India was so nice that I had to see it twice. On this second visit, I stayed for about three months and focused primarily on the northern part of the country. My rough itinerary began with a stop in Rishikesh, which I used as a base before heading out to the Valley of Flowers. From there, I took a flight up to Leh, where I hiked the Markha Valley Trek and summited Stok Kangri. Next, I traveled down to Manali and then on to the geographically fascinating Shimla – a town perched on a mountaintop that served as the former summer capital of British India. From there I took the train to Chandigarh, then on to Haridwar, followed by the Source of the Ganges Trek, before I returned to Rishikesh. Next, I flew to Amritsar to check out the famous Sikh Golden Temple and the flamboyant border ceremony between India and Pakistan. After that, I headed to Dharamshala, the home of the Dalai Lama, before returning to Amritsar one last time. Finally, I traveled to Delhi for my flight to Thailand. This second trip had a much more laid-back feeling than my first, during which I spent most of my time in major cities. While the Himalayas still have their populous cities, they offered a completely different vibe. India truly has a lot of natural beauty to offer and much quieter pace if you seek it out.
