India at a Glance
India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend and the great grand mother of tradition— Mark Twain
Travel is life intensified and no place is this truer than in India, where the senses are aroused by the colors, smells, cultural contrasts, and majestic beauty. India will challenge you with its size, clamor and diversity, but if you enjoy diving in and thrive on sensual overload, then it is one of the world's most rewarding destinations. Vibrant drama and subtle charms unfolds all around you, impacting on every moment. And on a luxury India tour you quickly develop an abiding passion for everything that makes it so unique.
Nothing in this country is ever quite predictable; the only thing to expect is the unexpected, which comes in many forms and will always want to sit next to you. India is seen as a litmus test for many travelers — but with the right guides, you can always accentuate the beautiful idiosyncrasies and step clear of the baffling challenges. After years of experience, India is not a challenge to us. Let us plan your trip in this remarkably diverse country, tailoring an adventure that celebrates why everyone who visits, falls in love.
When to come? The coolest weather is during October to February and it is a pleasure to visit India during these months, with the whole country ripe for exploration. At other times of year we'll suggest regions and destinations that have agreeable weather.
Delhi
India's capital epitomizes the impression that this county is a feast for the senses. Colors swirl, cultures collide, streets are dotted with elephants and rickshaws and sizzling food. It is always an overload and there's no question that New Delhi can be a challenging place to adjust to. But once you settle in, with the help of unflustered local guides, you can start exploring its outstanding heritage sights.
The Qutab Minar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, fthe world's tallest building – back in 1193. This imposing 73-meter structure of sandstone and marble introduces the city's old Islamic history. Then there's the Red Fort, an imposing 17th century structure made of red sandstone, where the Prime Minister addresses the nation every 15th of August (Independence Day). A walking tour of the palatial gardens and the many buildings that housed the royal family takes you back to the days of the glorious Mughal empire.
Jaipur
Fatehpur Sikri was the capital of Akbar, the third Mughal ruler and widely considered the greatest military commander and administrator from the dynasty. Legend says that Akbar had no male successor after him. He longed for a son. Salim Chisti, a famed Sufi saint of the time lived at the place where the city was later constructed. Akbar came to him bare feet and asked his blessings for a son. Later on, when his wish was fulfilled, he decided to build a fortified city complex in the saint's honor. Akbar even named his first born son Salim (Emperor Jahangir).
Such a story may sound like folklore but there's a lot of truth behind it. And in a time of vast wealth for the Mughals, this elegant city inspires in both its scope and its detail. For many visitors, it rivals the Taj Mahal in its presentation of old-world glamor and glory. Remarkably, it was only inhabited for 15 years and it really feels like an old ghost town.
Agra
The Taj Mahal is widely considered the symbol that identifies India; a labor of love, a mute testimony of an emperor's undying adoration for his beloved queen, an evocation of an old civilization's quest for beauty. The Taj Mahal is the mecca for most who visit this part of the world and it's included in almost all our private India tours. To be able to stand there, at the vaulted entrance, watching the magnificent white mausoleum become a reality, is a justification for traveling 10,000 miles around the world. Remarkably, it's not the only World Heritage Site in Agra.
Stay a couple of days and you can see the Taj Mahal at different times of the day, with the sun bouncing off the marble in contrasting ways. In addition, explore the magnificence of the Red Fort, baffling in both color and scale. We also guide you to much lesser-known sights, like the tombs of Miriam and Sikandra, and the temples of Balkeshwar and Kailash.
Jodhpur
Walking around the old city of Jodhpur is quite a delight, with almost all buildings painted blue, donkey carts plying the lanes, food fries on the street corners, where the people watching is fascinating, and you're never far from temples and gardens for a moment of serenity. Jodhpur's fort is probably the most impressive in the whole country, perched on a mountain with glorious views over the Blue City. Seeing the whole fort requires at least half a day and our guides ensure you won't miss the fabulous sandstone carvings and rooms of Zenana Deodi, the inner palace area.
Pushkar
The renowned annual camel festival takes place each November at the time of the Kartik Purnima full moon. In addition to the holi festival, it is one of India's most highly-rated travel experiences, a grand spectacle on an epic scale, attracting thousands of camels, horses, and cattle and is attended by nearly half a million over the two weeks of the festival. Attend int he festival in comfort, lodging in a luxury tents while your guide provide's an insider's experience.
Udaipur
The "City of Lakes" is renowned for its lavish royal residences, spectacular architecture, and as one of the most romantic cities in the world. A highlight of a visit, the City Palace, overlooking scenic Lake Pichola, is a monumental complex of nearly a dozen palaces, courtyards, and gardens, famed for their intricate peacock mosaics. Udaipur is also a shopper's paradise, and we'll guide through the nooks, small alleyways, and bazaars jam-packed with every manner of handicrafts, textiles, and jewelry.
Kolkata
Jan Morris describes Calcutta, as it was known, as an open-air museum of a single brief period – among the countless successive layers of Indian history – the period of the British Raj. In present day Kolkata one will glimpse rustic and often majestic bungalows, clubs, cricket pavilions, commissioner's offices, barrack blocks, steepled churches, pompous hotels, canals and railway stations of imperialism, and not temples, ghats and maharajas' palaces. The erstwhile capital of the British Raj has architectural gems strewn all around. India’s second-biggest city is a non-stop of humanity, rife with the contrasts of wealthy and squalid, refined and desperate, modern while decayed.
Mumbai
The most populous city in India never sleeps, a city of chaos where seemingly everything and everybody is on the move. Congested with traffic jams at all hours of the day, polluted, and frentic, it is claimed Mumbai is India's only true city and different than almost any place on Earth. Mumbai features Asia’s biggest slums, as well as the world’s most expensive home, a human spectacle on a grand scale.
Varanasi
Varanasi is considered to be the oldest city in India, having existed since mythological days. Varanasi is the spiritual nerve center of India, a sacred city is the one that every Hindu wishes to visit at least once in their lifetime. The dramatic setting on the banks of the Ganges River, the holiest of Indian rivers—is an unforgettable sight. It is a hypnotic destination for anyone who seeks deeper cultural immersion, an unending wave of Sadhus and pilgrims surrounding you. The nearly one hundred bathing Ghats on banks of the Ganges including the haunting “burning ghat,” where the dead are burnt in the most revered of Hindu funeral rites.
Along the city's winding streets are some two thousand temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the “Golden Temple,” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
Kerala
In Kerala discover India's lush mountains, emerald tea plantations, golden beaches, and tranquil backwaters. A tropical paradise where you can paddle backwaters, trek the rocky Western Ghats, hike through the the mists of colonial-era hill stations, and rejuvenate with Ayurvedic treatments.
BEST TIME TO GO
October to March
NEED TO KNOW
Visa Required
COMBINES WITH
Bhutan & Nepal
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