India – North

No trip to India can be deemed complete without a visit to the Taj Mahal. If you have only a day to spare, then this ‘wonder of the world’ is a must. The ideal thing to do is to club this ultimate symbol of love with an immersive experience of Delhi’s busy bazaars and Rajasthan’s awe-inspiring landmarks and luxurious hotels. Delhi, Agra and Jaipur apart, Jaisalmer and Udaipur will add to the lavish spread of opulent history and rustic culture.

Music is to Gwalior what love is to Agra. Tansen, the greatest musician, is supposed to have summoned rain at will, thanks to his powerful composition. The beautiful fort at Gwalior with its blue coloured tiles is worth a visit on the way to Orccha in the Bundelkhand region that houses cenotaphs (chhatris) on the banks of the Betwa river. ‘City of Palaces’ as it is known, must-visits include the Jehangir Mahal (apparently built to show off the xxxxx kingdom’s power and ward off a conquest challenge by the visiting king xxxxxx. Khajuraho is the temple town famed for the Kandariya Mahadev Temple and its world renowned carvings of erotic sculptures.

If you feel heavy after visiting the legacy heritage cities, Madhya Pradesh’s exciting five wildlife reserves, each with its own collection of rich biodiversity beckons an immersion in the tropical dry deciduous forests. While Bandhavgarh leads in tiger sightings, Rupyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book’ was inspired by and set in the Pench National Park.

One of the world’s top 50 destinations of a lifetime” – remarked the National Geographic Traveller magazine in 2000. Kerala has never looked back since. Bathed in pleasing green shades, thanks to the profusion of coconut trees and paddy cultivation, Kerala is where culture and nature blends seamlessly. A houseboat cruise is not just about the serene backwaters; it’s also a vivid experience of rural lifestyles, occupation and food. Festivals are not just about religious traditions, it’s also a cornucopia of colours, flavours and the rhythmic movement of oarsmen on snakeboats. Here wellbeing is not only under the hands of trained ayurveda practitioners, it’s also finding yourself in solitude among tea plantations or at a sacred grove.

One of India’s most iconic jungle tracts – the terai region – shot into prominence thanks to Billy Arjan Singh’s efforts in introducing tigers and leopards into its forests. One of the finest in India, these forests represent a diverse and productive ecosystem. This range located close to the border of Nepal is home to tigers, elephants, leopards and more than 500 species of birds. The biggest conservation success story here is the introduction of the one-horned rhinoceros.

Perhaps some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth are in Ladakh. With less than 3cm rainfall in a year, Ladakh with the highest located airstrip in the world at more than 3,200m, is a paradise for those seeking rich cultural and nature immersion, and wild adventure. The drive/ride to Khardung-La – the world’s highest motorable road – and to Kargil offer some of the most dramatic views of cold-desert mountains. A typical trip from Delhi covering Leh, Kargil and Srinagar must allow for at least 10 days.