Friday, January 15, 2010

Gay Trips In 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 trips 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.

Of course, India has many other sides, which allow for gay vacations that also focus on exceptional dining experiences, visiting important historical, cultural and sacred sites, experiencing life in a rural Indian village, exploring India's untouched wilderness or partaking in shopping trips that include both modern boutiques and traditional bazaars.

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.

While activists are fervently working to change this law throughout the country, folks who take a gay trip to India should be aware that both gay and straight people can still be prosecuted under this law, which can result in fines and imprisonment, including life sentences. Nonetheless, there are still some hangouts that can be identified, as well as cruising areas, which can be found in most countries, regardless of conservative laws or beliefs. Both the government and Indian society have mixed feelings about LGBT people, but a continued movement towards acceptance continues to make India an even better destination for gay travel.

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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