A Family Adventure in India

With a population of over 18 million, Delhi is an international metropolis. Perhaps daunting at first sight, a little exploring soon reveals a rich, diverse and fascinating culture. Throughout most of its history, it has served as the capital of various kingdoms and empires, captured and rebuilt time and time again. Every dynasty left its mark and as you start to explore, you’ll discover reminders and relics from this colossal game of pass the parcel.

As well as centuries worth of history to explore, Delhi is also one of the best places in India to shop, try the many different styles of food and experience the buzz of a city where its millions of inhabitants are going about their daily business. And if weaving your way in and out of the rickshaws and cyclists ever starts to get too much, turn the corner and you’ll find a tranquil garden or a quiet enclave in which to stop, gather your thoughts and recharge.

In complete contrast to the new city, the old city is a labyrinthine maze of lanes overhung by a tangled mass of electric wires. Within this chaos lies a semblance of order – each lane in this area is dedicated to a particular item, rather like a department store. There are lanes selling bangles, grocers, items used in weddings, silverware, clothes, spices and shoes. Sharing the same space are vendors with carts selling a variety of items, street side dentists, natural healers and cobblers. The old city has space for all professions. You will explore the old city in cycle rickshaws and will also walk along some of the more interesting alleys.

Explore New Delhi, an area within Delhi built as the seat of the British Indian government in the early twentieth century. Much of the design was by architect Edwins Lutyens, and thus it is referred to as Lutyens' Delhi, who invented his own order of classical architecture. There are grand buildings, such as Rashtrapati Bhavan (formerly known as Viceroy’s House), as well as the Lutyens Bungalow Zone, a green area of residential buildings that has the most expensive real estate in India and possibly the world. You’ll also see Humayun's Tomb, built in 1570 as the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent.

You'll visit the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, one of the most prominent Sikh houses of worship. Sikhs believe that everyone, regardless of their station in life, should do sevak, or service. This resulted in the langar, or community kitchen, where every member of the religion considers it an honour to come and put in a couple of hours cooking thousands of Indian breads and making huge vats of curry to feed local pilgrims and the under privileged. During your visit you'll have a go at making chapattis and lend some man power by stirring the huge pots of dal.

Located in the eastern part of Delhi, Humayun’s Tomb is one of the best preserved Mughal monuments. The tomb was built under the instruction of his widow, Hamida Banu Begum, who ordered the construction of a mausoleum for her deceased husband in 1565. The tomb is strongly influenced by Persian architecture and is sat in the center of a Persian-style chaharbagh garden, divided into four main parts to resemble the paradise garden described in the Quran. From the 17th to the 19th centuries the garden was gradually filled with the tombs of Humayun’s descendants and his entourage. Several Mughal emperors are even buried inside Humayun’s mausoleum.

It has graced the pages of books for centuries but nothing quite prepares you for seeing the Taj Mahal for the very fist time. The ultimate symbol of eternal love, this is one of India's most memorable and emotive sights. The Taj Mahal sits on the banks of the holy Yamuna River within 42 acres of beautiful gardens. The domed mausoleum sits 52m above the river bank, surrounded by minarets on all four sides. It is flanked by a mosque and a guest house, both made from red sandstone and mirror images of each other. There is no denying that the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is one of the main reasons people visit Agra. However, it’s well worth lingering to explore the city’s magnificent fort that lies just 3km to the west.

Just a few kilometres from the Taj Mahal sits the impressive Agra Fort, where the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan was imprisoned by his son. Here you will see the art and crafting of the white marble that has made the area so famous, the Pearl Mosque and the Halls of Public and Private Audience.

This walking tour provides a fascinating insight into traditional life in the rural village of Kachpura that overlooks the Taj Mahal from the opposite bank of the Yamuna River. The 1.5km walk is a part of a community development programme which seeks to build sustainable livelihoods for youth and women from low resource communities. Local people are trained as tour guides and will lead you on the walk. This area of Agra is home to a number of ancient Mughal monuments including the Gyarah Sidi and Humayun’s mosque, and you will have ample time to explore these sights as well as interact with the local people in the village. The walk ends at Mehtab Bagh from where there are stunning views of the Taj Mahal standing majestically across the river.

As the light changes, so too does the colour of the Taj Mahal. One of the best times to visit is in the early hours when it is bathed in the ethereal glow of the morning light.

Located in the southeastern corner of Rajasthan, Ranthambore National Park is perhaps the most famous place to spot wild tigers in India - and for good reason. You'll drive through the park in search of these beautiful and awe inspiring creatures with an expert guide who knows the park and its big cats like the back of their hand. As well as being a top tiger spotting destination, Ranthambore is a beautiful park to explore with the 10th-century fort towering over the surrounding plain, its crenellations now sun loungers for Hanuman langurs looking down onto the lakes below. The rest of the park’s jungle is littered with ancient temple ruins, often a favoured rest stop for wandering tigers.

Check in to your tent at Dera Amer, where a local family has rescued elephants from carrying tourists to and from Amber Fort. The beautiful and majestic Indian elephants are a joy to be around, and you will spend time bathing them and then painting them in the local Jaipuri style.

Enjoy a walk through the Aravalli Hills where you will visit meena tribal settlements, a ruined fort and hidden shrines. This walk takes you off the beaten track to sites seldom visited by tourists and you will have the opportunity to talk with the local people for an insight into their culture.

Amber, the ancient capital of the region, still recalls its heydays in the majestic ramparts rising steeply along the contoured hillsides. It is an extremely well preserved building and during your guided tour you'll visit the Jagmandir, or Hall of Victory, with its glittering mirrors, the Jai Mahal and Temple of Kali.

The capital of Rajasthan and its largest city, Jaipur is at once the state’s commercial hub and one of its most fascinating cultural destinations. The pace of life here is fast, but take your time and in this somewhat frantic city you'll find some of India’s most majestic palaces and atmospheric relics.

Sanganer is the centre of the famous block printing and dying industry, and owes its success to a rivulet whose water has a mineral content that fixes dyes. Here you will learn the skills and techniques used to create these beautiful prints and under the watchful eye of a master you will print onto your piece of chosen fabric, which will then be tailored into a garment to be delivered at a later date.

This is a unique way to explore day-to-day life inside the walls of the pink city. Experience the religious life of local communities by visiting lively old temples and witnessing a Hindu prayer ceremony. You'll have the opportunity to pop into the beautifully decorated havelis and interact with the residents.

This walk is also a great way to explore Jaipur’s architecture. As you wander through the old city, you'll see an amazing variety of historic landmarks and buildings.
Each one tells a fascinating story about the person who built it and the historic events associated with it.

Galta Ji is a large Hindu temple complex that lies 10km to the east of Jaipur. The site consists of a series of temples built in to a narrow crevice in the ring of hills that surround Jaipur. A natural spring flows down filling a series of sacred water tanks, known as kunds. The galta kund is believed to be the holiest of them all, and it is said it never dries out. Galta Ji is also famous for its monkeys who come to bathe in the waters and play on the temples. You'll then visit Gaitor which contains the stately marble mausoleums of Jaipur’s royal family.

Along with Amer Fort and Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh once formed a strong defense ring around the city. The fort was originally named Sudarshangarh, but it became known as Nahargarh, which means 'abode of tigers'. Nahargarh Fort stands on the edge of the Aravalli Hills and offers wonderful views across the city. It is at its best at sunset when the light falls over Jaipur.