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Glatt kosher on the banks of the Ganges

July 12, 2018 10:49
India1

Byjulian pearl , julian pearl

1 min read

India is surprisingly rich in links to Judaism and it is possible to see the country in kosher comfort. Must-sees include Mumbai (with historic synagogues including Magen David Synagogue, built in 1861 — a huge Gothic building with an ornate reader’s platform and ark); Varanasi, one of the oldest cities of the world and Rishikesh, the yoga capital of India, with views of the Ganges as it spills out of the Himalayas. Also not to be missed are Amritsar’s Golden Temple and Chandigarh, with its “rock garden” built from thrown-away items.

An unforgettable visual experience is a trip to the Ajanta and Ellora caves, containing ancient Buddhist, Hindu and Jain paintings and monuments. More modern sightseeing options include a Bollywood film tour and the ceremonial changing of the guard at the India/Pakistan border.

Cochin Jews have lived for two millennia on the Malabar Coast, now Kerala. Though there were once many thousands of Jews here, only about 60 remain. The 17th-century synagogue in Chendamangalam has recently been conserved and is well worth a visit.

The small town of Pushkar, meanwhile, is hugely popular with young Israeli tourists, who are welcomed with Hebrew signs, inviting them to eat falafel and to surf the Internet. The Chabad House here offers a memorable, musical Shabbat experience.