THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT / 77 CHINA PAKISTAN Delhi NEPAL Thimphu Jaipur Agra Jodhpur Kathmandu BHUTAN Udaipur Varanasi BANGLADESH INDIA MYANMAR LAOS Mumbai Gokarna THAILAND BAY OF BENGAL SRI LANKA THE MALDIVES Colombo Male INDIAN OCEAN 79 OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY 88 THE MALDIVES 88 Coco Bodu Hithi 80 INDIA 89 Gili Lankanfushi 80 Golden Triangle 89 Six Senses Laamu 81 Luxury Palaces of India 82 Colours of India 90 BHUTAN 83 Wellness North & South 90 Rice Bowl Valleys 84 Aromatic Kerala 85 India & Nepal 86 SRI LANKA 86 Idyllic Sri Lanka 87 Sri Lanka’s Southern Beaches 78 / THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY AMANKORA OBEROI RAJVILAS Thimphu, Bhutan Jaipur, India A simple, elegant retreat completely in tune with A royal residence set in 32 acres of landscaped gardens. nature. Guest Suites offer views across a beautiful Built around an 18th century Shiva temple, this royal stream or pine forest. resort is a haven of mystical peace and natural serenity. SAMODE PALACE UMAID BHAWAN Jaipur, India Jodhpur, India Timeless, beautiful and historical the Samode Palace The last great palace of India and one of the largest is an intoxicating mix of traditional courtesy and private residences in the world—set amidst 26 acres sophisticated style. of lush gardens. COCO BODU HITHI TAJ LAKE PALACE The Maldives Udaipur, India A tropical hideaway offering villas and residences, Made from luminous marble, seemingly floating in spread among the island with views out over crystal Lake Pichola, the Taj Lake Palace is enchanting in clear waters. every way. THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT / 79 INDIA GOLDEN TRIANGLE | 6 DAYS Dive into the chaotic delights of Old Delhi, take time to watch the Taj Mahal shimmer in the changing light and marvel at the spectacular façade of the Palace of Winds in Jaipur. DAY 1 DELHI DAY 6 JAIPUR > DELHI You will be met and transferred to your hotel. Transfer to Delhi. DAY 2 DELHI INCLUDES: Tailor-made journey with English speaking Enjoy a full-day tour of Old and New Delhi, visiting the local guides, 5 nights’ accommodation, transfers by air- Jama Masjid, a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk conditioned car, sightseeing and entrance fees, 5 Breakfasts. spice markets, Humayan’s Tomb, Raj Ghat, India Gate, DEPARTS: Daily. Parliament house and witness Sikh rituals at Bangla Sahib Gurudwara. Visit Qutab Minar and the Bahai Lotus COMMENTS: Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays. Red Fort and Temple (time permitting). Lotus temple are closed on Mondays. Surcharges apply over DAY 3 DELHI > AGRA Christmas and New Year. *Single price varies depending on the number travelling. Enquire for solo traveller prices. Drive to Agra via Akbar’s royal tomb at Sikandra. Visit the magnificent Agra Fort and the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Doulah, often described as a jewel box of Mughal architecture. End the day with sunset views of the iconic Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh or Moonlight Garden. DAY 4 AGRA > JAIPUR Start with a tour of the Taj Mahal as the sun rises. Later visit a classic local bazaar and white marble factory to see how the Taj Mahal and Mughal architecture works were inlayed. Drive to Jaipur, visiting the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri en route. DAY 5 JAIPUR Ride an elephant to the Amber Fort and view the Temple of Kali, the Hall of Victory and Jagmandir. Later join a city tour of Jaipur including the City Palace Museum, Jantar 2016 Price (per person) Twin Single* Mantar and ‘Hawa Mahal’ Palace of Winds. This evening 1 Jan–31 Mar $1,412 $1,906 watch a Bollywood movie at the authentic Raj Mandir Star cinema travelling back by tuk tuk. 4 1 Apr–30 Sep $1,295 $1,664 80 / THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT Umaid Bhawan Palace LUXURY PALACES OF INDIA | 10 DAYS Embrace your inner royal and stay in some of India’s most beautiful and opulent palaces and luxurious hotels as you enjoy the delights of Rajasthan. The Taj Mahal, Palace of the Winds, Jagdish Temple and Mehrangarh Fort are just some of the highlights of your journey. DAY 1 DELHI (Palace of Winds), the Maharajah’s Palace, the museum You will be met and transferred to your hotel. and observatory. DAY 2 DELHI DAY 9 JAIPUR > AGRA Enjoy a full-day tour of Old and New Delhi, visiting the Drive to Agra visiting the deserted red sandstone city of Jama Masjid, a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk Fatehpur Sikri en route. Explore the royal courtyard, tombs spice markets, Humayan’s Tomb, Raj Ghat, India Gate, and Mughal Pilgrimage before continuing to Agra. Later Parliament house and witness Sikh rituals at Bangla Sahib see Agra Fort with its pearl mosque and travel by horse Gurudwara. Visit Qutab Minar (time permitting). carriage to the Moonlight Garden (Mehteb Bagh) for DAY 3 DELHI > UDAIPUR beautiful sunset views of the Taj Mahal. Fly to Udaipur where you will be transferred to your palace. DAY 10 AGRA > DELHI DAY 4 UDAIPUR A dawn visit to the Taj Mahal may well be the highlight of Visit the City Palace, Jagdish Temple and then enjoy a your journey. Transfer to Delhi. sunset cruise on the lake. INCLUDES: Tailor-made journey with local English DAY 5 UDAIPUR > JODHPUR speaking guides, 9 nights’ accommodation, transfers by Drive to Jodhpur via the Jain temples at Ranakpur. This air-conditioned car, entrance fees, economy class flight complex is one of the most extensive in India. Delhi > Udaipur, 9 Breakfasts. DAY 6 JODHPUR DEPARTS: Daily. Visit the famed Mehrangarh Fort, made from stunning COMMENTS: Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays. Red Fort is red sandstone. See the Clock Tower and Jaswant Thada. closed Mondays. Surcharges may apply over Christmas, Afternoon at leisure to explore local markets. New Year and other holidays. Flight cost subject to change. DAY 7 JODHPUR > JAIPUR > SAMODE *Single price varies depending on the number travelling. Drive to Samode, a small royal village outside Jaipur, famed Enquire for solo traveller prices. for its havelis (private mansion), forts and palaces. Samode Palace has a rich 300 year history and was once home to 2016 Price (per person) Twin Single* Samode’s ruling family. DAY 8 JAIPUR 1 Jan–31 Mar $6,954 $11,612 Travel up to Amber Fort on elephant back and then take 1 Apr–30 Sep $5,238 $8,261 a heritage walk through Jaipur to see the Hawa Mahal 4 & 5 Star THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT / 81 Holi Festival COLOURS OF INDIA | 16 DAYS There’s simply no other word that convincingly captures the enigma that is India. From mystical temples to feisty festivals, snow-dusted mountains to sun-washed beaches, it’s hardly surprising that India has been dubbed the world’s most multidimensional country. Capture India’s finest colours, from traditional rickshaw rides through narrow bazaars, to desert safaris and camping, to thrilling wildlife and tiger encounters in Ranthambhore National Park. DAY 1 DELHI DAY 10 KUMBHALGARH > UDAIPUR You will be met and transferred to your hotel. Afternoon Continue to Udaipur and enjoy a city tour, visiting the tour visiting Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid and the Red Fort. Palace Museum, Sahelion Ki Bari garden, Bhartiya Lok DAY 2 DELHI > AGRA Kala Mandal and Jagdish Temple. Drive to Agra and visit Agra Fort and the iconic Taj Mahal, DAY 11 UDAIPUR > BIJAPUR one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Depart Udaipur and head for Bijapur, visiting the DAY 3 AGRA > JAIPUR Chittogarh Fort and Palace en route. Drive to Jaipur. En route visit the city of Fatehpur Sikri. DAY 12 BIJAPUR DAY 4 JAIPUR > JAISALMER Day at leisure. This evening enjoy a horse safari to tribal Visit Amber Fort, the old capital of the Jaipur Ruler. This villages. Interact with the local tribes and learn about their afternoon visit the Palace of Wind, Jai Singh’s Astronomical history and culture. Observatory and City Palace. Overnight train to Jaisalmer. DAY 13 BIJAPUR > RANTHAMBHORE DAY 5 JAISALMER Drive to Ranthambhore. Day at leisure to explore India’s Enjoy a city tour visiting Jaisalmer Fort. Rising from the finest tiger wildlife park. sands, it merges with the sand dunes resembling a giant DAY 14 RANTHAMBHORE anthill. Later visit Nathmalji ki Haveli, the most elaborate Participate in morning and afternoon Jeep Safaris inside and magnificent of the Jaisalmer havelis. the National Park. See the tiger, striped hyena, jungle cat, DAY 6 CAMEL SAFARI bear, wild boar and more. Head a short way from Jaisalmer for a camel safari, visiting DAY 15 RANTHAMBHORE > DELHI Bada Bagh en route. A special overnight experience tonight Take the morning train to Delhi for an evening at leisure. as you stay in a tented desert camp. DAY 16 DELHI DAY 7 CAMEL SAFARI Transfer to the airport. Enjoy a second camel safari with sightseeing in Kala and INCLUDES: Tailor-made journey with English speaking Manpia. Stay another night at a tented desert camp. local guides, 15 nights’ accommodation, transfers by air- DAY 8 JAISALMER > ROHET conditioned car, sightseeing and entrance fees, first class Drive to Rohet via Moolsager. Enjoy an evening Jeep safari train tickets, 15 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches and 2 Dinners. to Bishnoi Village. DEPARTS: Daily. DAY 9 ROHET > KUMBHALGARH Drive to Kumbhalgarh and visit Kumbhalgarh Fort and 2016 Price (per person) Twin Single Museum. Accompanied by a trekking guide, hike to local 1 Jan–31 Mar $4,252 $5,610 villages. You will encounter various native tribes such as the Star Bhil Tribe, one of the oldest indigenous tribes in India, and 4 1 Apr–30 Sep $3,922 $4,966 the old warrior clan, The Rajputs. 82 / THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT WELLNESS NORTH & SOUTH ANANDA | 4 DAYS Located in the tranquil Himalayan foothills, overlooking the peaceful Ganga River and the Rishikesh Valley.