The Call of Niagara Falls

You can hear and feel Niagara Falls, a trio of waterfalls spanning the U.S.-Canada border, before you see it. The sound of 3,160 tons of water rushing over the flat edge is like a drumroll, growing in intensity as you get closer. The air thickens with mist, offering cool relief in the summer and sparkling with frost in the winter. “It’s an exhilarating experience,” said Vijay Punjabi, 74, from East Brunswick, New Jersey. “The awesomeness of such a huge body of water — it’s like seeing nature in motion.” Many South Asian visitors — both from the diaspora and the subcontinent — seem to share that sentiment. India is now the top inbound market for the U.S. side. Indeed, over the years, Niagara Falls has become an unofficial pilgrimage for South Asians and, for many, an essential stop. Why?