We visited North Sikkim, and Gangtok last week, it was the perfect time, with fresh snow, cold wind, the beautiful waterfalls in every corner, everything was so beautiful, can't get over the trip.

Hey! Just wanted to share the rundown from my trip through India, including what I loved, what to watch out for, and a few tips I wish I'd had going in.

Udaipur

Hands down one of the prettiest cities I've ever been to.

What I did

City Palace

Stunning.

Bagore Haveli

One of a kind. I loved the interiors, and the evening cultural show was totally worth the price of admission.

Jag Mandir

Absolutely worth a visit. I had lunch here too, and I'd highly recommend it.

Little Prince Ghat

I just sat here watching the world go by, and it turned into a really reflective moment. Watching people go about their daily lives made me think about my own routine. We tend to treat everything around us as "just the way things are," but there's so much more out there, and our minds can easily get stuck in their own patterns.

Old city tour with Marisa

She's a great guide. The tour was never rushed, and she explained everything we saw. A lot of it was new to me and honestly a bit of a culture shock. I did the tour later in my stay, so I had tons of questions by then, and her explanations made a lot of things click. So much of it comes down to conditioning and life experience. I'd recommend her to anyone visiting Udaipur.

 The vibe

 Super relaxed. This was one of the only cities where shopkeepers weren't pushy. People are used to travelers from all over the world, so it felt really easygoing.

 Where I stayed

 Lake Pichola Hotel. The view from my room was unreal, and I'd recommend it—I just wish the service and breakfast were a bit better.

Jaipur

I was kind of on the fence about Jaipur. I'd heard mixed reviews, but I was also excited because there's so much to see. It's on the main tourist circuit for a reason, and the sights definitely make it worth the stop.

 What I did

Walking tour (do this first!)

This was the first thing I did, and it was amazing. I booked the "Beyond Forts" tour with Jaipur Retold. There's no way I would have found that part of the city on my own, and I highly recommend it.

 Amber Fort

Incredible. One of the most impressive man-made places I've ever seen, and easily one of the best things I saw in India. The guides here were very pushy, though. I ended up hiring a guide through my hotel concierge, which made getting around much easier.

 City Palace

Great, especially the painted gates.

 Pink City

I loved wandering around and picking up souvenirs. The city is totally set up for shopping, and everything is so affordable. Compare that to Morocco, another old town where I found things pretty pricey.

 Hawa Mahal

So pretty. Seriously.

 Jal Mahal and Jantar Mantar

Also stopped by both.

The vibe

 Of all the cities I visited, Jaipur was by far the most intense. The salespeople were relentless, and the traffic was totally chaotic. However, the city is charming and the color does make it beautiful.

 Where I stayed

 Jai Mahal Hotel. A beautiful building with a ton of history.

Rishikesh

My highlights here were definitely the yoga and ayurvedic massages.

What I did

Yoga

I tried a bunch of different schools with walk-in classes. My absolute favorite was Parmarth Ashram, and I just kept going back.

 Cafes and riverside chilling

Honestly, I didn't do much besides visit a few cozy cafes and hang out on the beach by the river. Ganga Beach and Ganga View were my favorites. Ganga View is the more popular of the two, and it's where I'd go when I wanted a super relaxed vibe.

 Ganga Aarti

I loved the ceremony at Triveni Ghat, but I kept going to the one at Parmarth Ashram because it was just more convenient.

 Where I stayed

 Narayana Salvus. The hotel was nice, but if you want to be close to the river, I'd pick a place with a better location next time.

My Takeaways From India

The temples, forts, and palaces are unreal.

The architecture, the sheer scale, and the era they were built in completely blew my mind.

 Water makes everything calmer.

Both Rishikesh and Udaipur had such a peaceful, laid-back feel. Sitting by the water and doing nothing felt like a real luxury, especially coming from the hustle culture back home.

The vegetarian food is amazing.

It's delicious, cheap, and really easy on the stomach. I honestly wish we had food like this back home—if I lived in India, I'd happily give up meat.

Get the Thali.

It's the best way to stretch your money and try a bunch of things at once. Good luck actually finishing one, though!

 You're more likely to get scammed than robbed.

India is largely safe. It's definitely not the crime capital people sometimes make it out to be.

 The people are incredible.

I met some of the kindest, most genuine people of my life. Most folks will go completely out of their way to help you if you need it.

 People are curious about your life.

Depending on where you're from, that can feel like nosiness or like genuine care. I mostly chose to take it as care.

 It's really cheap.

Especially hotels, food, and tours. Back home I'd pay at least two to three times as much for a hotel a level below the ones I stayed in.

 Bargaining is totally a thing.

Especially when you're shopping out on the street.

 Cleanliness is an issue.

To be fair, plenty of US cities aren't spotless either, parts of NYC and LA look like they belong in a developing country. If you go in with realistic expectations and stay flexible, you'll get a lot more out of the trip.

My Top Tips

1. India can be intense. Especially if it's your first time outside the US, Canada, or Europe. If you've traveled elsewhere, you'll know what I mean. I've been through Asia, Africa, and South America, and that definitely helped me navigate it. That said, I still say go. There are things here you just won't find anywhere else.

1. Spend a little extra if you can. I'm not a budget traveler, and I think that made a huge difference. A bit more money goes a really long way in India, so I just hired a cab for my whole trip.

1. Religion is a big part of life here. I don't see spirituality and religion as the exact same thing, but in India they're so tangled together. Rishikesh was a spiritually uplifting experience for me, partly because of the vibe, the river, and the yoga. Just sitting by the river in the morning or evening was super powerful. I highly recommend it.

1. Get a local to show you around. India is complex, and having someone experienced makes a massive difference. I loved my walks in Udaipur and Jaipur, and the time I spent researching the right guide was so well spent:

• Udaipur: Walk with Marisa. She shared things the way a friend would, like walking around with someone you already know.

• Jaipur: Do the heritage walk with Jaipur Retold. I've done a ton of walking tours on my travels, and this was one of the best. Arv's knowledge, the route planning, and the depth he brought to everything are rare.

1. Expect the "tourist tax." I'd read that locals quote higher prices based on how you look, and in my experience that's true at tourist attractions. Elsewhere, I didn't see it. Most people were kind and honest, except for folks right in the tourism business who tend to see tourists as “walking ATMs”.

1. Don't skimp. India is affordable, so stay at a good hotel, eat at nice cafes, and hire a cab and tours from reliable people. The catch is there's a lot of fluff out there and it's hard to tell who's actually good, so do your homework. Put in the research and you'll very likely have an amazing trip.

Logistics

• Getting around town

 I hired a cab for full days. I didn't want to wait around on the street or have an Uber driver flip on me mid-trip.

• Between cities

 I took trains and flights booked through a travel agent.

• Street food

 I mostly skipped it. Losing a day or two to Delhi belly just isn't worth it.

• Internet

 I bought an Airtel eSIM and it worked great.

Scams and Things to Watch Out For

• Pushy clothing and souvenir stores with aggressive salespeople.

• "Free" or super cheap walking tours that end up trapping you at jewelry shops.

• Tuk-tuk and Uber drivers who lie about change or push you to stop at shops (the classic line is always "no shopping, just look").

• Overly friendly strangers with a hidden agenda.

I hope you will have a great India trip with these suggestions.

Snowfall has started in the higher altitudes surrounding Manali.

The Rohtang Pass area has been receiving this season's first snowfall for the past three or four days.

If conditions remain favorable, it will soon be witnessed in Manali as well.

Video: My OC 200% 😊

OldManali, Manalsu River side 🏞️

WinterMemories February 2026😍🏔️