Saturday, December 5, 2009

Gay Vacation Advice For India

By Howie Holben

India is a diverse country with a lot to offer to all types of travelers. With both sun-drenched, sandy beaches and the snowcapped Himalayas, and plenty of incredible, beautiful terrain in between, gay travel destinations to India are filled with opportunities for relaxation or various outdoor adventures. Long-held as a center of spirituality and nature-based healing methods, an India gay vacation is an excellent choice for travelers in search of opportunities to reprioritize, refocus on the important things in life and reawaken their spiritual self.

The multidimensional character of India also allows for gay vacations that focus on exploring sacred, historical and cultural sites, trekking through untouched wilderness, shopping in traditional bazaars and high-end boutiques, indulging in delicious cuisine or learning about life in a rural village.

Folks on a gay vacation in India will likely find that it can be a challenge to locate visible LGBT communities, even in large metropolitan areas. Of course, there are some identifiable gathering and cruising spots, mostly in urban cities. An important step towards equality was taken in 2009 when the Delhi High Court voted to overturn a--8-year-old law that defined same-sex sexual activity as a punishable act under "carnal intercourse against the order of nature." This law has been on the books since the time of British colonial rule and is still enforced throughout India. While Delhi no longer includes same-sex relations under this law, it is still used in the majority of the country to occasionally prosecute both gay and straight people and can result in punishments that include high fines and imprisonment, up to a life sentence.

Activists are being diligent about changing these old laws and folks on gay vacations are very unlikely to face issues regarding this law; however, it is still important to be aware of it. The community and government have mixed feelings about the LGBT community; however, there is a steady movement toward acceptance, making India a gay travel destination that is always increasing in popularity.

Although same-sex relationships are still somewhat taboo in most parts of the country, India has always been popular travel destination for gay vacations, with very few LGBT travelers ever reporting issues during gay travel. The best way to ensure that your gay vacation to India is a remarkable, safe, fulfilling trip is to partake in a pre-arranged tour that is organized by a professional, well-established travel company that focuses on providing outstanding travel opportunities to the LGBT community. Choosing to travel in India with a tour group is an excellent way to ensure that you have the opportunity to enjoy India's most alluring attractions, rejuvenate your spirit at sacred temples and experience life-changing moments during your travels.

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