan. The pillared verandahs are also very beautiful.
We had seen many pictures of the Taj Mahal, never knowing about the gorgeous inlay work on the white marble surfaces with semi-precious stones. Breathtaking. Last, but not least, Khajuraho’s temples were another big surprise—with their sensuous sculptures in sandstone, one square yard after another.
A female tiger rests in a large pond in Ranthambore National Park.
A view of the unique Abhaneri Step Well.
Luise’s group watches life on the sacred Ganges River in Varanasi.
Luise U.
17-time traveler & Vacation Ambassador
Harlem, Georgia
My trip to Nepal, plus the Tibet post-trip extension, exposed me to a part of the world I’ve long wanted to visit. I found the culture fascinating, and an added bonus was that our trip was during the rice harvest. The rice paddies were humming with activity in Nepal and we had many “Kodak moments” during our hiking adventure.
The Himalayas were spectacular, although it took three tries in the sightseeing plane to see them (the first time, the mountains were shrouded in fog; and the second time, the rain prevented the plane from even taking off). The wait was worth it, as was the flight over the Himalayas from Nepal to Tibet—and back—in glorious weather.
After visiting India last year on OAT’s Heart of India adventure, I found Kathmandu and the rest of Nepal to be amazingly clean, with colorful crowds of people. I never get my fill of picturesque temples, unusual city sights, pretty countryside, or friendly people. Nepal has a wealth of variety, and we were exposed to a small taste of it.
Tibet was another world altogether. Radically different scenery, some of the most gorgeous lakes I’ve ever seen, and truly fascinating people. Buddhism is different in every culture, and Tibetan Buddhism is probably the most different of all. We were able to see pilgrims prostrating themselves in front of temples, walking circles of devotion around temples, and praying inside some of the most sacred temples in Tibet. The Chinese influence on Tibet is everywhere, to the point where Tibet seems more Chinese than Tibetan in many areas. If you want to witness a culture in peril before it disappears, visit Tibet now.
Valerie J.
14-time traveler & Vacation Ambassador
San Antonio, Texas
We loved our trip to South India, which offered glimpses of history from AD 79 to India’s independence. We took a trip to northern India with OAT five years ago, and we felt this itinerary gave a better feel for Hindu culture, whereas the trip in the north featured a lot of Moghul sites. Our Trip Leader was superb, and he gave us real insight into the lives of both rural villagers and urban middle class families. Among the most impressive sights were the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, and the Palace of Mysore. But we also had some lovely accommodations (many with swimming pools), and the food was very interesting.
Mary & Curtis K.
16-time travelers
Fennville, Michigan