For 30 days we trekked across India on a budget as one of CheapOair’s Travelers of the Year. We managed to see over 3,000 miles of wild Rajasthan and Punjab territory for under $3000- that was living large too. We could have completed the trip for less if we had more flexibility in our plans.
Now is the hour of truth. Our final video is live. We were commissioned to produce a video that captured the essence of our journey and would inspire others to want to travel too. Check it out below and let us know if we hit the mark or not.
If you enjoyed it, then please click
HERE
and cast your vote. We are now in the final moments of the competition. Whoever wins this final vote (Team China or us) will get an additional $5000 for travel. And frankly, we’d love to put that towards our honeymoon.
As for India, we have enough stories to fill the Ganges, but here’s a few to get you inspired for your next trip.
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Jal Mahal – Jaipur
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We had the chance to get a few shots of the haunted water palace in Jaipur. This palace has a long history. What you see in the picture is only one floor of the palace itself. The first four floors of the edifice are submerged beneath Mansagar lake. In the summer months, the lake dries up and the palace is accessible. In the long winter months after the monsoons the palace can only be reached by boat.
While in town, we heard many stories about ghosts that come out of the lake at night and kill anyone who tries to enter the old haunt. Whether this is true or not remains unconfirmed. A fact of the matter is that the palace was recently overhauled to be used as a hotel, however the entire place has been shut down by the Indian government until further notice while the haunting (and several mysterious accidents) are investigated.
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The Blue City – Jodhpur
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Jodhpur’s characteristic color comes from the Brahmin class over 400 years ago as the devote vegetarians learned to live in close proximity with their meat-eating Muslim neighbors. The Brahmins petitioned the maharaja at the time to help them keep the Muslims from carrying meat past their homes when returning from the butcher shops. The maharaja’s solution was elegant. All Brahmins would paint their homes blue. Any Muslim navigating the tiny streets of Jodpur would know which homes were Hindu and thus avoid them while returning with meat.
The blue of the homes also has a darker history, as it also distinguishes the Brahmins (considered the highest of the castes) from the lower castes in Hinduism. This town also has the claim to fame of being the fort that was used to film scenes from “The Dark Knight Rises.”
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The city where they filmed The Dark Knight Rises – Jaisalmer
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This city made entirely from local sandstone is called the “Golden City” of Rajasthan. Apart from being wildly cool, it is also one of the world’s oldest inhabited medieval forts. Wandering the streets lined with merchants makes you feel like you’ve slipped through a crack in time.
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Train Travel – Everywhere
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Indian trains are simultaneously the most frustrating and invigorating parts of India. True, you have to stand in line for 3 hours and bribe two different officials to book a ticket (for 3 days after you wanted to leave), but there really isn’t a better way to see the true heart of India. Separated into a myriad of different classes (from 1st Class AC to Standing Room) these trains cut across the whole of India and offer a new way to see the cities and countryside.
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Camel Racing – Thar Desert
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While in the Thar Desert we took the chance to both sleep under the stars and to try our hand at camel racing. Our two mounts, the mighty Lucky and Rocket, taught us what it is to ride full-out across the sand dunes. For the record, horses are far more comfortable than camels. It was out in the middle of nowhere that we learned that water melons are native to the desert. Who knew?
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We have much more to come, but we wanted to give you an appetizer of what you’d see. Stay hungry.
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I need a tranquilizer after watching that counter! great video, as always.
Right? We needed a tranquilizer after 30 days in India. We actually slept for an entire day after we arrived home. It can wear one out.
YOu guys!! You really did it. You nailed it –I loved the video and Tawny’s cute reaction to the monkeys too. Sounds like you did a lot and spent very little
We did it and we LOVED it! We didn’t end up making it to Chennai which means we’ll just have to go back
Look forward to hearing and seeing more about India, but this was a nice appetizer.
Phenomenal video – great way to share how to explore India – looks like you had the opportunity of a lifetime to see it! You have my vote!
what stunning pictures!! Haven’t braved to that part of the world… yet! I hope you win part 2!
India mesmerizes me all the time and every time I see posts on it, I am forever enthralled and inspired. I love to visit these places soon enough
Great photos, guys!! Love that one on the train. The story of vegetarians vs. butchers in very interesting.
EXCELLENT video! I really admire your skills. I would love to be that good at editing. Must have taken ages. I’m super into dubstep as well so you easily won me over with your musical choice.
Looks amazing. I can’t wait to go!