Traveled to India? Wish to share your story?

We are now accepting introductory submissions for the following:

It Was Only Meant As A Vacation: INDIA

This is the first book in a proposed series that will highlight the powerful or even comedic stories of people who have traveled abroad and had a life-changing experience that triggered the way they view themselves and the world. This could be a series of events, one moment, a chance meeting, a conversation, or any other experience that significantly defines a personal transformation in everyday life.

This particular book focuses on the experiences of travelers in INDIA.

This is an open submission. Please forward this email and/or distribute this information to any person or persons who may have a powerful story to share about their experiences in India.
Submissions must adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Submissions are personal narratives and must be non-fiction.
2. Submissions must be written in first person.
3. Submissions must not exceed 500 words.
4. Submissions must state location in India and any other relative facts that pertain to the context of the story.
5. Submissions should clearly express the timeline of the experience and how it affected the life of the author. Be descriptive.
6. Submissions should be proofread for grammatical errors.
7. Submissions must include the following information: Author's Name, Mailing Address, Email Address, and Contact Number.

This is an introductory submission that allows us to get a feel for your story. If your story is selected for further review, you will be contacted and asked to write a full-length version of your experience.

To submit your story: Send an email to Allison Sodha at allison@sodhatravel.com by July 15, 2008 midnight PST. Submissions must be sent in the body of the email. If your story is sent as an attachment it will not be read!

Please note that due to the volume of submissions, we may be unable to personally respond to each email.

Thank you for contributing your story!

Indian Festivals and Resources

We apologize for the delay in recent blogs: April and May have been a focus of family in our office, both in the United States and India.

Many of our clients ask for an online resource to find all things Indian. We strongly recommend www.indogram.com - it lists Indian movies, groceries stores, events, community organizations, etc. Just click on your city and enjoy what Indian culture has to offer!

And don't forget, if you are located in or around Portland, Oregon, the India Festival will take place in Pioneer Square on August 17, 2008. For more information, visit www.ica.org

Thank you for your support of all things Indian!

Development vs.Tradition

It is exciting for us to watch the way India is transitioning into a global powerhouse. In just the last 5 years, each visit overwhelmingly shows the ways of the thriving economy and developing middle class. Many of our clients express surprise at the how the larger cities - Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, etc - parallel the visions of the West.

Although we find this growth exciting, we also hope that India maintains its essence of traditionalism. Parth hesitates each time he visits his home, the place he was born and raised. Although he appreciates the economic developments, he also cherishes the heritage which makes India so special.

We look forward to our visits in 2008 and the visions of India's past, present and future. As always, we appreciate the stories our clients share about their experiences and perceptions in Mother India!

Engagement Announcement!

Sodha Travel is very excited to announce that Corrine and Satya are engaged! Corrine and Satya are the guides on our Yoga and Ayurveda tours in South India. They are also very dear friends and we share in their joy at this special time. The wedding date is TBD, but ceremonies in India and America are planned. We wish them a lifetime of bliss!

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons for Mastering the Law of Attraction

I am very excited to announce that I am a contributing author to the upcoming book Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons for Mastering the Law of Attraction. The story is a personal narrative that explores my journey of self discovery - a journey that started in India. The book is scheduled to release in early March and my story is entitled A Gradual Awakening. If we allow, India can certainly change our lives! Enjoy!

A Moment of Splendor

As the owner of Sodha Travel, I continually stress the importance of personalization. It is important for us to go beyond generic and tailor at least one aspect of each experience to be unique and extraordinary. Many of our clients tell such beautiful stories of what impacted their spirit during travel to India and Nepal - ones that travel to escape but instead find themselves. For sharing these moments of splendor, we thank you. This is why we love what we do.

With this being said, we recently had our own moment of splendor. My husband is Indian, born and raised in Delhi. In November, we returned to the country for our Indian wedding ceremony. Although already married, we felt it was a non-negotiable to also celebrate his culture and traditions. Besides, these traditions I have also adopted as my own.

And so, as so many of you have shared your memories with us, I wanted to share a couple photographs with you. Thank you for being a part of the Sodha Travel experience!

Dhanyavad, travelers!

To all who participated in our wedding tour, we thank you. No words can express how amazing the experience was to the both of us...pictures coming soon! And John, we look forward to seeing our picture in the Oregonian! :)

Updates: India Visa

As of October 1, 2007, the process for obtaining an Indian visa has changed. The visa collection and delivery process has been outsourced to Travisa Outsourcing: http://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/

The consulates and embassy will continue to receive and service emergency visa applications only.

Northwest Airlines: Non-stop Service to Amsterdam from PDX!

Northwest Airlines will soon be starting non-stop service from PDX to Amsterdam. This is a fantastic route for our local clients, as those traveling to India will have an alternate airline besides Lufthansa for one-stop service to the sub-continent.

Now Reserving: South India: Yoga, Ayurveda and Spirituality

We are now reserving space for our 2008 tour of South India. The itinerary focuses on 3 fundamental elements of Indian culture: Yoga, Ayurveda and Spirituality. The tour dates are February 23 - March 7, 2008. Fly in/out of Chennai and visit Mamallapuram, Tiruvanamalai, Pondicherry and Cochin. This tour also includes daily sunrise yoga, evening music and chanting and a 4 day/3 night stay at an Ayurvedic resort on the coast of Kerala with daily treatments and massages. This tour is limited to 16 people so please contact us for more information or to register.