10 Reasons to Join Me in India this March!

Limited space is still available in my India Holi Festival & Tigers Photographic Journey happening this March! This is sure to be an amazing trip, encompassing a wide variety of subjects from the people and culture to the wildlife and landscapes. Here are 10 reasons why you should join us on this adventure:

  1. The People

Indians are a warm, kind, beautiful people! It is a large country with a lot of diversity in its population.

Kumbh Mela, Haridwar, India

2. The Markets

We will be visiting a variety of markets in Delhi, each with their own specialty and traditions. All make for great photo opportunities.

Fruit and vegetable seller at market, Rajasthan, India

3. Holi Festival

The Holi Festival, or “Festival of Colors” as some have come to call it, is a spring-time festival celebrated by Hindus annually – but has spread to other nations and cultures as well as a celebration of life, love, and the idea of good conquering evil. Not only does it mark the end of winter and the arrival of spring, but it signifies a time to reconnect with loved ones and appreciate the simple things in life. The kaleidoscope of colors and bustle of activity makes for excellent opportunities to capture the joy of this culture and it’s people.

4. The Ganges

The Ganges, or Ganga, is the holiest river in the world. It runs from the northern Himalaya all the way to the Bay of Bengal. But it is much more than just a river to the one billion Hindus. They believe it transports prayers to heaven and that a dip in the river purifies the soul.

Kumbh Mela, Haridwar, India

5. Ranthambhore National Park

With an area of 400 sq. km encompassing rocky hill crests which descend to open valleys between the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges, dotted with water pools and fruit trees, this park gets its name from the thousand year old fortress, which looms above the forest. Ranthambore is a very special and unusual area where a natural present meets a historical past.

Barasingha, Ranthambhore National Park, India

It is also well known for the diurnal activity of the sixth reason to travel with me to India:

6. Tigers

Tiger safaris traditionally take place at dawn and dusk when the big cats are on the move, sometimes hunting. Naturalist guides use their hearing rather than their site to initially find tigers: when chital and monkeys sense a tiger approaching they give a distinctive warning call that alerts the wildlife (and our guides) to the tiger’s approximate location.

Close-up of tiger in tall grass, Ranthambhore National Park, India

7. The Chaos

Learning to embrace the chaos is an important part of any trip to India. Learning to relax and be at peace with all your senses being overloaded will give you a much greater understanding of the culture.

Along the waterfront of Varanasi, an ancient city on the Ganges river, the timeless tradition of gathering and bathing in the sacred waters is still prevalent. The Ganges, which originates in the nearby Himalaya, is believed to transport water that purifies the soul for the multitudes of Hindus that live along its course.

8. Spirituality

India is home to all of the major religions of the world and is the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Observing people engaging in their rituals is a profoundly intimate experience.

Candle, Kumbh Mela, Haridwar, India

9. The History

Home to the world’s oldest civilization, the religion, culture and architecture of India have evolved under multiple influences creating a visual feast.

Jagat Shri Brahma Temple, Pushkar, India

10. Adventure

Early in my career people told me not to bother going to India – they said it had nothing to offer and I should focus elsewhere. So for over a decade that’s what I did. Worst advice ever! Once I finally saw India with my own eyes—I’ve been back just about every year since and I’ve still just scratched the surface of it’s beautiful, complex and wonderful variety of culture, nature, landscape and wildlife.

Even as they go about their daily work, the women of the Thar Desert wear beautiful tooled jewelry and colorful dress. Occasionally, they’ll gather into groups to discuss a range of subjects from how lazy their men are to village politics. During the long dry season, they’ll routinely paint beautiful designs upon their adobe walls and courtyard floors adding a bit of beauty to the otherwise monochromatic world.

What are you waiting for? Sign up to guarantee your spot to travel with me to one of the great and historic regions of the world!

2 Responses to “10 Reasons to Join Me in India this March!”

  1. Jessie McGuire says:

    India is wonderful. It’s colorful and the people, regardless of their religion, are so devout and so friendly and so open to visitors. It’s one of the most interesting and rewarding countries you could ever hope to visit. And Art has chosen the best of the best experiences for us. I’ve been several times, and still jumped on this trip because of the itinerary. Can’t recommend it enough, particularly if you’re into photography. And even if you’re not (I’m not. I’m purely an enthusiastic amateur), it means to me we’ll have time to soak everything in without being rushed to the next venue. It’s an incredible opportunity. I’ve never met Art and never been on a specific photography tour, but I look forward to seeing, experiencing and learning. India is beyond belief interesting. Long story short, seems to me there are lots of reasons to join this tour. It’s a tremendous opportunity. Just a voice from the peanut gallery!

  2. Ronald Markus says:

    Love your journeys

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