India has never been on top of my must-do-list. But after visiting it, I can only shout: go there!! It appears that you or adore the country or you just hate it. I’m in the first category, but I have to admit there were days I loved and hated it at the same time. India surprised me with its many different sides, of whom I didn’t know they existed. So here 17 reasons why you should visit India.

1. To be amazed by the endless green tea plantations

2. You befriend monkeys

3. and oh yeah, elephants

4. To find the most photogenic people on the flower market in Calcutta

5. To finally get your hands covered with Henna

6. To feel like in a Wes Anderson movie on the Darjeeling Mail

7. To travel on an old school Royal Enfield

8. To feel really really popular

9. To admire the mountains

10. and lakes

11. and ride lost roads

12. To meet other cultures

13. and participate in those cultures

14. To realise traffic at home isn’t that bad at all

15. To see more colours than you’ve ever seen

16. To cruise on a houseboat with a pool

17. and wake up to dreamy sunrises

and of course the FOOD! So there’s only one thing left to do: book those plane tickets and go!