“Why go to India? What is there to see?”— My friends asked.
Indeed, India is an amazing place to visit because it contains many temples of various religions such as Sikh, Hindu, Islam and others.
Taj Mahal in Agra is a marvellous sight to view from a distance in its white marble structure and its perfect symmetry. It contains the tombs of Shah Jahan and his wife, Muntaz Mahal which are decorated with intricate designs and an inlay of precious stones in their marble coffins. The artwork is so impressive that one cannot help but admire this great work of art carved by hands including the walls and other parts of the building.
We visited Amber Fort and museum in Jaipur as well as the Agra Fort and admired the immense fortifications built by the ancient rulers to protect themselves from their enemies. There were fabulous palaces built by the Maharajahs and some [of] them were converted into modern hotels. During our land travels we watched well-adorned elephants and colourful costumes worn by the bridegroom on his way to the wedding
Markets were of course overcrowded and electric power lines going beserk as they dangled in all directions. We saw many street vendors trying to sell souvenir items to tourists using sweet talk. Many are enticed to buy because of very cheap and affordable prices.
Visiting India has greatly enhanced my understanding of the culture and geography of the place. More importantly, it has enhanced my knowledge of my Catholic religion. I had a deeper grasp of the role to St. Thomas the Apostle and his ministry in India. He established seven churches and converted many Indian people into Catholicism. A relic of St Thomas (his finger that touched the side wound of Jesus) is kept in the Church we visited. We also visited two seminaries, our Lady of Pilar and the La Sallette Seminary where we attended mass and had lunch.
In Goa, we visited the Basilica where the incorrupt body of St. Francis Xavier is housed. His body is enclosed in a glass coffin and venerated by people hoping for miracle cures through his intercession.
On our last day, we went to see the picturesque Athirappilly Falls which was on our way to visit the home of Fr. Joe Manjaly, the tour organiser and coordinator. We met his family who served us a very delicious lunch. We also had a chance to dress up in the native Indian saris and took a group photo for remembrance. On our way back to the hotel we dropped by an elephant sanctuary where we took pictures.
We had such a fabulous and wonderful time in India. It was indeed an unforgettable trip!