First time to India

It’s 3 weeks since I returned from India and I still can’t get over how much we packed into our short 6 night trip. So many people have tried to describe India, and what the experience of travelling there is like, but you can’t really appreciate the words until you have seen it with your own eyes. It was such a fabulous experience, to be honest I wasn’t sure what to expect – would it be too busy, noisy, smelly even? Some parts of Delhi were certainly chaotic, but in a wonderful, joyful way that left me feeling alive and wanting more. It certainly wasn’t a city I wanted to get out of as fast as possible, as I had heard some people talk about – and that is definitely down to the guides that we had – showing us the city (and the rest of the Golden Triangle) in the light it deserves to be seen in! Delhi itself has a rich history and architectural marvels, including 3 incredible UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the Red Fort, the sandstone tower of Qutub Minar and Humayun’s Tomb. I loved the tranquil Sikh temple of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib which has an enormous community kitchen, feeding all who visit. Walking and taking a rickshaw through the streets of Old Delhi with the charity Salaam Baalak Trust, led by a teenage guide who used to live on the streets, was a very special experience, one which I always include on my clients itineraries as it gives such a unique and personal insight into local life. We can also arrange street food tours – not something you really want to try on your own, but our guide has curated the culinary delights to ensure the best experience. We left Delhi after 3 nights - the first at the beautiful Oberoi Gurgaon, located close to the airport and the business and commercial centre of the city, followed by 2 nights at the Oberoi New Delhi – ranked No1 City Hotel in Asia. New Delhi was re-designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in the 1920’s and now has wide tree lined avenues and lots of roundabouts! The poignant memorial to Mahatma Gandhi is well worth a visit and there are vibrant bars and restaurants around the Connaught Place area. Our next destination was Jaipur, the Pink City and my favourite stop. We started our day at the Govind Dev Ji temple where devotees of Lord Krishna were dancing, chanting and welcomed us with blessings and smiles. This is the video I will always play if I am feeling sad – what amazing atmosphere and energy! We visited the huge flower and vegetable market where, again, the locals were so welcoming as they went about their busy days, the ladies carrying huge bundles of fruit and veg on their heads. After a visit to the City Palace and the Jantar Mantar (which translates as ‘calculating instrument’) and was built to measure sunrise, sunset, time and the coordinates of stars and the planets, we had a brilliant and exhilarating rickshaw ride through the city. It will be these memories, of schoolkids piled into tuk-tuks along side us, smiling and waving, the constant “toot-toot” and the adventure as our skilled drivers safely and skilfully manoeuvred us through the traffic, that will remain. This was another charity called Pink City Rickshaws, employing 200 women from low income households to drive the electric rickshaws – a brilliant initiative and addressing the environmental impact of vehicles too! it was time to head back to the stunning Oberoi Rajvilas - a beautiful resort property on the outskirts of the city and has the most stunning rooms and luxury tents. Perfect for honeymoons! At sunset we took an open jeep up to the massive Amer Fort or Amber Palace, another World Heritage Site and built in the 16th Century. There are loads of activities available locally which we didn’t have time for – hot air ballooning, ethical elephant experiences, trekking or cycling. We headed back to Jaipur for dinner at a lovely “heritage” property, Samode Haveli – voted no6 top hotels in India in 2024. The building is 225 years old and is a tranquil escape from the bustling streets outside, with beautiful courtyards, gardens and a lovely pool. The following day we travelled to Agra – home of the world famous Taj Mahal, and it did not disappoint. We visited at sunset and it was just awe inspiring, another memory to treasure, and something that has to be seen to appreciate in full. We were also treated to a Bollywood dance lesson in Agra, great fun if a little hot and sweaty! Our trip was over too soon, and after a final night in Delhi, I headed home. I really do feel that India has a piece of my heart now, and I have a much greater appreciation of how much there is to see and do here – you could visit 20 times and not see everything there is to see! The Golden Triangle is just a small part of this country, and while a great “first time” destination, it really just leaves you wanting more! Please do get in touch if you are intrigued by what a trip to India could look like for you – everything we do is tailor made and while we have some amazing offers for the itinerary we did, I would also recommend slowing down and taking in a bit more than we could. And if you have previously visited India, get in touch and we can create another magical itinerary for your interests – whether that is wellness, travelling with the kids or on your own, wildlife, photography, or cuisine. By the way, I haven’t mentioned it, but the food was delicious!