India. Getting to know Karnataka бесплатное чтение

Chapter 1. Preface

In recent years, people around the world, including Russia, have been discovering yoga, and with it, immersing themselves in awareness and religion. Hinduism is capturing the minds of young people and India has become one of the favorite travel destinations.

I was no exception and went to India in search of adventure, my true path and answers to my questions.

For three years, I visited many cities in different states of India and visited both well-known places and those that not every local resident knows about. You won't find some of the objects I've described in any of the classic guidebooks.

In this guide, I will share with you the most colorful, in my opinion, places in the state of Karnataka, which, in my opinion, are simply necessary for all lovers of adventure and souls eager to embark on the spiritual path. Visiting these places, you will feel the taste of India and fall in love with this ancient and holy country forever.

The guide describes both natural attractions and temples of various religions, as well as forts. The guide also contains stories and legends of Indian mythology, as well as my impressions of the places visited.

When writing this guide, I was based on historical facts, the stories of local guides and Russian-speaking guides, and of course on my feelings as an individual traveler who looks everywhere and everywhere, where you can and where you can't, thanks to which I managed to see what an ordinary package tourist will never see. I must say right away that not all the sights of the state of Karnataka are described here, but only those that I have personally visited and heartily recommend to visit.

Chapter 2. Preparing for the trip

What do you need to do to make your trip comfortable?

India differs significantly from European countries in terms of compliance with sanitary standards. Therefore, if you are afraid of catching any infection, it is better to get vaccinated before traveling. It is necessary to be vaccinated primarily against dysentery, hepatitis A and B, malaria, typhoid fever and cholera.

Travel insurance is mandatory, especially if you plan to have extreme entertainment and rent a bike. To be honest, for three years, insurance has never been useful to me thanks to a well-assembled first aid kit.

The first aid kit must contain antipyretic, painkillers, medicines for intestinal disorders, adsorbents, anti-allergenic, antiseptics, broad-spectrum antibiotics and drugs that you take on a regular basis.

In India, as in other Asian countries, it is not customary to use toilet paper, so take it with you if you want to save money and not waste time looking for it in markets.

The sun in India is quite hot, so don't forget your sunscreen.

Food in India is very spicy and if your stomach is not used to eating such food, then it is better to take food with you something from the category of doshiraks. But this is not necessary. If you search well and do not limit yourself to the menu, but ask questions to the employees of cafes and restaurants, then you will always find chicken broth, potatoes with salad without spices. And, of course, tortillas.

Chapter 3 You have arrived. Where to run?

The bulk of tourists fly to India at Indira Gandhi Airport in Delhi. Those who travel to the favorite state of Goa since the hippie days will find themselves at Dabolim Airport or at the new airport in the city of Mopa.

After going through all the customs procedures and collecting your luggage, you will need to get your hands on the local currency, the rupees. The exchange rate at the airport is not very favorable, but depending on where you are going next, you may not be able to change your currency anywhere else. By the way, you can also exchange rubles for rupees when departing from Moscow at Sheremetyevo Terminal C Airport.

Where to buy a SIM card? There are several telecom operators in India: Airtel, Idea, Vodafon. In the cities of Karnataka, SIM cards are not sold to tourists willingly, it is better to resolve this issue at the airport. If you still decide to buy a SIM card in the city, then you can buy them on the main street in Gokarna. Take into account the siesta time from 13:00 to 16:00

Next, you need to decide how you will get to the hotel. From the airport, you can order a taxi or get there by public transport. But it is safer to book a transfer in advance.