While its colour-charged cities throb with the crowds and chaos of emerging India, the treasures of the past hold pride of place in mind and spirit. From New Delhi, the contemporary manifestation of the many cities that have occupied this to the most vibrant cities in Rajasthan, offering a mesmerizing mélange of travel experience which includes but is not limited to the forts, palaces, desert castles and vibrant culture. From the grim, impregnable forts of the kingdoms of Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaipur to the delicate frescoes and screen work of Shekhavati and the desert city of Jaisalmer, the jewels of India are here in this diverse and dramatic region. Explore and unveil this magic splendour of Rajasthan, it’s diversified landscape of desert, lush plains and wooded Aravalli hills, since time immemorial has inspired poets, painters and writers.
Further east, on the banks of the River Ganges lies the ancient, seemingly unchanged city of Varanasi, the holiest of cities for Hindus, its temple spires reaching upward to the sky. Khajuraho too, is known for its temples, built in the 9th and 10th century by the Chandela dynasty, they are part of a World Heritage Site, as is the Taj Mahal, built by Shah Jahan for his beloved Mumtaz Mahal in the 17th century.
Away from the hustle and bustle of the cities and the heat of the plains, the northern foothills of the Himalayas offer some of the most beautiful and spectacular scenery in the whole of India. With village life largely unchanged for centuries and former hill stations still preserving British customs, this is a place to lose all sense of time, walking through small, friendly villages, or taking relaxing breaks in some unique and wonderful hotels. Amritsar, the home of Sikhism’s holiest shrine the Golden Temple, to the beautiful hill station Dharamshala, the ‘new’ home to the Dalai Lama in McLeod Ganj and the picturesque valleys of Rishikesh, “Yoga capital of the world”. There are some spots on this earth where nature seems to open her arms to us, caress us and even ruffle our hair, and Kumaon, at the foothills of the Himalayas, is certainly one such place.
A journey to Ladakh is a spiritual experience through one of the most remote parts of the world- the highest, least populated region in India, cut off by snow six months each year. Embark on a Himalayan Jeep Safari from Manali to Leh and further on to the Nubra Valley. Or take the old Hindustan–Tibet highway runs northeast from Shimla through Kinnaur, providing access to mountain villages with slate-roofed temples and vast orchards of apple trees that provide Himachal’s most famous export. Further north, the Spiti valley is a land of stunning beauty. Visit some of the oldest monasteries of the region, perched on top of some of the highest villages in the world; staying in traditional home stays, eating with locals in their households, trekking to distant monasteries and watching performances by traditional artists make for an unforgettable experience.