India is a highly diverse country with a variety of languages and cultures. It is home to several “Megacities,” which are cities with populations exceeding 10 million. Mumbai, the largest city in India, is a must-visit destination. I categorize Mumbai as part of the Southern Coast of India for the organization of my blog/page, where I segment India into distinct regions.
India is a country of stark contrasts and contradictions. While spirituality holds great significance, social divisions based on caste, religion, gender, and economic disparity create fragmentation. The level of poverty is severe, yet the country is vibrant and lively.
In Mumbai, one can encounter the most impoverished homeless individuals alongside some of the wealthiest residences in the world.
SOUTH INDIA What I learned
Let’s start by saying that India is fascinating! and on my site I do not focus on the touristy side, the culture is amazingly rich! In addition, I am focusing here on the states of Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra.
As a researcher, I am not keen on generalizations. Generalizations are personalizations of how a group of people might behave. We all learn different things while traveling. This is what “I” learned
- Some of the hardest working people I have ever seen in my lifeare in Southern India, as in any other part of India I visited
- The Southern portion of India is incredibly diverse from place to place
- More than 80% of people in the region are of Hindus
- Over 20 million people are Catholics in Southern India
- The Mysore area, in the southwest, was the seat of the famous Maharajas. The word “Maharaja” means great king in Sanskrit. The Maharajas were “great kings” and rulers of great kingdoms.
- Southern India appeared to be “less traditional” to me compared to other areas of India.
- The Influence of the Portuguese was enormous, the Portuguese ruled Goa for over 450 years
- Karnakata is the largest coffee exporter in the country
- Southern India has the largest number of Ayurveda schools in the country
- Karnakata is the only state where the Indian flag can officially be made
- It is the land of my favorite animal, the tiger with many Tiger reserves that need help.
The tiger, as a significant predator, is crucial for the preservation of balanced ecosystems. These ecosystems are essential sources of fresh water, food, and overall well-being for both wildlife and humans. Safeguarding areas inhabited by tigers could contribute to the protection of at least nine important watersheds. These watersheds are responsible for regulating and supplying freshwater to more than 800 million individuals in Asia.
Indian Dish with a Southern Twist
The irresistible green chutney! It is green due to the huge amount of cilantro in the sauce together with green chilles, ginger, and other delicious ingredients. I am a terrible cook, so I am not able to say a lot other than it is one of my favorite dishes.
Chutneys originated in India in 500 BC! This Southern version of green chutney has delicious coconut…heavenly made! A wonderful way to have breakfast.
Lots of dishes with fish and seafood, obviously, fish curry and pork Vindaloo are some of the best on the coast. Tamarind is used in cuisine and so is coconut, luckily I love both!
MUMBAI, “South” West India
In truth, Mumbai is neither North nor South. Mumbai is located on the Western Coast of India. However, I include Mumbai in the Southern Coast of India because for the purpose of my blog/page I divide India into two parts for now.
Mumbai is the largest city in India and it is the financial center. Mumbai was named after a deity and an old temple “Mumbadevi.”
The Mumbai Pune railway was built by a woman!! yay~~
I stayed in the Colaba neighborhood, which is located in the southern part of Mumbai. It is a very strategic area where you can find many important landmarks to visit, as well as being a good hub for transportation.
I stayed in a shared apartment, which was the best way to get more immersed in the culture without feeling completely out of place.
I was staying not far from the Sassoon Dock Fish Market, right by a Navy base. From my window, I could see people starting work early in the morning, around 5 am. It was amazing, as usual, to see how hard people work in India
. There were many very old boats and a constant stream of people carrying fish and other seafood for sale. It is a place worth visiting, but I would advise doing so with a local or a guide.
The beauty of staying in a local home is getting to know the locals, if that is the purpose of your travel. I like to learn and mingle, and I am generally low maintenance, so I had a blast with such an amazing host!
धन्यवाद!!!!
Stalls and street vendors are all around India selling from balloons, to mobile phone supplies to food. You name it, you have it.
Numerous individuals lack the resources to rent or have the space to pursue their trade. Many people have a designated spot on the street where they conduct their business or sell their goods. This is a common way of making a living in various countries across the globe.
Garlic is a very popular addition to the many tasty Indian dishes such as dry garlic chutney, garlic mashed potato bake, garlic naan, garlic lentil dill, and garlic soup, among the many others!
You will hear the music, see ads, and Bollywood stars’ pictures and posters everywhere in INDIA.
The typical attractions are the Gateway of India a massive monument built to commemorate the arrival of King V and Queen Mary. I wish all that money went for a good cause, but it’s too late now.
The beautiful Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is a terminal train station and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mumbai. What a piece of architecture! As a train enthusiast, I was pleased to see the train infrastructure or the lack of it for the current population.
You can’t miss the Hindu temple of Ganesha (or Lord Sri Ganesh) called The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir. It is a Hindu temple located in Prabhadevi, Mumbai. The temple was built in 1801 and is one of the richest temples in the whole country. It was built in honor to the beloved elephant-headed deity in Hinduism.
Another landmark is the Taj Mahal Palace in Colaba.
My favorite visits are always the markets with a major local flavor. Nothing is better than seeing the everyday life and how most people in the country live!
Very hot peanuts are one of my favorite treats at the market! I am not a very good photographer 🙁 but this is one of my most favorite pictures. I just love being able to capture people’s souls in my photos!
Mumbai is the land of Bollywood, the glamorous Hindu -language film industry known around the world
Bollywood (Bombay cinema, thus known as Bollywood) permeates everywhere in India. You see their stars’ commercials and posters, with a slight touch of fanaticism, all around the country.
One of the most famous Indian Bollywood stars, Amitabh Bachchan’s face, followed me during my travels in India, from shampoo to food, from cotton shirts to jewelry, among other things.
GOA
Goa is a small state (the smallest in India) that stretches along the Arabian Sea in the southwest part of India. It is well-known for its beaches with a hint of a hippie vibe (as an older hippie myself, not as big as some may think, but it’s all in the eyes of the beholder 🙂
This former Portuguese colony has left its mark on the place which also holds influences from the British and French invasions.
While traveling down the stretch of beautiful nature and beaches, I read Portuguese signs and meet folks whose names are of Portuguese descent. The mix of cultures is easy to see with Catholic churches, Hindu temples, and Muslim mosques.
In Goa, you can find an incredible number of yoga retreats and also bars, plenty of them that attract a lot of foreign tourists. Personally, it was hard to mix good yoga practice and meditation around noise and alcohol at this point in life.
The beauty of diversity along the way with Muslim merchants at the market. Catholic churches and landmarks, foreigners and locals at the beach.
Bazaars and markets are everywhere from morning to night. All types of markets are quite popular with unique finds and of course!! the famous flea market at Anjuna Beach and the Mackie’s Night Bazaar.
Located in Panjim, Goa, a small chapel was built in the 1500s by the Portuguese in gratitude for having reached land safely. The site was later reconstructed and became this pristine site on a hill.
The church holds services in Konkani, English, and Portuguese every day! Beware that there are many steps up, so be prepared for a totally worth hike with an amazing view.
And like anywhere else in India, you find the have contrasts along the way…
SACRED PLACE
A very interesting place to visit is St. Francis of Assisi, a World Heritage Site located in old Goa (Goa Velha), 10 km away from its capital Panaji. A World Heritage site is designated by UNESCO as a place of significance. The church venerates St. Francis of Assisi.
You can see a lot more in the SACRED PLACES section of the site by clicking right below
SOUTH INDIA– Karnakata State
The state is an area of diversity in language and culture, as in many other places in India. Its capital is Bangalore, which is 842 km/524 miles from the coast. I am focusing on the coastal area, which has a very large number of temples and beautiful beaches.
This is a state in Southwest India, south of the Arabian Sea. It is the state of some of the most powerful empires with major influence in the country. It is a place where patrons of fine arts, literature, and music were very important. The musicians and singers were a key component of the courts. Just think about all of the incredible instruments of the region and the amazing sounds of the time! Magic!
The coastline of Karnataka has absolutely beautiful beaches. The most popular is Kaswar Beach, but there are many others along the coast such as Gokarna, Mangalore, Paradise, Udupi, Murudheswar, Karwar, and some others.
The Beach
In Gokarna, you find Om beach. It is a famous spot that gets its name due to two beaches shaped together as a “u” that form the OM sign
Quite a crowded place, with muddy water during the rainy season, and lots of college students. It is a beautiful place. However, it is full of backpackers and some hippies (for me, a hippie is the hippie during my time, not what I saw there). Boats, parasailing, etc., which do not always make it an ideal place to rest. However, it is all a question of preference.
MURUDESH Beach
It is a very interesting spot because it is supposed to have the second-highest statue of Lord Shiva in the world. The temple is a sacred site with devotees and visitors from all around the world. The beach had an amazing view of the statue of Lord Shiva and the hills in the background.
KUMTA, KARNAKATA, INDIA
Kumta is a small town, a taluk (an administrative post), and a very important place for the railway system in the area. I used to hear the train passing by all the time, which was interesting because my father was a railroad person and he had just passed not long ago….the power of the spirit.
There is a beach here that is really nice and secluded. Sandy place for a sandy woman:-)
Yoga Handigon, Karnakata
Handigon is a town south of Kumta. The beach is incredible! It is isolated, quiet, serene, with pristine water. It is totally my cup of tea. I need this type of peace. Even though I can appreciate resort life, it is very far from what interests me.
A magical place, located around 4 1/2 hours by car from Mumbai.
There is a lovely authentic small fishing village and the boats come and go, full of fish to sell at the market and on the beach.
I would silently and without disturbing, some days I would walk along the boats to see the type of fish they were bringing and observe all of the action. Such hardworking people.
There was a woman assisting with fishing, who gazed at me with intense displeasure. I could deeply sense her distress.
Fishing is a key activity in the area. The women run to help collect fish, sell them, clean the boats, and prepare things for the following day.
Traveling to restore…
My first solo trip after the death of my father needed to be more of a spiritual journey. The essence of my stay in this Ashram was to focus on the experience without mixing it with sightseeing and other activities in between. The secret to the success of the program is when you fully immerse yourself in the experience with few distractions.
I spent several weeks at an Ayurveda yoga clinic and spiritual retreat by the beach. The place was located almost a mile away from the small village of Kadikode. It took over four hours on a truck from Goa to reach this incredibly beautiful remote location.
Morning walks after Puja, yoga, and breakfast. Time to restore.
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