One of my colleagues has recently visited India. Following her progress on Facebook woke up my adventurous spirit. I'm a bit restless now.
I was always a bit leery of visiting India. As a child the only images of this continent I saw were of poverty and dust and the Taj Mahal. Over the years I have come to understand more of India, its people, culture and its history. I have learned to cook Indian cuisine and that has unlocked a desire to get amongst the crowds and markets. To smell the aromas and watch the street food being prepared.
I need to visit.
One of our partners, the Innovative Travel Company has just released some India Tour Packages, and the pricing is really great. Call us in the office for details and have a chat to Twee about her experiences.
The Golden India tour - 6 days
Explore bustling Delhi, admire the awe inspiring Taj Mahal and have a taste of Rajasthan in the Pink City of Jaipur. It is designed to give you an insight into the rich Indian heritage, and is offered with two detour options : the charming town of Pushkar OR Ranthambore National Park for a chance to see the elusive Asian tigers. This is a small group tour (minimum 2/maximum 16)
You'll get to see Old and New Delhi, the awesome Taj Mahal in Agra, The Pink City of Jaipur, have an elephant ride up to the entrance of the Amber Fort.
The Royal India tour - 14 days
Explore the contrasts of Old and New Delhi, be amazed by the beauty of the wondrous Taj Mahal, explore the sacred lakeside temples of Pushkar, ride an elephant in Jaipur and a camel in the Jaisalmer Desert. You'll stay in superior first class hotels and palatial heritage properties. This tour will provide some intense cultural experience and memories of a lifetime. Again, this is a small group tour (minimum 2/maximum 16).
The Great India tour - 24 days
Explore the ultimate highlights of North and South India on this once-in-a-lifetime grand tour which includes some of the world's most beautiful buildings, temples, sights and scenery. Witness the contrasts of New and Old Delhi and the wondrous Taj Mahal; ride on boats, an elephant and a camel, explore 1100-year-old stone carvings in UNESCO World Heritage sites, watch weavers create silk saris, visit magnificent palaces, take a jungle safari amidst exotic wildlife, learn about aromatic plants and spices, witness colourful dances, and unwind in a deluxe hotel in serene Kumarakom for a memorable conclusion to a fascinating tour. Simply breathtaking.
If you want to travel solo we can help with the must-see's. Being a highly spiritual country, festivals are at the heart of people’s lives in India. The numerous and varied festivals that are held throughout the year offer a unique way of seeing Indian culture at its best. The following popular festivals in India will provide you with a truly memorable experience. (Information provided from http://goindia.about.com/od/festivalinformation/)
1. Diwali
Diwali is a five day festival that represents the start of the Hindu New Year. It's known as the "Festival of Lights" for all the fireworks, small clay lamps, and candles that are lit during the celebrations. These lights are said to represent the victory of good over evil, and brightness over darkness. The candlelight makes Diwali a very warm and atmospheric festival, and it's observed with much joy and happiness.
2. Ganesh Chaturthi
The spectacular eleven day Ganesh Chaturthi festival honors the birth of the beloved Hindu elephant-headed god, Lord Ganesha. The start of the festival sees huge, elaborately crafted statutes of Ganesha installed in homes and podiums, which have been especially constructed and beautifully decorated. At the end of the festival, the statutes are paraded through the streets, accompanied by much singing and dancing, and then submerged in the ocean.
3. Holi
Holi is a two day festival that also celebrates the victory of good over evil, as well as the abundance of the spring harvest season. It's commonly referred to as the "Festival of Colors". People exuberantly throw colored powder and water all over each other, have parties, and dance under water sprinklers. Bhang (a paste made from cannabis plants) is also traditionally consumed during the celebrations. Holi is a very carefree festival that's great fun to participate in if you don’t mind getting wet and dirty.
4. Navaratri, Dussehra, and Durga Puja
The first nine days of this festival are known as Navaratri, and are filled with dance in honor of the Mother Goddess. The tenth day, called Dussehra, is devoted to celebrating the defeat of the demon king Ravana by Lord Rama. It also coincides with the victory of the revered warrior Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura.
In eastern India, the festival is observed as Durga Puja. Huge statues of the Goddess are made and immersed in the holy Ganges River. The festival is an extremely social and theatrical event, with drama, dance, and cultural performances held throughout the country.
5. Onam
Onam is a traditional ten day harvest festival that marks the homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali. It’s a festival rich in culture and heritage. People strikingly decorate the ground in front of their houses with flowers arranged in beautiful patterns to welcome the King. The festival is also celebrated with new clothes, feasts served on banana leaves, dancing, sports, games, and snake boat races.
6. Krishna Janmashtami/Govinda
Krishna Janmashtami, also known as Govinda, commemorates the birthday of Lord Krishna. An extremely fun part of the festival involves people climbing on each other and forming a human pyramid to try and reach and break open clay pots filled with curd, which have been strung up high from buildings.
7. Pushkar Camel Fair
An astonishing 50,000 camels converge on the tiny desert town of Pushkar, in India's state of Rajasthan for the Pushkar Camel Fair. For five days, the camels are dressed up, paraded, shaved, entered into beauty contests, raced, and of course traded. It's a great opportunity to witness an old, traditional style Indian festival.
8. Kerala Temple Festivals
The south Indian state of Kerala is filled with temples that are renowned for their exotic temple festivals. The large processions of elephants, resplendent in ornaments, are the main attractions of these festivals. The processions are accompanied by colorful floats, drummers and other musicians.