India Was Made For The Gay Traveler
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 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.
India is also an ideal spot for gay vacations for those who love history, culture, visiting important sites, shopping at both old-world bazaars and modern, high-end boutiques, dining on exceptional Indian cuisine, trekking through the wilderness or immersing themselves in rural village life.
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 gay vacations 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.
While the subject of same-sex relationships may still be somewhat taboo in India, it is a popular destination for gay vacations and most LGBT travelers report no problems during their gay vacations. One way to help ensure that you do not experience issues during a gay vacation to India is to participate in an organized tour arranged by a well-established, professional company offering exceptional tour opportunities that cater to the LGBT community. Opting for traveling to India as part of a tour group is a great way to make sure you do not miss some of the most popular attractions, visits to sacred temples and life-changing experiences available when traveling in India. Opting for traveling to India as part of a tour group is a great way to make sure you do not miss some of the most popular attractions, visits to sacred temples and life-changing experiences available when traveling in India.
Spirit Journeys’ Howie Holben is the author of this article. Spirit Journeys is a conscious gay travel tours organization and they host extraordinary gay tours. You can learn more about Howie, his work and spiritual gay vacation destinations at www.SpiritJourneys.com.