India: A Journey 25 Years in the Making

For 25 years, I dreamed of standing before the Taj Mahal. Two separate times, I even had flights lined up on our Gulfstream to make it happen, but for reasons I still don’t quite understand, the trip never materialized. It was as if India itself was playing hard to get. And believe me, I’m no stranger to spontaneous travel, I’ve flown across the world on a whim more times than I can count.

But as soon as I stepped out of the airport in Delhi, I understood why it was meant to happen now. Three years into my sobriety journey, I arrived in India with an open heart, an open mind, and an insatiable curiosity for the vibrant, mystical, and deeply spiritual world before me. I was finally ready to experience India fully... and, let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

I felt an almost immediate shift in both my mind and body as we drove through Delhi at midnight, the city alive with shimmering lights and an energy unlike anything I’d ever experienced. And the traffic... oh, the traffic! If you think New York is noisy, think again. Honking is practically an Olympic sport here, performed with enthusiasm 24 hours a day. It’s not aggressive honking, though; it’s almost…orchestrated. An unspoken language of beeps and toots that somehow keeps the chaos in motion.

And the roads? Let’s just say they are shared with a little bit of everything... buses, cars, tuk-tuks, bicycles, motorbikes, pedestrians, cows (yes, cows!), and even the occasional bullock cart. It’s organized chaos at its finest, and the most impressive part? I didn’t see a single accident in two weeks. Somehow, it all just works. 

The food... oh my GOODNESS, the food! Every meal was a colorful masterpiece, bursting with spices, flavors, and textures. While I wasn’t quite brave enough to dive into street food (let’s not test fate, shall we?), I dined like a queen in our five-star hotels and aboard our riverboat cruise. My diet for two weeks? Fresh fish, every vegetable imaginable, and pasta that could rival Italy’s best. And let’s not forget dessert because, in India, there’s always room for dessert.

One of the most eye-opening moments came on January 14th, during the festival of Makar Sankranti. I woke up, peered out of our stateroom window, and saw an endless line of people waiting to enter the Ganges River for their sacred morning bath. Others brushed their teeth in the river, and one woman even washed her laundry on the rocks nearby.

Now, the Ganges is deeply sacred to the Indian people, a place of purification and renewal. However, as a first-time visitor, I took the very wise advice to admire from a distance... no feet or hands in the water for me! But witnessing the ritual was incredibly moving. It was a reminder of the faith, devotion, and cultural richness that India is known for.

Everywhere we went, India dazzled with its art and architecture... from ancient temples to vibrant modern murals. The sheer scale of creativity was staggering. And the people? Some of the warmest, most welcoming I’ve ever met. Despite the stark contrasts between extreme wealth and poverty, there was an undeniable harmony among the people. No matter where we went, there were smiles, waves, and an energy that radiated joy.

On our river cruise, we stopped at small villages where we had henna tattoos done and learned the art of tying turbans and saris... let’s just say, some of us were more successful than others! And then there was Mother Teresa’s House in Kolkata, a profoundly humbling visit that left me speechless.

The flower market in Kolkata, however, was a whole different kind of overwhelming. Imagine shoulder-to-shoulder human traffic in a maze of color, scent, and sound, where thousands of people hustle and bustle, buying and selling flowers in the biggest, most fragrant sea of petals I’ve ever seen. It was beautiful. It was chaotic. It was India in its purest form.

And then, finally, the moment I had waited 25 years for.

As we passed through the gates of the Taj Mahal, there it was... rising through the morning mist like a vision from another world. It was so perfect that it almost didn’t seem real.

I stood there, staring, tears welling in my eyes.

Shah Jahan built this breathtaking monument as a symbol of eternal love for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. And standing there in front of it, you could feel that love still radiating from the white marble walls. Words like "stunning," "exquisite," and "alluring" don’t do it justice. It was mystical, peaceful, and deeply emotional.

It was worth every year of waiting.

India isn’t just a country... it’s an experience. A place that touches your soul in ways you can’t put into words. It’s chaos and serenity, noise and silence, tradition and modernity, all woven together into a dazzling, life-changing adventure.

So, to India, you challenged me, humbled me, and stole a piece of my heart.

I loved you. And I can’t wait to return.

With gratitude,

Janet Folk

Author / Entrepreneur