In search of the unfamiliar

There are parts of India that stoutly hold their own against this cultural hegemony, but it is anyone's guess how long that will last

There are several places in India that used to appear exotic and unfamiliar, but they are now shrinking. Thanks to the ugly weekend traveller, Bollywood and the pervasive demand for tandoori chicken, most parts of India now feel like an extension of the grungier parts of one’s own city. There is an increasing homogeneity in the way people dress across regions — and tourists look the same everywhere. The quiet of small Himalayan towns is routinely shattered by offsite or incentive groups who demand a bonfire and DJ and, fueled by alcohol, trade the quiet for an al fresco disco.

Other