When I decided to go to India I knew actually nothing about this country. What I knew where only some historical facts from my History lessons at school. I imagined it as a poor country, but with rich cultural heritage. I don’t know why I had such impressions. Maybe they were the results of human talks. But I’m a very curious man and I wanted to see everything with my own eyes and to find any proves of those talks and sayings that form our imagination about this or that thing, though I was rather afraid of that thing that India is a country with great danger for my health. I knew that in India there are lots of illness’s such as cholera, hepatitis, malaria and others. Nevertheless interest and curiosity exceeded my fears.

India is a country that has a very reach cultural heritage and every city in this country has lots of architectural and cultural sights.

Came to India we went to the capital of this country, Delhi. So, my first impressions of this city were awful. The city has amazed me with the energy and vanity of noisy markets. It was the first thing that was evident. Rumble and dirt surrounded us. People ran somewhere and pushed. So, in one word, it was awful! I wanted to reach my silent, quiet and clean room in the hotel as soon as it was possible. Well, after a little rest I started to study the city.

Delhi consists of three municipal corporations (parts of the city): New Delhi, Old Delhi and the military settlement. We began our trip from the Old Delhi where the largest mosque of India is situated. It is Jama Masjid. The building made of white marble and red sandstone simply amazed me. But my attention was caught by the great monument Qutub Minar. The corrosion-proof seven meters tall column stands there. It is the tallest brick minaret in the world, and an important example of Indo-Islamic Architecture. There is a shopping center not far from that place. That centre was with awful narrow small streets that were filled by dealers who offered different goods of precious metals and silk.

Then we went to New Delhi. I was really amazed when I saw such a huge contrast between New and Old parts of the city. Smart hotels, beautiful and rich houses, large and huge shops are situated here. What a great contradiction! Moreover you can go to the central trading square. If you like exotic animals like snakes, you can find them there. You can also watch the people who swallow the fire or swords there. You can meet different exorcists and magicians there too. But it would interest only those people who like such performances. As for me I don’t like such shows at all. Another example of contrast between New and Old parts is that there are lots of different administrative centers, educational and research institutions in New Delhi. But in the old part of the city we saw only poor houses of poor people with exception of the great monuments, of course. However, New Delhi didn’t impress me much.

So, during our trip we wanted to visit the great symbol of tourism in India. We wanted to visit the great monument, the most popular tourist destination. It was, certainly, Taj Mahal. We knew, of course, the sad history of that great monument. So, we tried to come into the mausoleum to have a look at the monument that was decorated with semiprecious stones inserted into a marble. But these were vain attempts, because the entrance for people that aren’t Moslems is forbidden. We were very sorry. Well, during our trip I noticed that bribery is widely spread in India. It may happen so that you have to pay not for good service but for service itself.

The certain amount of money can open some closed doors for you, find the lost documents or keys or other petty things. By the way, a trip to India is not very expensive. Moreover I can tell you that it’s rather cheap. If you live in a cheap hotel and eat only rice daily you have to spend approximately 10$ a day. However if you want to have a certain comfort during your trip or you used to have rooms with some modern conveniences in hotels and if you want to eat the tasty and healthy food you have to spend no more then 30$ a day. I think it’s rather cheap.

Well, leaving India I found that I was full of contradictions. On the one hand I saw magnificent and wonderful architecture, monuments where the century traditions do not fall under the impact of the civilization. I watched the interesting thing when the sacred cows are adjoining to magnificent palaces and skyscrapers. But on the other hand I met with a great disaster. Delhi impressed me much with its dirty and unhygienic state. The great country with great contrasts!

By: Iuri Tarabanov