−Is it:
Select only one of the following:
- a. India
- b. France
- c. Greece
- d. Italy
Watch the video below and then read the article to virtually travel to the answer, Couch Potato Travel style:
+And the answer is ...
INDIA
Identifying the birthplace of love is an intriguing task. We would delve into historical records, beginning with ancient dialogues or transcriptions around love and eroticism, then project their endurance over time. In terms of antiquity, India takes an early lead. Here, the love deity Kamadeva emerged around 3000 BCE, with the renowned Kama Sutra penned two millennia later.
The term ‘eroticism’ itself springs from Greek mythology, tracing back to the god Eros, son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. In Rome (Italy), their counterparts were Cupid and Venus. The roots of Aphrodite and Eros could be as early as the Mycenaean period circa 1200 B.C.E., based on literature such as Homer’s epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey. As for Cupid and Venus, their worship stemmed from around 700 BCE. France enters the picture through the flowering of medieval courtly love and has left the most recognizable modern-day imprint on Valentine’s Day, the romantic celebration that still shapes how much of the world expresses love each February.
Looking at the legacy of these traditions, India, Greece, Italy, and France stand together, each impacting different regions with their romantic and erotic literature and cultural ideals. Accounting for both antiquity and endurance, India seems to offer the most balanced contribution and therefore gets crowned as the birthplace of love, with Greece a very close second, followed closely by Italy and France. In today’s India, the tiny province of Goa, particularly its southern regions with its infinite beaches, stands out as the prime honeymoon spot. It’s the next destination on our journey of love. Yet, we’re charting our course first to Agra. That’s because we don’t want to miss the majestic Taj Mahal, a marvel of love built in honour of a ruler’s beloved wife. As for Greece, Italy, and France, they will have their turns soon enough here at Couch Potato Travel.
The term ‘eroticism’ itself springs from Greek mythology, tracing back to the god Eros, son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. In Rome (Italy), their counterparts were Cupid and Venus. The roots of Aphrodite and Eros could be as early as the Mycenaean period circa 1200 B.C.E., based on literature such as Homer’s epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey. As for Cupid and Venus, their worship stemmed from around 700 BCE. France enters the picture through the flowering of medieval courtly love and has left the most recognizable modern-day imprint on Valentine’s Day, the romantic celebration that still shapes how much of the world expresses love each February.
Looking at the legacy of these traditions, India, Greece, Italy, and France stand together, each impacting different regions with their romantic and erotic literature and cultural ideals. Accounting for both antiquity and endurance, India seems to offer the most balanced contribution and therefore gets crowned as the birthplace of love, with Greece a very close second, followed closely by Italy and France. In today’s India, the tiny province of Goa, particularly its southern regions with its infinite beaches, stands out as the prime honeymoon spot. It’s the next destination on our journey of love. Yet, we’re charting our course first to Agra. That’s because we don’t want to miss the majestic Taj Mahal, a marvel of love built in honour of a ruler’s beloved wife. As for Greece, Italy, and France, they will have their turns soon enough here at Couch Potato Travel.
+The quick museum tour with pearls of wisdom included
The museum
One thing that has endured throughout humanity is the concept that violence is bad except when it’s done for love. Think about it, the most enduring love story from one of our contenders, Greece, is the battle of Troy, where Greece fought for the honor of getting their beloved Queen back, to her grieving husband, the king of Sparta. This story is over 3000 years old. Have you ever wondered about the greatest love story from India? Simply turn your gaze to the majestic Taj Mahal. Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, this magnificent monument is more than a mere architectural wonder.
It’s a heartfelt tribute to his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal (for whom the Taj Mahal gets its name), who tragically passed away after giving birth to his 14th child, and her eleventh in 1631. It’s been said that Shah Jahan was so dedicated to the uniqueness of this monument, that he caused the craftsmen to be blinded post-completion, ensuring they could never recreate its beauty. Even though the veracity of this tale is uncertain, its appeal lies in its illustration of love’s powerful, albeit sometimes violent nature as the story has been repeated and accepted for centuries as an ideal love story. Let’s not get started on the legend of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra and her Roman suitors.
Let’s cast aside thoughts of strife and embark on a journey from New Delhi to the city of Agra (Agra currently has no international airport). Here, we’ll marvel at a majestic monument, a testament to a timeless love. Go ahead and capture this sublime moment for your Instagram feed; it’s picture-perfect.
It’s a heartfelt tribute to his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal (for whom the Taj Mahal gets its name), who tragically passed away after giving birth to his 14th child, and her eleventh in 1631. It’s been said that Shah Jahan was so dedicated to the uniqueness of this monument, that he caused the craftsmen to be blinded post-completion, ensuring they could never recreate its beauty. Even though the veracity of this tale is uncertain, its appeal lies in its illustration of love’s powerful, albeit sometimes violent nature as the story has been repeated and accepted for centuries as an ideal love story. Let’s not get started on the legend of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra and her Roman suitors.
Let’s cast aside thoughts of strife and embark on a journey from New Delhi to the city of Agra (Agra currently has no international airport). Here, we’ll marvel at a majestic monument, a testament to a timeless love. Go ahead and capture this sublime moment for your Instagram feed; it’s picture-perfect.
+ Local wisdom from the emperor himself
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs and makes the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes. In this world this edifice has been made to display, thereby, the Creator's glory
//
Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan, born in 1592, is famed for his profound love for Mumtaz, a love so deep that it overshadows his other marriages. His affection for Mumtaz eclipses time, culture, and even the general norm for the wealthy of his faith at that time, of having multiple wives, many at the same time. Despite Shah Jahan’s multiple marriages, his devotion to Mumtaz was always clear. She wasn’t merely his wife, but also his most trusted confidante, significantly influencing state affairs. On a personal level, and even more telling especially for the times was that the three children he had without her were after her death and before they met. When Mumtaz sadly passed away during childbirth in 1631, a heartbroken Shah Jahan immortalized his love for her by constructing the Taj Mahal.
Their marriage in 1612 is often likened to a real-life fairytale. In his profound grief, he sought to honor their love with a monument, resulting in the creation of the magnificent Taj Mahal, a testament to their love and one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World. The embers of Shah Jahan’s love for Mumtaz continued to glow even after her demise. He spent the remainder of his life in grief, a poignant reflection of their deep emotional bond. When Shah Jahan joined her in the afterlife in 1666, he was laid to rest beside her in the Taj Mahal, symbolizing their eternal union in life and death.
Shah Jahan might be remembered as the ideal romantic, but to build his great monument he destroyed many Hindu temples for some of the materials used to build the great building and to build other mosques as well, in the name of promoting the values of his day. In all honesty how many historical or present-day figures are perfect? The answer is none. It is what it is, as it is in these imperfections that we can bond with these great figures.
Their marriage in 1612 is often likened to a real-life fairytale. In his profound grief, he sought to honor their love with a monument, resulting in the creation of the magnificent Taj Mahal, a testament to their love and one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World. The embers of Shah Jahan’s love for Mumtaz continued to glow even after her demise. He spent the remainder of his life in grief, a poignant reflection of their deep emotional bond. When Shah Jahan joined her in the afterlife in 1666, he was laid to rest beside her in the Taj Mahal, symbolizing their eternal union in life and death.
Shah Jahan might be remembered as the ideal romantic, but to build his great monument he destroyed many Hindu temples for some of the materials used to build the great building and to build other mosques as well, in the name of promoting the values of his day. In all honesty how many historical or present-day figures are perfect? The answer is none. It is what it is, as it is in these imperfections that we can bond with these great figures.
+ Local wisdom from a best friend'
It is a wonderful feeling to be married to one's best friend.
//
Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai
Moving on in the story we will be spotlighting Goa as the modern place in India where love first ignites; the beaches, the sunsets, the carefree spirit that make it the country’s favourite honeymoon and romance destination. Our first couple are Bollywood stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, a former Miss World. Although they first met years earlier in Switzerland, their relationship grew from a deep friendship into marriage.
Marriage should be a union based on a mutual bond, but then money often comes into play with the expensive wedding, the need to impress others with elaborate flower arrangements, the best food, dresses, and lastly a ring that must have the biggest diamond as a showcase for one’s love. It’s a little like the Taj Mahal story, where love was equated with a grand display of money and wealth.
The special thing about these two was how they got married. The proposal was planned, and the ring given by Abhishek to Aishwarya was a simple, cheap prop ring used in their movie *Guru*. No hoopla, no fuss, and no showcasing of their wealth to impress others. All they did was impress each other with something meaningful and personal to them. This was in 2007. Is it any wonder why they are still married today, despite any separation rumors? Even if they do get divorced now, nearly two decades of marriage as two celebrities is a long time.
In honor of being married to your best friend, we present this song by Freddie Mercury and Queen. Although not Indian, Freddie was born into a Parsi family of Indian origin, so it’s a good excuse to play this song: You’re My Best Friend – Queen
Marriage should be a union based on a mutual bond, but then money often comes into play with the expensive wedding, the need to impress others with elaborate flower arrangements, the best food, dresses, and lastly a ring that must have the biggest diamond as a showcase for one’s love. It’s a little like the Taj Mahal story, where love was equated with a grand display of money and wealth.
The special thing about these two was how they got married. The proposal was planned, and the ring given by Abhishek to Aishwarya was a simple, cheap prop ring used in their movie *Guru*. No hoopla, no fuss, and no showcasing of their wealth to impress others. All they did was impress each other with something meaningful and personal to them. This was in 2007. Is it any wonder why they are still married today, despite any separation rumors? Even if they do get divorced now, nearly two decades of marriage as two celebrities is a long time.
In honor of being married to your best friend, we present this song by Freddie Mercury and Queen. Although not Indian, Freddie was born into a Parsi family of Indian origin, so it’s a good excuse to play this song: You’re My Best Friend – Queen
+ Local wisdom from puppy love
Shilpa stood by me with grace and resilience, even when it would’ve been easier to walk away… That kind of unconditional support rewires your soul.
//
Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra
The Western concept of marriage, rooted largely in Judeo-Christian values, places enormous weight on commitment; staying together through every storm. We admire this ideal, yet struggle to live it. We even envy the loyalty of a dog: unwavering, unquestioning, present no matter how it is treated. That pure, one-sided devotion is something many people secretly long for in a partner. The problem, of course, is that human relationships demand reciprocity. Trust has to travel in both directions, and that is what makes it so much harder, and so much rarer.
This is why Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra make such a compelling pair. Married since November 2009, they have weathered public scandals, legal battles, and relentless media scrutiny while continuing to stand visibly by each other. Shilpa, in particular, has shown a level of public loyalty that is unusual in today’s climate. When controversy surrounded her husband, she did not distance herself or issue carefully worded statements of “space.” She stayed. In a culture that often urges women to protect their own image first, her refusal to abandon him has been both praised and criticised — sometimes labelled as strength, sometimes as weakness. The same steadfastness we admire in a dog is frequently questioned when it comes from a wife.
Raj has supported Shilpa in return, though society tends to expect this of men more readily. Their marriage has never been private. It has played out under constant observation for more than sixteen years. Whether one agrees with every decision they have made, their refusal to walk away from each other remains notable.
Goa, with its reputation as India’s most romantic escape, feels like the right place to pause and consider what lasting commitment actually looks like in the modern world, messy, tested, and still, somehow, intact.
This is why Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra make such a compelling pair. Married since November 2009, they have weathered public scandals, legal battles, and relentless media scrutiny while continuing to stand visibly by each other. Shilpa, in particular, has shown a level of public loyalty that is unusual in today’s climate. When controversy surrounded her husband, she did not distance herself or issue carefully worded statements of “space.” She stayed. In a culture that often urges women to protect their own image first, her refusal to abandon him has been both praised and criticised — sometimes labelled as strength, sometimes as weakness. The same steadfastness we admire in a dog is frequently questioned when it comes from a wife.
Raj has supported Shilpa in return, though society tends to expect this of men more readily. Their marriage has never been private. It has played out under constant observation for more than sixteen years. Whether one agrees with every decision they have made, their refusal to walk away from each other remains notable.
Goa, with its reputation as India’s most romantic escape, feels like the right place to pause and consider what lasting commitment actually looks like in the modern world, messy, tested, and still, somehow, intact.
+Nature's best in a YouTube video
Goa
Have you ever wondered why Hollywood seldom showcases Goa as the premier honeymoon locale? They absolutely should! After all, isn’t the most ancient romance manual born out of India? Amidst a bustling nation, Goa serves as a vibrant, spring break-esque destination. However, we’re guiding you to a quieter corner, the southern side of Goa, away from the hectic crowds, a sublime selection to celebrate the commencement of your wedded bliss. Renowned for its captivating shorelines, Goa, situated in India, truly stands as the ultimate gem of romantic destinations.
+Fun fact
Goa is India's only Portuguese Colony
Goa is a tiny region in India, notable as the first colony of the Portuguese in the country. It returned to Indian rule in the 1960s after about 400 years under Portuguese influence. This different colonization background sets Goa apart from the rest of India, which largely reflects British influence, notably in architecture and urban planning. Now, why don’t we take a look at today’s Goa where the mix of modern designs and renaissance architecture harmoniously integrates the essence of both the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean?
+What does Trip Advisor tell me to do
Take a professional picture
When you're travelling as a couple and want lifelong memories, is your cell phone really the answer? Interesetingly enough, a professional photographer has decided that the ultimate honeymoon spot requires a professional photographer, and why not? Think about it, you already have thousands of pictures you never look at on your phone, so why not keep a few memorable ones online or in an actual photo album?
+The perfect restaurant at home
Bison burger
Goa, renowned for its delightful fusion of Portuguese and Indian cultures, mirrors this mix in its unique cuisine. We're about to share an exclusive recipe with you - a traditional Goan curry paste is perfect for any fish dish. It's teeming with tropical ingredients that you won't find in your everyday Indian curry. Enjoy.
One of the best places to enjoy this delicacy is at Gunpowder in Assagao. This restaurant is known for its authentic Goan cuisine, and its Goan curry is a must-try. The restaurant is set in a beautiful Portuguese house, adding to the overall dining experience.
One of the best places to enjoy this delicacy is at Gunpowder in Assagao. This restaurant is known for its authentic Goan cuisine, and its Goan curry is a must-try. The restaurant is set in a beautiful Portuguese house, adding to the overall dining experience.
+References and tour summary
The references
Institute of Archaeology (Inanna), Journal of Ancient Near East Religions (Hathor), Human Ecology (Kamaveda), GIA (Shah Jahan), Taj Mahal.gov, Times of India (Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai), The Indian Express (Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty), Encyclopedia Britannica (Goa)
All images are AI-generated using Fotor and are meant to describe the subject matter they portray figuratively, not factually.
The tour summary
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