Without a doubt the most amazing thing to happen to me thus far in life was my trip to India back in 2005. It wasn't planned. It wasn't even a thought. I hadn't really ever traveled before aside from a week long bachelors party in Cancun and numerous trips to Montreal Canada but I grew up 15 minutes from the border so that was like a trip to the next county. We used to go to see the Expo's play and I was a Jehovah's Witness at the time and they had religious conventions up there as well.
Regardles India is one of those places where you going in look like this.
And you come out looking like this.
Oddly enough the whole thing happened because I got fed up with "society" sold all my belongings and went to live on the street with the homeless of Venice Beach California. A few weeks after making that life alter decision I wandered into a Hare Krishna Temple and 4 months later I was in India. Synchronicity played such an amazing role that I have been a believer ever since. It's certainly choosy about when it decides to bless me but it really did go above and beyond this one one time and couple other times after as well. Looking back I could have done a much much better job taking advantage of the gits the universe bestowed upon me. Nonetheless I was smart enough to stay over there once I got there.
I had enough money to stay for 3 months and when it ran out I decided to stay anyway at first getting room and board at one of the guesthouses in exchange for entertaining/hosting foreigners passing through the lovely little village of Laxman Jhulla,
just up the road from Rishikesh, famous for Yoga and even more famous for the Beatles spending time there. For the locals it's famous because the Ganga river passes through it and like so many places in India, every place in India really it's chock full of holy temples, statues, caves, waterfalls, animals, streets, holy everything. Rishikesh especially so though due to it's proximity to the source of the Ganga and it's Himalayan foothill local in general. It's one of the most beautiful places on earth for a multitude of reasons and I spent a good 5 months all together in that place alone.
My first month however I spent to the south. I flew in to Delhi, spent a night in Paharghanj and then we caught a taxi several hours south to Mathura 
Where friendly guys in boats will give you a ride across the Yamuna
to temples like this one
and if you're interested they'll sell you some pot as well.
Mathura like most urban areas of India is chaos. Traffic laws are really just vague suggestions that no one adheres to even when the police are around.
But as you wander the streets within
you are met with amazing temple
after amazing temple
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All of them in one way or another related to the god Krishna as Mathura is believed to be his place of birth.
And every temple has it Baba's ready to bless you and cleanse you of your bad Karma for only a few rupees. ;)
In part 2 we continue the first month, next stop, the Holy City of Vrindavan
All photo's were taken with a 2.5mp camera that a friend loaned to me while I was there, with the exception of those photos I appear in which were sent to me by the friends who took them.
Looks like quite an adventure!
India looks great, I always wanted to go there! I love the pictures you took, especially in the beginning when you describe how you looked before and after your trip :D It's great that you were able to stay for 3 months and that you found a way of making sure that you can stay there, even though you ran out of money! I'm excited to read about your first month in India :)
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What an amazing journey that must have been . My parents live close to Rishikesh in Dehradun so I have paid my visit to the holy Ganges in Rishikesh. Did you get a chance to camp there and do the river rafting? Its crazy fun.
I didn't do rafting but I did continue up to Gangotri and then myself and a friend hiked to Gaumukh which was a phenomenal journey all on it's own. I also spent several days in Dehradun, Mussoorie , Dhanolti, and Almora. Many other places as well but those are the ones I recall from your area. I Went as far north as Nubra Valley and as far south as Goa, mostly Arambol
Super, you covered the right places. I feel homesick after reading this. I am sure you will have lots to write about Goa!! I love the beaches in Goa esp Arambol, palolem and morgim
Sub continent has its own class and flavor u would have enjoyed this all hopefully
i enjoyed pretty much everything about india with the exception of the constant stomache viruses i would get whenever I was in Delhi for more than a few days. :)
Cool story. I look forward to part 2.
I am in 2 minds about India. The vegan yogi part of me wants to go. The part that hates chaos is less enthusiastic.
ya it definitely helps if you're into chaos, which i am. the interesting thing is, it works. it's more abrasive but as a result people have thicker skins and are quicker to forgive and forget, like i would see people arguing looking ready to throw punches and 2 seconds later they're sitting having chai together, as peaceful as can be.
Nice photos !
Amazing travel... i'm following you please follow me and give me upvoted @aaronmda
India a wonderful country. I would like to go to India. I love India. I know it's very nice there and there are many beautiful places to visit.
well then stay tuned, there's more to come
Interesting!!
Those pictures reminded me of the aroma in the dust and street food flavors in the air! India!
#wow!
upvote & resteem
Wow amazing!
Sir, Stupendous journey and I hope you'll never forget that days. Most of the beautiful cities you have wandered in India. Mathura is the city of Lord Krishna. Haridwar,Rishikesh,Mansarovar,Vrindavan etc are holy cities. Billions of people over the world come to India to wander the wonderful cities,to know about Indian people and their Holy places,Temples etc. I hope you would again want to come India.