When I booked my 8-day Golden Triangle tour with Intrepid Travel<\/a>, I didn\u2019t know what to expect.<\/strong><\/p>\n I knew the trip would be more than its typical Delhi > Jaipur > Agra itinerary. After all, the company\u2019s all about adventure travel and getting off the beaten path.<\/p>\n But I didn\u2019t know how much more there\u2019d be to India<\/a> <\/strong>than its classic destinations. I didn\u2019t know our local leader, Harsha, would bring the country and its people to light with her passion. I didn\u2019t know I\u2019d want to feast forever on the food, that I\u2019d so fully immerse myself in a whole different culture, that I\u2019d have experiences that\u2019d make for a lifetime of memories.<\/p>\n I also observed a bunch of things that if you\u2019ve been to India, I bet you\u2019ll have experienced too. Here they are.<\/p>\n (Do you agree? Let me know in the comments!)<\/em><\/p>\n Keeping hydrated with chai<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It doesn\u2019t matter what the question is, the answer is chai. The delicious drink \u2013 black tea brewed with aromatic spices and herbs\u00a0\u2013 quickly became integral to the happiness levels of my Intrepid group.<\/p>\n Wherever we were\u00a0\u2013 Jaipur\u2019s Amber Fort, Old Delhi\u2019s streets, or Agra\u2019s carpet shops\u00a0\u2013 it brought us together time and time again. If you\u2019ve been to India, I\u2019m sure you too left more than a little addicted to this always-tempting treat.<\/p>\n READ MORE: THE WARNING NO ONE GIVES YOU WHEN TRAVELLING TO INDIA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n One of Intrepid\u2019s female guides, Ankita<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Much of India\u2019s charm is in its chaos, but that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s the easiest country to navigate. If you found the same, you probably also found that that the benefit of local expertise here is second to none.<\/p>\n Everyone on my trip would have been at a loss without our incredible local leader<\/a><\/strong>, Harsha. Not only did she get us safely from place to place, all the while giving us much-appreciated insights into Indian culture, she also acted as a bridge between local and tourist. In just one morning in Delhi, for instance, she got us chatting to the friendliest vegetable seller, explained the rituals of Sikh gurdwaras, and led us to the tastiest paratha breakfast of the entire trip.<\/p>\n Would I have successfully accomplished the above myself? Let\u2019s be honest, probably not. There\u2019s nothing better than having local expertise when adventuring in India.<\/p>\n READ MORE: 10 QUESTIONS WITH ANKITA, ONE OF INTREPID\u2019S INCREDIBLE INDIAN LEADERS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Navigating Mumbai\u2019s chaotic streets<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Chances are if you\u2019ve been to India, you know what I\u2019m talking about. And that if you brought noise-cancelling headphones with you, you will have patted yourself on the back more than a handful of times.<\/p>\n When in India, it\u2019s almost rude not to honk your horn. After all, why wouldn\u2019t you want to announce your presence and that you\u2019re feeling ANY emotion under the sun to any and all vehicles on the road?!<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO INTREPID\u2019S NEWSLETTER FOR TRAVEL DEALS, GIVEAWAYS, STORIES & TIPS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Exploring rural Bijaipur on an Intrepid tour<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Even with limited vacation time, it\u2019d be remiss to visit India\u2019s cities and think you\u2019ve seen the country. Wise travellers know just how magical India\u2019s rural regions can be.<\/p>\n Even on my 8-day trip<\/strong> in the Golden Triangle<\/a>, Intrepid fitted in a night in Karauli, a part of Rajasthan few tourists visit. The pace was slower here, and the village walk and heritage stay we were greeted with were amazing for exposing our group to an Indian lifestyle far removed from that of Delhi\u2019s.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019ve been somewhere like Kerala<\/a> <\/strong>in the south or the remote northeast<\/strong>, if you\u2019ve been to India, you\u2019ll know how much more there is to it than its urban areas.<\/p>\n BROWSE ALL INTREPID\u2019S INDIA TRIPS TO SEE THE COUNTRY\u2019S HIGHLIGHTS AND HIDDEN GEMS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n No caption needed!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Like many visitors to India, I was incredibly excited to visit the iconic Taj Mahal. But a small part of me thought it would be so over-crowded or over-hyped that it wouldn\u2019t meet my expectations.<\/p>\n Not so.<\/p>\n It was every bit as breathtaking as Instagram made it out to be. I could have sat for hours gazing at its beauty \u2013 and I did! If you\u2019ve seen it for yourself, you\u2019ll likely agree that no love story,\u00a0mausoleum or building even comes close.<\/p>\n READ MORE: WHAT IT\u2019S REALLY LIKE VISITING THE TAJ MAHAL<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Delicious eats in Udaipur<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If you find, like me, that chai becomes your go-to drink, you\u2019ll doubtless find that curry becomes your go-to food. But there\u2019s so much variation in the country\u00a0\u2013 depending on the region, and even if you\u2019re vegan<\/a> <\/strong>(!) \u2013 that it\u2019s unlikely you\u2019ll find it blurs into one samey dish.<\/p>\n And if it does? Well, it\u2019s so damn delicious we don\u2019t think you\u2019ll be complaining.<\/p>\n CAN\u2019T GET ENOUGH OF INDIAN FOOD? YOU\u2019LL LOVE INTREPID\u2019S 15-DAY FOOD TRIP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n A typical street scene in Old Delhi<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Enough said. Old Delhi\u00a0\u2013 jam-packed with Mughal architecture, street food, and one of the largest mosques in India (the Jama Masjid) \u2013 has oh so much charm.<\/p>\n It also\u2026 would make your electrician back home cry. The tangled webs of wire spaghetti are as far as the eye can see here.<\/p>\n READ MORE: 7 MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES YOU SHOULD HAVE IN RAJASTHAN, INDIA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Street vendor in Udaipur, India<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Ah, India. If you\u2019ve been, you\u2019ll know it\u2019s not a place where you can melt into the background easily. But embrace it and you\u2019ll discover just how hospitable\u00a0\u2013 and curious\u00a0\u2013 locals can be.<\/p>\n Like the legendary Intrepid guide she is, our leader Harsha facilitated tons of local interactions on our Golden Triangle trip<\/strong>. From drinking chai in a local village home near Karauli to taking us to a local spice market in Delhi, she ensured we came face-to-face with Indian warmth firsthand.<\/p>\n And you? Well, wherever you are, you\u2019re sure to be made to feel special by locals (and, um, perhaps be asked to buy a bangle or two). And if you\u2019re at the Taj Mahal and you HAVEN\u2019T been approached to take at least a selfie or two with a local. Well, you\u2019re doing something wrong.<\/p>\n READ MORE: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PACK FOR A TRIP TO INDIA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Jaipur\u2019s colourful streets<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Google \u201cHawa Mahal\u201d and you have just one example (a distinctive palace example because why not!) of how spectacular Jaipur is. A traveller favourite for good reason, this Rajasthani city is as pretty as it is pink. Discover it for yourself and you won\u2019t fail to be charmed.<\/p>\n Something my group and I also discovered here? That the Amber Fort is beautifully otherworldly. Seriously.<\/p>\n NOTE: Appreciate its splendour and beauty but don\u2019t be one of the elephant-riding travellers there. Wild animals belong in the wild. (Intrepid was the first global tour operator to ban elephant rides on its trips in 2014. Here\u2019s\u00a0<\/a>more info on why.)<\/em><\/p>\n READ MORE: HOW TO SPEND A DAY LIKE A LOCAL IN JAIPUR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Who can resist the delights of Kerala?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Whether you stay for a week or a month, one thing\u2019s for sure: it won\u2019t feel like enough. I picked an 8-day trip <\/strong>there because I work in North America and don\u2019t have a ton of vacation time. But, like every other traveller in my group (and life!), I left feeling I\u2019d barely scratched the surface.<\/p>\n What do I have my eye on next? Too many options\u2026 I wouldn\u2019t say no to a food trip<\/a><\/strong>, to going north to yoga capital Rishikesh<\/a><\/strong>, to heading south<\/a><\/strong>, or to experiencing lesser-known Ladakh<\/strong>. And whether or not you have your eye on similar spots, you likely can\u2019t leave India without feeling a need to return.<\/p>\n It has the craziest contrasts, every landscape under the sun, a million different destinations, a\u00a0kaleidoscope of different cultures, and, truly, something for everyone.<\/p>\n Travel there and you\u2019ll find out just why a return trip is in order.<\/p>\n10. The deliciousness\u00a0that is Masala Chai, whatever the time of day<\/h2>\n
![\"what](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Intrepid-Travel-India-Vegan-pax-street-drink.jpg\")
<\/p>\n9. The usefulness of locals to navigate the chaos and reveal hidden gems<\/h2>\n
![\"Female](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Pushkar-1-e1551092474209.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n8. The ever-present background music that\u2019s otherwise known as car horns<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/India_Mumbai_Leader_Group2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n7. The tranquility of India\u2019s rural areas<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Intrepid-Travel-India-Bijaipur-India-DSC01513.jpg\")
<\/p>\n6. The jaw-dropping experience that is seeing the Taj Mahal for the first time<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Intrepid-Travel-india_taj-mahal_traveller-sunrise.jpg\")
<\/p>\n5. The skill you\u2019ll find within you to eat\u00a0\u2013 and enjoy\u00a0\u2013 curry for multiple meals a day<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Intrepid-Travel-India-Udaipur-India-DSC02169.jpg\")
<\/p>\n4. The Old Delhi belief that the more electricity cables, the better<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Intrepid-Travel-India_Dehli_street_rick_233.jpg\")
<\/p>\n3. The innate warmth of locals\u00a0\u2013 and their ability, at times, to make you feel like a celeb<\/h2>\n
![\"Street](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Intrepid-Travel-India-Udaipur-India-DSC00740.jpg\")
<\/p>\n2.\u00a0 The photogenic nature of Jaipur\u2019s streets\u00a0\u2013 and dazzling Amber Fort<\/h2>\n
![\"India](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/India_Jaipur_street_houses_356.jpg\")
<\/p>\n1. The feeling that no matter how long you travel in India for, you\u2019ve barely scratched the surface<\/h2>\n
![\"Kerala](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Intrepid-Travel-india_kerala_rice_boat.jpg\")
<\/p>\n