Colourful India

India is a very sensual country – it’s a feast for the eyes with pink palaces, saris of every colour of the rainbow, fragrant spices in the markets, the sounds of street vendors, the mouthwatering tang of a hot curry infused with saffron and chilli.

RICHNESS AND COLOUR

The capital Delhi in the North is the gateway to India and is an intoxicating mix of old and ultramodern. But it’s also noisy and overcrowded and I personally prefer the capital of Rajasthan – Jaipur. Many of the buildings are pink in honour of a visiting Prince many hundreds of years ago. The palaces and public buildings blend Rajput and Mughal architecture – open, airy stone buildings and private apartments resplendent with thick carpets, miniature paintings, royal costumes and weaponry, such as the 18^th century “Palace of the Winds” or  Hawa Mahal. Royal princesses would watch processions without being seen, closeted behind chiselled stone windows. One of the highlights is the Amber Fort in the heart of Jaipur: you ascend by elephant up to the top of the hill, and if you’ve never ridden an elephant before, you’ll soon become used to its stately, rocking pace!

    Elephant ride to Amber Fort, Jaipur and Palace of the Winds, Jaipur

A WILDLIFE PARADISE

The Keoladeo Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, not far from Agra – famous of course for the stately and timeless Taj Mahal – is an amazing gem that is one of the hidden treasures of India. Off the beaten track, you may not consider going there, but it’s home to a proliferation of spectacular bird life. On my last visit a tiger was on the prowl, but we never saw it! You can tour the vast sanctuary by bicycle or rickshaw. In the South West, the Nilgiri Wildlife Reserve is rich in biodiversity and promotes the conservation of endangered species. If you’re lucky, you can see elephants, tigers, cheetahs, bison, spotted deer and wild bears.

    Birdwatcher’s heaven: Bharatpur Sanctuary and Cheetahs at Nilgiri Wildlife Reserve

TIMELESS TREASURES

Everyone’s heard of the Taj Mahal and of course this is a tourist highlight, but India boasts many other archeological and historical wonders. Varanasi on the west bank of the Ganges is India’s holiest Hindu city. The 90 or so Ghats – steep steps leading to the banks of the river – define the region’s identity and you can take a ferry pilgrimage along the river early in the morning to see the sun rise over the Ganges. India is a very mystical place, and you can feel the spirituality of its heritage. People bathe in the river, offer prayers and are also cremated there – Hindus believe that to be cremated on the banks of the Ganges is to obtain release from the endless cycle of reincarnation. Spectacular too are the Elephanta Cave Temples off Mumbai’s eastern shore. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the cave temples are chiselled into the rocky cliff and dedicated to the god, Shiva. In the South, the city of Kochi (Cochin) is highly cosmopolitan, a main trading centre for spices and seafood and has an extraordinary heritage of Dutch, Portughese, French and British colonialism. Surrounded by palm groves, green fields, inland lakes and backwaters, it has enchanted visitors from around the world for centuries.

    Cremation Ghat, Varanasi  and Elephanta Cave Temples

ENJOY THE SPICES!

India’s food is spicy, rich and meat and fish curries abound. But beware: the Indian palate is used to hot spices! On my last trip, a lady told me: “I don’t like spicy food!”, to which our wonderful Indian tour guide replied solemnly: “You have come on the wrong tour, madam!” We all burst out laughing. Warm chapatis and dhal make delicious snacks, washed down by a rose-scented lhassi milk drink. The food is delicious, but watch out for the notorious “Delhi belly” – make sure you carry supplies of medication, in case you get tummy trouble. I often go vegetarian when I’m in India – it’s easier to keep fit when you eat light food. Many people on my tours had relatives who were born or who lived in India during the days of the Raj and want to see the country for themselves. And then there are the former hippies who travelled to India in their 20s to meditate on an ashram, and who come back, 40 years later, to see if India still holds the same fascination. They all say it’s a trip of a lifetime!

Indian spice market  and tasty vegetarian food options

Odyssey’s Indian tours take in all these exciting travel options.

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Odyssey Travel are running a competition to win two places on their 2014 Colourful India Tour valued at $15,400.  Visit www.odysseytraveller.com/india and fill in the entry form to enter.