It is very logical to organize a trip to India, as it is an extraordinary country with very unique geographical, demographical and geopolitical circumstances. As such, India’s unique aspects should imply that this country’s people have distinct cultures and traditions. India, historically, is also one of the centers of global trade, with access to the Indian Ocean, meaning that throughout the years it had many cultural exchanges with different nations. In modern times India remains an attractive place for foreign visitors searching for things that may differ a lot in their nature, this country is recognized as a historical gem, a land rich with spirituality, and a country famous for its cuisine, tea, beautiful landscapes, festivals, and many more features (Sheikh 11044). Therefore, India may be one of the best countries for studying cross-cultural influences and participating in a wide variety of activities, it is very inexpensive, meaning that having a trip here is most likely to be an efficient way of using the budgeted funds.
When studying cross-cultural influences on a trip, it is very important to keep in mind that the budget and time are limited, therefore the class should focus on a limited amount of activities. The most appropriate course of navigating a trip should begin with choosing a location for visiting and sightseeing (Kaurav 34). A proper location would be one that could highlight the Indian Mughal architecture and South Indian architecture, as architecture is one of the things that reflect the lifestyle of the country and its residents, as well as their different cultures and traditions.
One of the best locations for a class trip would be the Taj Mahal as it is easily accessible from Delhi via the highly developed Indian train network. Taj Mahal is a notorious building that incorporates within itself both elements of Indo-Islamic and Mughal architecture, and it holds great religious value within itself as well. Visiting this notorious Indian landmark is very unlikely to be an underwhelming experience for the students, and should provide them with different insights into the different cultural aspects of this country.
While in Delhi, the class should plan to experience the notorious Indian cuisine as it could be a very engaging and meaningful activity. In the same way, as in any other country, food is a part of the everyday life of Indian people, as well as a big influence on global cuisine. One of the best places to experience Indian food in Delhi would be the Chandni Chowk market, Gali Paranthe Wali in particular.
Out of the many places holding Indian art, the Jaipur House, also known as the National Gallery of Modern Art may be the best place to visit to get in touch with Indian culture and traditions gathered throughout the many years of history, as this branch of modern art museums and galleries is one of the largest in the world (Sheikh 11045). This gallery is also located within the city of Delhi, making it an effective use of time and budget for the trip.
Following the proposed activities in the trip should make a very time and budget-efficient event which is very likely to be a very impactful and insightful experience that will help students improve their understanding of cross-cultural influences by exploring the example set by such a culturally diverse country as India. The efficiency of travel and time spent creates a lot of windows of opportunities for many other potential activities throughout the trip.
References
Kaurav, R. P. S., Gursoy, D., & Chowdhary, N. (Eds.). (2021). An SPSS Guide for Tourism, Hospitality and Events Researchers. Routledge.
Sheikh, S. A., & Nazki, A. A. (2019). Cultural Tourism and Libraries: New Learning Needs For Information Professionals In India. Think India Journal, 22(4), 11040-11047.