Expan Experience: Mumbai, Varanasi and the treasures of India
There are destinations that are not just visited, but experienced . India is one of them. A country that defies categorization, that overwhelms the senses and expands the mind . Traveling to India is an act of surrender , a profound immersion in a universe of spirituality , contrasts , ancient history , and boundless hospitality .
In this second part of a unique Expan Travel Experience , Alfonso Hartard , Partner and General Manager of Expan Tours , discovered the contrasts of Mumbai , the mystique of Varanasi , the splendor of Delhi and Agra , and the color of Jaipur , in a journey that reveals the deepest treasures of a civilization that defies Western logic .
A trip to India that began in Türkiye
Every great trip begins with a spark . In this case, the spark was an invitation to an international tourism fair in Jaipur , the "Pink City" of Rajasthan . But that invitation was just the gateway to an experience that surpassed expectations and preconceptions .
" Getting to India involved more than 30 hours of flight from Santiago , with a stopover in Istanbul with Turkish Airlines , a route that combined two historical civilizations : the Ottoman and the Indian ."
This experience is made possible by Turkish Airlines ' Stopover in Istanbul program. If you have a layover of at least 20 hours, you can stay for free in specially selected hotels .
With this stopover , economy class passengers receive one night in a 4-star hotel with breakfast included , while those traveling in business class enjoy two nights in 5-star or boutique hotels.
The process is simple: just send some details —name, booking code (PNR) , ticket number, desired dates, room type and contact information— at least 72 hours before the flight.
India , as vast as it is ancient , initially seemed like a foreign, perhaps even challenging , universe , but it represented a destination to be discovered : " India was on my number one bucket list , and the fair was the perfect excuse to explore its essentials ."
" You either love it or hate it ," many say about the Indian experience , repeating a cliché that often intimidates and alienates some. But nothing is more unfair than reducing to such extremes a destination filled with incredibly kind people , ancient rituals , profound values , and a land overflowing with cultures , history , monuments , colors , and flavors .
Mumbai: The city of contrasts
The journey began in Mumbai , the country's financial and film capital . A metropolis that pulsates with the energy of more than twenty million people , where skyscrapers stand alongside humble neighborhoods , and the opulence of Bollywood shines just blocks from the slums .
Mumbai is a city that demands energy . Its humid heat , its colors and noises , its speed , are an abrupt but fascinating introduction to the ordered chaos of India .
" Walking through the streets of Mumbai is to immerse oneself in the harmony of chaos , a constant ebb and flow where noise is the soundtrack and the crowd a moving landscape . It is not the stress of rushing or the tension of bad gestures . Here, the bustle does not oppress, but accompanies ."
Mumbai is noisy , but less stressful than you might imagine: a civilized world that beats to its own rhythm . Between the honking horns , the clamor of vendors , and the ceaseless coming and going , the chaos flows like a gentle river . The harmony of chaos .
" Among its treasures , the Gateway of India stands out, imposing on the Arabian Sea , and the historic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel , a symbol of colonial elegance . From there, a ferry takes you to Elephanta Island , where you'll find the Elephant Cave , temples carved into the rock with sculptures dedicated to the god Shiva ."
Perhaps the most impactful experience in Mumbai was the visit to Dharavi , one of the largest informal settlements in the world .
" Far from the stigmas , it reveals itself as a beating heart of micro-industries : recycling , tanneries , textiles , all with a level of organization that defies expectations . It is a place where resilience is transformed into an economic engine ."
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Varanasi: The spiritual soul of India
If Mumbai is a clash of modernity and survival , Varanasi is pure spirit . Considered the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world , this sacred corner on the banks of the Ganges is undoubtedly one of the most moving places on the planet .
" In Varanasi , death is celebrated . The ghats (steps leading down to the river) are scenes of daily life and funeral rituals . At any time you can see people bathing to purify themselves , or relatives accompanying the cremation of their loved ones ."
On the ghats , life and death coexist without conflict. The flame that fuels the funeral pyres has burned for thousands of years without going out. And every night, the Aarti ceremony honors "Mother Ganga," before the devotion resumes at dawn .
" People in India want to die there , in the river , and have their ashes remain there, because for them it is a direct path to Nirvana , without having to go through future reincarnations ."
Dawning on a boat on the Ganges is a sensory spectacle : the chants , the smoke of incense , the colors of the saris , the murmur of the water and the sight of thousands of faithful who, in their unwavering faith , transform the shore into a mystical theater .
" Having a Brahma guide , a priest who knows the scriptures and secrets of the city , can be the key to interpreting the symbols surrounding this destination ."
The traveler's reflection
" Varanasi is the equivalent of Mecca for Hinduism . There you will find the Ganges River , the sacred and purifying waters of the goddess Ganga , surrounded by numerous temples that are scattered throughout its ancient and narrow streets , and along the ghats that flow into the river, which purifies the souls of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who arrive every day ."
Dying , cremating , and scattering the ashes in the Ganges is considered a direct passage to Nirvana . Just as bathing in its waters symbolizes rebirth , in Varanasi life and death intertwine in a harmonious , peaceful , and profoundly spiritual context. All this takes place under a warm breeze that disperses the smoke from the funeral pyres , infused with the aromas of oils and incense , while small flags flutter gently on the riverbank .
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