India is a country with a rich and diverse culture and history, and we have unity in diversity.
Were you born in India, or if not, where in India was your family from?
I was born in India. My family are from the capital, New Delhi.
What is one thing you would tell someone that had never visited the country before?
India is a diverse country. The beauty found in India is unparalleled. Be it the mountains or plains, beaches or backwaters, wildlife tours or adventure activities, secluded islands or bustling metropolitan, culinary delights or local drinks, spiritual holidays or romantic vacations. For those travellers who are visiting India for the first time, every destination will make you wish you could stay a little longer.
What is one thing that every traveller to India should do, a must eat or must visit?
Since India is so huge, no traveller can cover the entire country in one go. One should focus on one zone at one time. When it comes to cuisine, try pakoda, chaat, vada pao, idli, paratha, naan, butter chicken, masala dosa, dal makhani, chana masala – all some of the most popular dishes.
Do you have a favourite place there?
New Delhi is my favourite city, and nothing beats its vibrant mode. It’s also considered the political capital of India, and all the government and political bodies function in the city. On Independence Day, the Prime Minister of India addresses the nation from the Red Fort and many people celebrate this day by flying kites all around the city to express their symbol of freedom. In New Delhi, Connaught Place is my favourite market. It’s a major shopping, nightlife, and tourist destination. Red Fort is my favourite monument, it was built as the palace fort of Shahjahanabad – the new capital of the fifth Mughal Emperor of India, Shah Jahan. Named for its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone, it is adjacent to an older fort, the Salimgarh, built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546, with which it forms the Red Fort Complex.
How would you describe India in a single sentence?
India is a country with a rich and diverse culture and history, and we have unity in diversity
