I am going to India for the first time this January. I will be there for 20 days and will be doing the northern circuit. Am looking to see real India - of course I'll see the Taj, but would love to hear your most amazing moments or your top 10 off the beaten path experiences. Thanks!

Golden Temple, Amritsar

Ranakpur
Mt. Abu

Meeting an NRI (no resident Indian) woman in a train station in Varanasi and getting to go to her uncle's home.

Needing to buy a power adapter in downtown Belhi. Meeting a young man who offered to show me where to buy one. Being not quite certain as I followed him if he were leading me into some kind of "trap". Then being thrilled when we found this underground mall and a working adapter!

Talking to people on the train.

The ghats of Varanasi. A desert safari near Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer itself. Judge's Court in Pragpur. www.neemranahotels.com properties. Tikli Bottom near Delhi. A wander thru Chandni Chowk in Delhi. Tiger sightings combined with a stay at Sher Bagh in Ranthambore. A kebab meal in Nizaumuddin in Delhi on the streets. More soon!

Oh and also a private camel 2-day camel safari in rajasthan to visit a village that is very isolated but for hundreds of years has had the kind of environmental practices we should all have. First night being in the desert surrounded by sand dunes and having the food brought to us over the dunes from a village -- the best meal I've ever had.