First time in India: Wedding, Jaipur and Delhi travel stories
In my last post, I took you back to February 2026, when we explored Delhi and finally saw the magnificent Taj Mahal. But now, the real reason we came to India: the wedding!
A Big Fat Indian Wedding!
Day 1: Henna, rings exchange and lots of green
The first celebration was the Mehndi ceremony and the dress code was green! We arrived perfectly on time, as you'd expect from someone living in the Netherlands. But of course, the celebration started an hour later! Welcome to Indian wedding time.
Luckily, there was plenty to keep us entertained. We enjoyed talking to the bride's families about their travel adventure in India and the shopping misson to buy traditional clothes in Old Dehli. And finally I got my henna done and it took ages to dry up! What a meticulous work!
Later came the ring ceremony, when the bride and groom exchanged rings in front of their families and friends, like an engagement in the western culture.
My first impression of Indian wedding? A bit hectic, but lively! The couple spent hours on stage greeting guests and receiving gifts. I honestly wondered how they managed to keep smiling for so long!
Luckily, we made some new friends there, who patiently explained the different traditions to us. Without them, I think we would've spent half the wedding wondering what was going on. We ended our day with some nice drinks in the hotel room with the friend group we just met.
Day 2: Marigolds, dancing and a groom on the horseback
The next day's celebration started around midday - the Haldi celebration. Having learned our lesson, we arrived an hour later than the time on the invitation. And guess what? We were right on time!
Traditionally, this pre-wedding ceremony involves turmeric paste. But because of allergy, the couple gave the tradition their own twist: throwing golden marigold petals instead!
The garden was covered in yellow decorations, people in orange/yellow outfits and lively music playing in the background. Everyone was dancing, laughing and showering the couple with marigold petals. Such a beautiful atmosphere!
I was so excited to wear the traditional Indian outfit - saree, although I quickly discovered it wasn't made for dancing! Still, we had so much fun taking photos, laughing and enjoying the celebrations with our friends.
Later that evening came one of my favourite moments: the Baraat, the groom's wedding procession.
Imagine the groom arriving on horseback, surrounded by friends and family dancing to incredibly loud music. The procession went on for about half an hour! What an entrance!
It reminded me of Vietnamese weddings, when the groom's family comes to the bride's home to pick her up! Not on the horse though! Different traditions, but the same excitement of bringing two families together.
Afterwards, we moved inside for a huge wedding banquet with family, friends and colleagues. And what a feast! Once again, it felt surprisingly familiar to a Vietnamese wedding: lots of people, lots of food and everyone celebrating together.
But the wedding wasn't over yet!
After midnight, the couple and their families gathered for the Hindu wedding ceremony around a sacred fire. It was a much more intimate moment after all all loud music and dancing.
I would have loved to stay until the end, but after two days of celebrations, I could barely keep my eyes open. So I quietly excused myself before the ceremony finished. Apparently, I wasn't ready for an Indian wedding marathon! 😂
The marriage of two cultures
What a colourful, vibrant and unforgettable wedding! Beyond all the celebrations, what touched me most was seeing two different cultures come together with so much love and respect, not just between the couple but also their families. So grateful to have been part of these special days.
Jaipur: The pink city and back to backpacker life!
After the wedding, we said goodbye to the newly wed and headed to the next destination: Jaipur. This time we travelled with the new friends we met at the wedding. The more, the merrier! We arrived in Jaipur in the late afternoon and treated ourselves to afternoon tea on a rooftop cafe before saying goodbye.
Then came the reality check: back to backpacker life!
After being spoiled at the fancy hotel, our hostel was quite a downgrade. The interior had definitely seen better days, and stable streams of hot water was more of a luxury. Well, that's budget travelling for you!
City trip
Despite our short stay, we made a good use of our time in Jaipur! We managed to squeeze in three of the city's most famous sights in one day. Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal and City Palace. Jaipur certainly lived up to its reputation as one of India's most photogenic cities!
Visiting local home
But one of my favourite experiences in Jaipur had nothing to do with palaces or forts.
It was visiting the home of the couple we'd met at the wedding.
Over homemade food, we chatted about everyday life in India, especially the expectations young people face when it comes to family and independence. In many Indian families, several generations live under one roof. Our new friends shared how parents sometimes worry that their children aren't ready to live independently, while young people dream of having their own space and making their own decisions.
Growing up in Vietnam, I could relate to the tension between respecting your family's expectations and wanting the freedom to build your own life, especially women working and advancing in their careers. Different countries, but some very similar conversations!
Back to Delhi - One last adventure!
The next morning, we took the express train back to Delhi. The train was comfortable, but I
spent most of the journey dozing off. I wasn't feeling great, probably after all the hectic days we'd had!
This time, we stayed in Connaught Place, right in the heart of New Delhi. After checking in and getting some much-needed rest, we were craving for some less spiced food!
On the next day, we visited Qutub Minar, a historic Islamic minaret in Delhi, surrounded by ancient ruins that immediately reminded me of the Temple Run game! In the first picture below how much history fits into a single frame. Ancient Hindu and Jain temple carvings, Islamic arches and the towering minaret of the Delhi Sultanate all stand together. A reminder of how India's history is layered, complicated and visible everywhere you look
Getting lost in Old Delhi
In the afternoon, we joined a walking tour throughout Old Delhi. One thing that fascinated me was how different religions exist side by side in this country. We passed Hindu temples, mosques and a Jain temple, sometimes just a short walk from one another. I also learned about the Jain tradition, where some monks renounce clothing as part of their spiritual practice.
Then we came to spice market. Oh wow what a smell! We had to wear mouth mask, though I still felt those spices went straight to my brain. How these people could live and work here day in day out, without their health is getting impacted.
But it wasn't just the spices that overwhelmed me. Old Delhi was a whole different level of busy! It was chaotic, intense and fascinating all at once. Quite a contrast to the quieter neighbourhoods we'd explored when we first arrived in Delhi. Everywhere I looked, people were buying, selling, carrying goods and squeezing past one another. The streets were packed with little businesses and all kinds of trades happening at once.
As we went deeper into the market, the narrow lanes twisted and turned like a spiderweb. At some points, everything felt so tightly packed that I wondered how we'd ever find our way out without the tour guide.
Goodbye, India!
After few days of Indian food, we were honestly craving something different. Italian? Southeast Asian? Anything to give our taste buds a little break from all those spices!
And just like that, it was time to say goodbye to India.
I started this story by saying India wasn't for beginner travellers. And till today, I still think so!
Would I go back? Probably not. As fascinating as India was, I found the constant hustle, crowds and intensity overwhelming. Maybe it's simply not my kind of travel destination, and that's okay.
What struck me most was how different worlds could exist side by side. You could be standing in front of a beautiful luxury hotel, then walk a little further and see people sleeping on the streets. The contrasts were everywhere, and sometimes hard to take in.
But I'm grateful for this travel opportunity. I experienced things I never would have otherwise, met wonderful people and came home with stories I'll remember for a long time.
India, you were an adventure!
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