Asia \ India Inside information
Getting There Jet Airways is a good option for flying to Delhi or, alternatively, you can consider British Airways or Virgin Atlantic. Direct flights take between eight and eight hours 30 minutes.
Best Time to Visit India is a vast country and the weather varies accordingly. In the summer, head to the hills to avoid the heat; in winter, the beaches are a popular destination. October to April is the main season for travelling to India.
Combine it with... Why not combine your holiday with a trip to Nepal? Travelling from Delhi to Kathmandu is an iconic journey, visiting both country’s highlights.
Jaipur Jaipur was nicknamed the ‘Pink City’ aſter Maharajah Sawai Ram Singh painted the buildings terracotta pink to celebrate the visit of Prince Albert in 1853. The city is now the state capital of Rajasthan and a whirlwind of life and colour. The Observatory and City Palace are recognised sights on Jaipur’s landscape but it is the hilltop Amber Palace that dominates the skyline; elephants carry you to the entrance. Activities: elephant rides, museum visits
Rajasthan Rajasthan is a heady mix of world-famous monuments, vast stretches of desert and national parks. Along the route between Agra and Udaipur lie remote rural villages where life has remained unchanged for centuries. From the small town of Karauli, you can travel off the beaten track to discover some of the surrounding traditional communities. Rajasthan is also home to Ranthambore National Park where you can safari in search of tigers. Activities: camel rides, safaris, village visits
Varanasi One of the holiest cities in India, Varanasi is a Hindu pilgrimage site on the banks of the sacred River Ganges. The western edge of the river is packed with devotees washing in the ghats or lighting funeral pyres for public cremations. Watch
from a boat as the captivating rituals begin at sunrise and then venture inland to experience the hustle and bustle of Varanasi’s old alleyways. Activities: river trips
Bandhavgarh Bandhavgarh National Park is a wildlife reserve in the shadows of the Vindhya Mountains. It boasts the highest density of tigers in the country and it was here that the famous White Tiger of Rewa was discovered. Today its forested hills and vast wetlands provide sanctuary not only to these big cats but also to leopards, wild boar and jackals. You can take a tour on elephant-back to view the tigers. Activities: tiger safaris
Kerala Wedged between the Cardamom Hills to the east and the Indian Ocean to the west, lie Kerala’s famous backwaters. The network of fertile waterways is a lifeline for remote communities who fish, irrigate their soil and move around on its channels. Spend time on a converted rice barge driſting peacefully between traditional stilt villages - you can be assured of a warm welcome! Activities: canoeing, cycling amid tea plantations, village visits, rice barge cruise
The Golden Triangle Sample Itinerary:
One to get you started...
Days 1 & 2 Fly to Delhi. Take an aſternoon guided tour of Old and New Delhi. Visit the Qutub Minar, India Gate, Parliament House and Humayun’s tomb. Day 3 Drive to Agra and explore the city’s fort. Day 4 Ride in a rickshaw to the Taj Mahal to watch the sunrise. Scenic drive to Bharatpur, stopping at the deserted sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri. Cycle through Keoladeo National Park, an important bird sanctuary. Day 5 Travel to Jaipur and take a guided tour of the ‘pink city’. Visit the City Palace and 17th century observatory. Day 6 Ride an elephant to Amber Fort. Explore the Palace of Winds, Birla Temple and the local bazaars. Day 7 Drive to Delhi for a day’s shopping. Day 8 Fly to the UK.
2013 AUTHENTIC £1,095 COMFORT £1,125
INDULGE £1,195 From price per person including flights
For more itinerary ideas, speak to a regional specialist
For more ideas visit
www.explore.co.uk/tailormade 71
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