India Unbound Brochure 2017
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INDIA LAND, RIVER & RAIL JOURNEYS JAMMU & KASHMIR Leh Phone: 1300 449 709 Email: [email protected] Dharamsala Amritsar HIMACHAL PRADESH PUNJAB Shimla UTTARAKHAND Rishikesh Corbett NP HARYANA New Delhi ARUNACHAL PRADESH GOLDEN TRIANGLE SIKKIM Majuli RAJASTHAN Agra UTTAR PRADESH Jaipur Darjeeling Kaziranga NP ASSAM Jodhpur Lucknow NAGALAND Ranthambhore NP Kohima MEGHALAYA BIHAR Udaipur Varanasi MANIPUR TRIPURA GUJARAT JHARKHAND Bhopal MIZORAM Ahmedabad WEST BENGAL MADHYA PRADESH Kolkata Kanha Tiger Reserve CHHATTISGARH Mouths of the Ganges INDIA ORISSA MAHARASHTRA Mumbai TELANGANA Hyderabad Hampi GOA Bay of ANDHRA Bengal PRADESH Arabian Sea KARNATAKA Chennai Coorg Mysore Malabar Coast Pondicherry LAKSHADWEEP TAMIL NADU ISLANDS KERALA ANDAMAN & Palk Strait Cochin Madurai NICOBAR ISLANDS Alleppey Gulf of Mannar SRI LANKA Laccadive Sea Indian Ocean For more information and bookings contact your travel agent: 2 CONTENTS The India Unbound Story ........................ 4 The India Unbound Diference ........................... 5 Our Accommodation Styles .............. 6 – 9 Classic Golden Triangle .................. 12 – 13 Golden Triangle In Depth ............. 14 – 15 Classic Rajasthan ............................ 16 – 17 Rajasthan In Depth ........................ 18 – 19 Classic North India ......................... 20 – 21 North India In Depth ..................... 22 – 23 Classic East India ............................ 24 – 25 Classic Gujarat .............................. 26 – 27 Quintessential Kerala .................. 28 – 29 Classic Kerala ................................ 30 – 31 Classic South India ....................... 32 – 33 Back Roads of South India .......... 34 – 35 Cuisines of India ........................... 36 – 37 Wildlife of India ............................ 38 – 39 Back Roads of the Far North ....... 40 – 41 Contemporary India .................... 42 – 43 Classic Ladakh .............................. 44 – 45 Rail Jewels of the Deccan ............................ 50 Hidden Treasures of Gujarat .............. 51 Royal Rajasthan on Wheels ......... 54 – 55 Palace on Wheels ......................... 58 – 59 Gems of India ....................................... 62 Indian Splendour ................................. 63 Pride of the South ................................ 66 Southern Splendour ............................ 67 River Brahmaputra Discovery ...................... 71 Brahmaputra Panorama ..................... 74 Wildlife Of Assam ................................. 75 Hugli Heritage ....................................... 76 Sacred Ganges ...................................... 77 Ganges Discovery ......................... 78 – 79 Oberoi Backwater Discovery .............. 81 India and Sri Lanka Facts .............. 84 – 85 I N D I A U N B O U N D | 3 THE INDIA UNBOUND STORY From Lincoln Harris, India Unbound Founder After decades of arranging travel experiences for people, one thing I still notice is that the possibilities in Sri Lanka, and a large country like India in particular, are almost endless. At India Unbound, what we want to do is help you understand all those possibilities and turn them into your ideal holiday. We pride ourselves on our knowledge of these two destinations, knowledge that we constantly update every year. We continue to seek out and visit new accommodation, to hunt out new experiences, to meet new guides, to go to new locations and Lincoln Harris test sightseeing and activities. Doing this each and every year guarantees that what we present to you is tried and tested and worth including in your trip. It also allows us to continue to expand the range of tours and experiences we can ofer you. The number of journeys and experiences we can create for travellers are too great for one brochure. These are some of our favourite recommendations we are sharing with you, to help you navigate through the possible options for your tour, but there are so many, many more. I’m delighted to share this new brochure with you and to introduce you to even just a few of the possible journeys. Take these as a guide, but just remember – the possibilities in such remarkable places as India and Sri Lanka are endless. We have the knowledge and experience to create the ideal journey for you. I, and the team at India Unbound, look forward to creating amazing travel experiences for you. 4 India Unbound Experience Our dedicated team at India Unbound has personally and thoughtfully created a selection of travel experiences to share with you, based on decades of travel in India and Sri Lanka. Taking in the ‘must see’ destinations but also allowing you to immerse yourself in the sights, smells and favours of India and Sri Lanka. These tours have been based on our favourite destinations, accommodation and travel styles, bringing you a series of extraordinary journeys. The itineraries in this brochure cover the breadth of India – a vast country that difers greatly from state Our land itineraries are all private to state – and the tropical island so full of possibilities that is Sri Lanka. tours – they are not group tours. These tours have been put together to illustrate some of the many travel options available in these two You will have a private vehicle amazing countries. You should consider them as building blocks, which can be put together in various combinations, or tailored to make a journey suit your personal interests. You may wish to spend a few and driver, private sightseeing extra nights immersing yourself in the more interesting locations, or to fnish with an extended stay arrangements and tour guides, at a beautiful wildlife lodge, beach resort or iconic heritage hotel. Let us know and we will be happy to customise your journey. and your own individual We are also excited to include an array of luxury rail and river cruises in this brochure, which can be taken arrangements and itinerary. in conjunction with any of our land itineraries or enjoyed on their own. We hope you fnd your ideal holiday within these pages, or speak to us about a custom made journey. This is India Unbound. I N D I A U N B O U N D | 5 OUR ACCOMMODATION STYLES Taj Lake Palace Udaipur India has some of the most interesting and diverse choices of accommodation available anywhere. From grand heritage hotels to homestays, boutique hotels and ultra-luxurious palaces – they all ofer guests something quite special. India Unbound is pleased to ofer you three accommodation options for your journey with us. Here we have outlined the diferent styles and standards of properties we prefer to use for each option, with an example of each style to give you greater understanding of where you will stay during your tour. Our three categories of accommodation are mid-range, superior and deluxe. We don’t have a budget option. We start at good accommodation and go upwards to great and amazing. Whichever category you choose, we are sure you will enjoy where you stay. 6 OPTION 1 MID-RANGE Intimate Heritage Hotels Homestays & B&Bs Traditional family mansions throughout India have been lovingly Some of our favourite places to stay, these very special properties restored and converted into charming accommodation. Generally provide a real insight into the daily life and culture of specifc these hotels have less than 10 rooms, creating a more intimate locales. The people you meet and get to know here are what atmosphere than a larger hotel. Each property has its own identity, makes this accommodation so special. We use only a select often with a charismatic host or owner. number of properties and we have stayed at all of them ourselves. All of them are clean and comfortable, with ensuites and English- speaking hosts. EXAMPLE PROPERTY Dera Mandawa Haveli Jaipur, Rajasthan EXAMPLE PROPERTIES The Mandawa family has owned this heritage property for Thikana Delhi generations with each generation Located near the arts and cafe adding new wings in architectural precinct of Hauz Khas in Delhi, styles prevalent at the time. the large family home of Atul Today, guests interact with hosts and Sheetal Bhalla has been Thakur Durga Singh and Usha artfully converted into a boutique Kumari and experience the style B&B. With Atul and Sheetal lifestyle of a bygone era in this charming hotel with its quiet nooks on hand to ofer dining and and corners. Each two-level suite is cool, quiet and spacious. shopping recommendations, Thikana ofers a more personal stay in India’s capital and is one of our favourite properties in Delhi. Nelpura Heritage Homestay Kerala backwaters Nelpura is a haven of peace and tranquility set on the bank of a canal in Kerala’s famous backwaters. Guests stay in a 150-year-old renovated building showcasing the fne features of traditional Kerala architecture and woodcarving, adjoining the ancestral home of the host family. The rooms, made mostly with seasoned timber, still retain their original grandeur. Enjoy traditional home-style Keralan meals in the family home. Dera Mandawa Haveli Jaipur, Rajasthan I N D I A U N B O U N D | 7 OUR ACCOMMODATION STYLES OPTION 2 SUPERIOR Boutique Hotels and Restored Havelis The contemporary aesthetic of India can be seen at a range of boutique properties and restored havelis. This style of accommodation has a more modern feel, using colours and textiles that are more distinctive. The atmosphere tends to be less formal, which is refected in an easy-going but no less attentive approach to service. EXAMPLE PROPERTIES RAAS Jodhpur, Rajasthan Another of our favourites, RAAS blends striking contemporary architecture