Why are people travelling from all over the world to spend some time visiting India or decide on living here? Though there are several reasons for it, it requires courage, a sense of adventure, and perhaps a bit of insanity. Let’s find out.

• Many US-born second generation Indians explore their roots in their native country of India. They mostly return to their ancestral home but may settle elsewhere for spiritual seeking, healing, or other reasons.
• The increasing globalization of corporations sends employees to their branch offices in India with expats living in places like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Calcutta, and Chennai.
• Thanks to the internet, there is an increase of remote jobs available that can be performed in any country of the world making you a digital nomad as long as there is an internet connection and you got a working laptop.
• More digital nomads. Due to the de-humanization of the work place many employees quit and start travelling the world freelancing or starting an online business.
• Then there are the seekers who start their spiritual journey with yoga and meditation. They have a natural desire to come to India to see the country where yoga originated from. Others come to India to live in an ashram around a self-realized being. Yet another group is tired of the work place and comes for a sabbatical exploring the country and spiritual life.
• Too many retirees live with a small retirement income, not enough to live in the USA but they are able to afford a comfortable life in India.
• And the last group might simply have karmic bonds to India or even a particular place here.

This covers most everyone who leaves their home country to visit India: persons of Indian origin POIs, professionals, digital nomads, spiritual seekers, low-income retirees, and others.

POIs usually return to their ancestral homes and professionals are concentrated in the five big cities in India. Digital nomads may be found more likely in Northern India for adventure sports like wild-water rafting or hiking or the beaches of Goa.

Foreigners in Tiruvannamalai

Foreigners in Tiruvannamalai (Tiru) in the state of Tamil Nadu in South India are mostly spiritual seekers but also low-income retirees who spend some time here, so a more quiet and relaxed crowd.

Overall we can say that India has always been a spiritual country and a place of quiet reflection and meditation. It is the only place with the most living enlightened beings in the world. It is a tradition that knows how to preserve the dead body of a self-realized one in such a way in a samadhi or burial place that it becomes an energy center for many years to come if properly taken care of. That for example is the Ramana Ashram in Tiruvannamalai where the South Indian sage Ramana Maharshi is buried as well as his realized mother, both in separate shrines. Both shrines along with the Holy Mountain of Arunachala are strong energy centers. Even over 65 years after Ramana’s death his body is still oozing out healing energies, energies of transformation that can be felt, and answers prayers. This unique science of preserving the body of an enlightened one comes from the Vedic tradition that to this day determines the life of people in South India with its many rituals and festivals. There is always a reason for things to be done in a certain way. Though the ‘why’ may have been forgotten; the practice continuous faithfully.

Letting Go of the Old and Embracing the New

When we spend significant time in another country we experience a certain kind of death too though it is not physical. We let go of seeing family and friends in our old place, most likely our house, car and other property, certain conveniences, foods, habits, what not. We open up to a new world, a new culture that we are ready to explore and embrace. Let the journey begin.