5 Reasons Middle-Aged People Should Travel to India

What a unique place is India...

Known for its diversity, India has over 20 official languages and locals practicing various religions including Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity.

My soon to be 106-year-old grandfather used to visit India quite regularly when he was younger. He told me many stories about his adventures in India and the time he spent with locals. He developed a close relationship with an Indian family who moved in with him to the USA several decades ago and have provided support to him and, in my family's opinion, have helped him live as long as he's lived ❤️️

Traveling to India in your 40s and 50s is sure to be a life changing experience. India is a hotspot with millions of people visiting from all over the planet. Here are 5 reasons middle-aged people should travel to India.

1. CULTURAL MOSIAC

An important reason to visit India as a middle-aged person is to explore its culture and heritage. One of India's most well-known traits is its diversity. A melting pot of culture, India has one of the largest populations in the world with locals practicing various traditions, religions and gastronomy. India is home to the largest population of Hindu believers in the world and is reflected in holidays such as Holi, referred to as the Festival of Colors that signifies the triumph of good over evil, and Festival of Lights Diwali, another annual celebration that lasts for 5 days commemorating light over darkness.

In addition to Hinduism, other significant religions include Buddhism, Christianity and Sikhism. India is home to the Golden Temple, the chief gurdwara, or worship center, by Sikhs and holds a Guinness World Title of Most Visited Sikh Temple with over 20,000 people visiting the temple on a daily basis.

The most popular sport in India is cricket. Considered more than just a sport, cricket is a passion for many locals and people from all over the world, with its popularity spreading to other countries. Cricket is a way of life for Indian people and important part of culture.

As with many places in the world, there are various socioeconomic classes and family traditions. Marriage holds significant importance in Indian culture with arranged marriages still taking place. Today, a greater number of younger generations are marrying for love and women getting married later in life due to more prioritizing education and career.

2. INDIAN GASTRONOMY

One of top reasons middle-aged people should visit India is for the sake of its food. There's no reason to eat food from home - Indian food is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS with appetizing flavors and spices known around the world. There's something for everyone with a growing number of locals practicing a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle. Some of the most popular dishes in India include:

• Tandoori Chicken: Marinated chicken in yogurt and tandoori masala seasoning

• Biryani: Coming from Mughal Empire, Biryani is made of basmati rice, spices, meat, eggs or vegetables

• Masala Dosa: Popular in the southern region of India made of golden-brown crepe consisting of spiced potatoes

• Chutneys: Homemade relishes from pickled vegetables or stewed fruit

• Butter Chicken: Home to Delhi in the northern area of India, this worldwide favorite meal is made from a rich, creamy curry of succulent chicken pieces prepared in a spiced tomato gravy

This is just a small list of top dishes. There are also appetizing starters, beverages and desserts such as samosas, naan, gulab jamun and lassi.

Are you getting hungry!

3. LANDMARKS AND ATTRACTIONS

India is one of the most visited destinations in the world for a reason. There are many landmarks and activities to do for middle-aged people such as taking a Golden Triangle tour to Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. Agra is home to the world-renewed Taj Mahal, a beautiful building built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his love Mumtaz Mahal. In addition to Taj Majal, visitors to Rajasthan can see a variety of colored buildings such as the "Blue City" Jodhpur, the "Pink City" Jaipur, "Golden City" Jaisalmer and predominately white buildings in Udaipur.

My grandfather used to love going to Kolkata, formerly Calcutta. Located in the eastern region of India, Kolkata is the former capital of India and referred to as the "City of Joy." It's famous for its Bengali dishes such as rasgulla and is a creative hub home to several famous artists such as renewed director Satyajit Ray and poet and novelist Vikram Seth.

4. BOLLYWOOD

No introduction needed, Bollywood produces genius artistry in the entertainment industry including thrilling movies and soul-moving music. Based in modern day Mumbai, formerly Bombay, on the West coast of India, Bollywood derived its name from the region Bombay and Hollywood to produce films in Hindi. The first featured movie to come from Bollywood is Raja Harishchandra in 1913 and the first sound film was Alam Ara released in 1931.

Today, Bollywood holds the record as the largest film producer in the world, with over 1,000 movies released every year (even surpassing Hollywood!) There are many famous actors known around the world such as Amitabh Bachchan, the "Emperor of Bollywood" who has starred in over 200 films and has fans from all parts of the planet including United States, Middle East and UK.

5. WELLNESS HUB

Another reason middle-aged people should visit India is for its wellness aspects. India is well known for its healing practices such as yoga, meditation and ayurveda. A great place to visit to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul is Varanasi, which has gained worldwide attention as a spiritual destination for wellness seekers. South of Varanasi is Bihar, which is the place when Siddhartha Gautama achieved enlightenment under a Bodhi and became Buddha. Today, many people pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya on their spiritual journey towards enlightenment.