112 Cleveland Collection Asia – India India – Introduction India in many ways is unknowable which is why it attracts so many returning visitors. Just as you think you know one part of this great sub-continent, you visit another area and realise you know very little, which is why it is such a travellers treat. Rajasthan Most visitors begin their visit in the arid desert areas of Rajasthan which is awash with temples and forts as well as some of the most magnificent palaces. It is Moghul India at its most powerful, with that hymn to love, the Taj Mahal, the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri and the palaces kingdoms of Jaipur (pink), Jodhpur (blue), Udaipur (white) and Jaisalmer (gold). Each not only has its own distinctive colour but also a history and magic. The North and the foothills of the Himalayas Beautiful, breathtaking and unforgettable. From the foothills of the Himalayas with their villages, forests, trekking trails, rivers and waterfalls to the old colonial summer capital of Shimla – an Anglo-Indian gem where the Raj would go to escape the heat of the plains. Head also for Corbett National Park, India’s best known wildlife reserve where you can take a jeep or an elephant safari. Here you can see more than 600 species of bird as well as tigers, monkeys, elephants and crocodiles. And then there are the temples and ashrams – Dharamsala, the hill station which is the exiled home of the Dalai Lama and his followers, and the pilgrim towns of Rishikesh on the banks of the Ganges and Amritsar, the seat of the Sikh religion with its Golden Temple. Go east for the tea plantations and clear air of Darjeeling.
Southern India This region sports beautiful golden beaches washed by the Andaman Sea. Head for Kerala and Kumarakom which has beaches, access to Lake Vembanad and more than 900 miles of inland waterways – the backwaters. Spend lazy days and glorious nights on a luxury rice barge as you float through villages, coconut groves and bird sanctuaries. Experience ayurveda in one of the myriad spas around, for this is the home of that ancient therapy, or head for the cities of the south – Kochi is spice central, Madurai with its ancient temple complex, Mysore a city of palaces and Chennai, formerly known as Madras, with its mix of east and western architecture – temples, churches and museums. Or head further south towards Pondicherry and wonder at the great temples of Tamil Nadu. Central India The place to look for tigers with the three most feted national parks and tiger reserves – Pench, Bandhavgarh and Panna. These great parks are also home to some of India’s indigenous tribes people as well as leopard and elephants. Along the way take in the temples of Khajurahao, all 22 of them and the pilgrim town of Maheshwari. Visit Bhopal, the city of lakes and its nearby Buddhist shrine at Sanchi, one of the most important in India. The Cities Indian cities are vibrant and full of treasures. The elegance of New Delhi, the verve and style of Mumbai or the near-forgotten glory of Calcutta, once the capital and still the cultural heart of the sub-continent.
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ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Capital: Delhi Currency: Indian Rupee Airlines: British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Jet Airways Point of Entry: Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai Flying time: 8 hrs 10 mins Time zone: GMT +4½ hrs Combine with: Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal Visa: Required – must be obtained in advance Best time to visit India is a huge country with differing climate conditions, although in general the best period is November to March, with the monsoon season June to September.