Returning to my birthplace in India: one traveller's trip of a lifetime

When Thomas set out on his solo adventure, little did he know just how impactful the trip would be. Having been born in India but now living in the United States, he was returning after 25 years to rediscover his birth culture and its people. Thomas chose to stay with Mukesh in the historic city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh, home of the famous Taj Mahal. Here is his story.

Why did you decide to visit Agra?

It has always been my lifelong goal to see the Taj Mahal and experience the history and beauty behind such a wonder of the world. You could say it was the top priority on my bucket list! I wanted to experience everything Agra and India had to offer. It's rare to go somewhere in the world and be able to say it's your natural nationality. It gave me a greater depth of cultural experience and I felt I really fit in with ease once I arrived.

Who did you travel with?

After many possibilities and considerations of travelling with friends or family, I decided to go solo to India in the end. I had been planning such a life changing adventure for more than a decade with a great deal of thought. Between going into college right out of high school, then starting work after graduating and climbing the ladder in my career, I had little time to take this kind of vacation before now. It would have been hard for others to take time off their own lives to come join me and I felt this was my journey, so without further delay I decided to book my solo adventure.

Why did you choose to stay in a homestay instead of a hotel or B&B?

This was such an important trip for me and I wanted to experience the lifestyle, not as a tourist, but as part of a member of a traditional family. My family growing up had always hosted exchange students and welcomed those from other cultures into our home. My parents taught us to always welcome those exchange students to give them an opportunity to see a different lifestyle apart from their own. So indirectly, I think that played a part in my decision- I wanted to feel like part of a family on my trip to Agra.

I was also mindful that I was travelling alone and that my Hindi wasn’t as fluent as it once was. I felt going to the other side of the world, it would be best to stay with a family for the safest and most pleasurable experience.

How did you select Mukesh as your host?

After several years of research on how I wanted to visit India, I weighed my options as part of a tourist group, staying in a hotel on my own without speaking fluent Hindi or a homestay. I decided I wanted to stay with a family with kids as I felt it would be easier to be involved in whatever activities that the kids were doing. I read the profiles of many host families and Mukesh stood out to me.

Although I was nervous about what to expect, after exchanging several emails prior to my visit and meeting the family the first night, I had a strong feeling that this was an amazing choice. I was thrilled after finally meeting them, and it was truly much better than what I expected.

Finally, after returning to India after all those years, the cultural experience was more exciting than I had anticipated. Every day there was an activity that I was either involved in with the homestay family or partaking into a sightseeing adventure.

Mukesh and his family were perfect advisors and welcoming hosts. They all had great ideas on what I could do and made sure I had proper transportation to all my destinations with them or their friends if they couldn't come with me. One of the most interesting activities that they planned for me was the theatre play, “Mohabbat the Taj - The Saga of Love” which re-enacted the love story behind the making of the Taj Mahal.

Another fascinating spot they told me about was the site behind the Taj Mahal, on the other side of the Yamuna River. It's called Mehtab Bagh, apparently Bagh has been referred to as “The Heaven’s Garden” or “Moon Garden” from the refracted light that the Taj Mahal projects onto the river itself during some nights. It was absolutely incredible to see for myself.

The homestay was a great way to be reintroduced into the local culture after so long. It's ideal for anyone who is intrigued about a local culture or who is a first time or solo explorer. I was fortunate to have picked Mukesh as my host. I'd highly recommend staying with him and his family in Agra. I feel now I have a home in India to always go back to.

Is there anything that surprised you about Agra or India?

One thing that surprised me about India, not just Agra, was the traffic! The movies don’t do it justice on how fast paced the atmosphere really is. There are always people zigzagging around cars and the motorcycles and scooters constantly weave in and out of traffic. It took a bit of getting used to!

What is your best memory from the stay?

I couldn't possibly choose just one memory from my experience! My trip has given me many memories I will cherish. If I had to pick a favorite memory or moment of my Homestay, I wouldn’t know what event to choose from, they all seemed fulfilling. Although, the food was amazing.

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Stay with Thomas's host Mukesh or browse our listings for Agra to find the host that's right for you.

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