North-Central Plains Dos and Don'ts

Get out to see the Ganges at sunrise that is when you see the true Indian Varanassi

Thanesar is very close to a place called Kurukshetra. For some reason it's not selectable as a location here but it is actually a fairly good sized city. It's an interesting place because it's located on an ancient battleground that rivals Har Meggido in the amount of blood spilled there. It's supposedly the place where Arjuna received the Bhagavad Gita (Hindu Bible) from Krishna at the beginning of an epic battle that's said to have taken place there thousands of years ago. It's home to the largest man made Ghat (pool) in India, maybe even the world i'm not sure but it's huge and really fun to do cannballs into. It looks filthy, it probably is but if you go at night and try not to think about it, you'll live. I did. Oh and if you run into a local guy there named Deepak Sharma....RUN! He will try to talk you into some nonsense that will no doubt turn into a massive waste of your time. Of course if you're into that sort of thing, I will say, you could have an interesting adventure. Oh and if you get into trouble, find the police and ask for Rameshwar. He doesn't speak english at all but he's still really nice (well if you're his friend) and a blast to get drunk with. In fact everyone at his station is like that. Oh and bring mesquito repelent. Lots of it. and a flashlight, the power goes out all the time, more so then other places in India.

One of the holiest places in India and not well known to outsiders. All year long locals come from all over India to make a pilgrimage around Ghovardhan Hill. It's a quite a sight and there are many ancient points of interest. Stear clear of anyone offering to guide you or help you make offerings or anything like that unless you want to fork over 2000 rupees for a cute story and some leaves to chew on. This place is about as authentic as India gets so be prepared and for the love of god if you're woman, cover yourself well in this place (nothing skin tight, nothing showing from neck to ankle). It's not even a matter of respect, it's matter of personal safety. The safest time to go is usually around late october to early november when there's a large group of westerners (about 600 or so) there for a Hare Krishna festival called Kartik month. It's the only time of year you'll see other foreigners around.

stay in the golden temple with pilgrims... sleep and eat free, have a wonderful time meeting locals

My home city for a good two decades ... can give you loads of tips ... tell me if you want ... sadly, our lovely house, surrounded by gardens, is no more there, and all of us have moved to New Delhi... else could have offered you a stay there too as many have indeed stayed ... litterateurs, artists and so many others .... and even though none of the culture and grandeur and charm of the city remains now (for it is now a choking, criminalised, congested, characterless hotbed of ugly North Indian politics) ... if you do go there, do try and salvage the ruins of whatever little lingers on ... whatever version of the famous Kakori or Galauti kebabs you can lay your hands on, the Islamic heritage of Chowk, the crowds of Aminabad, the Imam Baras, the bookshop of Mr Ram Advani, a stroll down Hazratganj, the dilapidated boredom of the Residency, La Martiniere College (now a school, my school too for all a decade, but began as a fort built by Frenchman Claude Martin during British rule in India - he is buried under its impressive structure... he built two other sister schools in Calcutta, India and Lyon, France but they're nowhere as impressive), and whatever little courtesy and refinement you come across ... leave the rest to memory or imagination ... and let not any sight or sound or smell of malls, slums, shops, cars or other urban aspirations siezing the city (like so many other cities of India and the world) distract you so ...