*Note- This is not meant to hurt the sentiments of anybody. I did not mean to speak against any particular city. If anyone finds it offending, let me know.
Tourism in India. An oxymoron if I ever heard one. What would foreigners visit our country for? The various appealing factors? The fact that women get raped, and hung on trees? Or maybe for the fact that rabid dogs happily roam around residential quarters? To see transgenders, bisexuals, and low caste people living on the fringes of society? Why would someone in their right mind come to our country? Why do we bother to live in this country?
Tiny cities like Macau have managed to keep their city clean, and praiseworthy. Macau's national income is supported by the heavy amount of tourism the country enjoys. India has the most social diversity as far as countries go. Where else would you find a place where you can enjoy delicious delicacies like dosa and sambaar or visit beautiful architectural sites like the Taj Mahal? India has a lot to offer. Unfortunately, it is like the typical lazy school going student - has a lot of potential, yet fails every test.
Speaking strictly of tourism, India is not exactly the top student.
India's tourism rates have not been that unsatisfactory; however the maintenance of tourist spots has. I recently visited the Gateway of India, and the experience was pretty traumatic.
Let's talk about that for a moment.
The Gateway of India. One would assume that the something called the gateway to the country should be kept spick and span. It was the most depressive sight I had ever seen. Beggars in tattered clothes roamed around. The place was covered in every possible amount of garbage. Human as well as animal excreta was found just about everywhere. It stunk. A lot. The Gateway itself was breathtaking. It almost made the filth surrounding it worth it - almost.
Mumbai is also famous for it's seas. Most of them were extremely well kept, and the serenity was unimaginably comforting. However, some of them were like this -
What normal person would throw garbage into a river? Like, seriously, dude. Go home and throw it in the trashcan. It does not involve rocket science to know it, and it does not require superhuman strength to do it.
The beaches are another major concern. I visited Goa last summer, and it was just as filthy. What thrill do these people get by destroying natural scenery? Is it a contest amongst litter bugs? Let's see who can make the country the dirtiest the fastest? The beaches were not maintained properly, and full of garbage. Not that there aren't numerous beautiful beaches in Goa or Mumbai or anywhere in the country - there are, but that does not make it alright for other places/beaches/roads to be dirty.
The award for most unkempt city however goes to my lovely hometown, Lucknow.
Don't get me wrong. All these places are amazing. But amazingly dirty as well. I didn't even know Lucknow had a backstory. My father did a report on Lucknow or something last year, which is when I discovered that the city has so much history connected to it. It used to be such a beautiful city, with architecture that could take your breath away. Nothing has been done to preserve it though. Roaming through the streets of Hazratganj, one wouldn't even recognize all the buildings which used to be of immense historical significance, that have now been converted into jaleebi shops with peeling wallpapers and floors covered in trash. Countries take pride in their history. We don't. We never try to preserve our cities. (With a few exceptions, like maybe preservation of Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, or Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad.)
I think what I'm trying to say is...it makes me sad. Lukcnow, or Mumbai, or Goa, or any city in our country deserves as much recognition as cities like Auckland, known for it's beauty and tourism.
I think it's time we stopped spitting paan out of car windows, or smoking beedis in public, or throwing our McDonald wrappers on the floor. We need to be proud of our culture and natural beauty, not abuse it, if we want our country to rise.
If it won't swim, it'll drown.
Tourism in India. An oxymoron if I ever heard one. What would foreigners visit our country for? The various appealing factors? The fact that women get raped, and hung on trees? Or maybe for the fact that rabid dogs happily roam around residential quarters? To see transgenders, bisexuals, and low caste people living on the fringes of society? Why would someone in their right mind come to our country? Why do we bother to live in this country?
Tiny cities like Macau have managed to keep their city clean, and praiseworthy. Macau's national income is supported by the heavy amount of tourism the country enjoys. India has the most social diversity as far as countries go. Where else would you find a place where you can enjoy delicious delicacies like dosa and sambaar or visit beautiful architectural sites like the Taj Mahal? India has a lot to offer. Unfortunately, it is like the typical lazy school going student - has a lot of potential, yet fails every test.
Speaking strictly of tourism, India is not exactly the top student.
India's tourism rates have not been that unsatisfactory; however the maintenance of tourist spots has. I recently visited the Gateway of India, and the experience was pretty traumatic.
Let's talk about that for a moment.
The Gateway of India. One would assume that the something called the gateway to the country should be kept spick and span. It was the most depressive sight I had ever seen. Beggars in tattered clothes roamed around. The place was covered in every possible amount of garbage. Human as well as animal excreta was found just about everywhere. It stunk. A lot. The Gateway itself was breathtaking. It almost made the filth surrounding it worth it - almost.
Mumbai is also famous for it's seas. Most of them were extremely well kept, and the serenity was unimaginably comforting. However, some of them were like this -
What normal person would throw garbage into a river? Like, seriously, dude. Go home and throw it in the trashcan. It does not involve rocket science to know it, and it does not require superhuman strength to do it.
The beaches are another major concern. I visited Goa last summer, and it was just as filthy. What thrill do these people get by destroying natural scenery? Is it a contest amongst litter bugs? Let's see who can make the country the dirtiest the fastest? The beaches were not maintained properly, and full of garbage. Not that there aren't numerous beautiful beaches in Goa or Mumbai or anywhere in the country - there are, but that does not make it alright for other places/beaches/roads to be dirty.
The award for most unkempt city however goes to my lovely hometown, Lucknow.
Don't get me wrong. All these places are amazing. But amazingly dirty as well. I didn't even know Lucknow had a backstory. My father did a report on Lucknow or something last year, which is when I discovered that the city has so much history connected to it. It used to be such a beautiful city, with architecture that could take your breath away. Nothing has been done to preserve it though. Roaming through the streets of Hazratganj, one wouldn't even recognize all the buildings which used to be of immense historical significance, that have now been converted into jaleebi shops with peeling wallpapers and floors covered in trash. Countries take pride in their history. We don't. We never try to preserve our cities. (With a few exceptions, like maybe preservation of Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, or Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad.)
I think what I'm trying to say is...it makes me sad. Lukcnow, or Mumbai, or Goa, or any city in our country deserves as much recognition as cities like Auckland, known for it's beauty and tourism.
I think it's time we stopped spitting paan out of car windows, or smoking beedis in public, or throwing our McDonald wrappers on the floor. We need to be proud of our culture and natural beauty, not abuse it, if we want our country to rise.
If it won't swim, it'll drown.
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