A Luxury Grand Tour of India

With the Western Ghats towering to the east and the Arabian Sea flowing out from the west, Kerala is one of India’s most verdant and beautiful states. Crisscrossing this green lung are the backwaters that snake their way through towns and villages. Teeming with aquatic life and providing an invaluable resource to all who sit on their banks, these waterways have helped create an impossibly lush pocket of India, where palm-fringed beaches and tranquil waterways have earned it the moniker, God’s Own Country.

Nestled on the north west tip of Cochin’s peninsula, Fort Cochin is a quaint coastal region with strong links to its colonial history. Having been under the rule of the Portuguese, Dutch and British, the town has a distinctly European feel, its narrow streets lined with cottages and bungalows.

During your time in the city you will explore Cochin’s Heritage Zone where colonial relics are scattered; the remains of Fort Immanuel and St. Francis church, both built by the Portuguese. You will also visit the Dutch Palace, Dutch cemetery, the synagogue in Mattancherry and the narrow streets lined with Dutch and British buildings, past antique shops and spice bazaars, before ending at the Chinese fishing nets to watch the sun set.

The capital of Maharashtra and India’s economic powerhouse, Mumbai, is a huge metropolis that’s home to over 22 million people. A melting pot of cultures, the affectionately named City of Dreams envelops all who come in a cloud of colour and sound, its energy undeniably contagious. Mumbaikars have a real love for life, which they live at quite a pace, and the best way to enjoy this city is to simply join them.

We can arrange for you to explore the city with at sunrise with resident guide, to fully understand its distinctive personality. Start at the grand Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus as the newspapers are sorted for delivery, milk vendors cycle past with huge canisters of milk and freshly baked bread is transported to shops. You’ll arrive at Sassoon Docks in time to see the Kohli fishermen pull in with the morning catch before making your way to the colourful flower market and Crawford fruit and vegetable market, where it is estimated 3000 tonnes of produce is traded every day.

An ancient settlement on the banks of the Ganges, Varanasi is India’s spiritual capital and important among numerous faiths. Varanasi’s 84 ghats – stone embankments that step down into the river- are its most significant landmarks. Most are crowded with pilgrims performing ritual ablutions in the waters while a few are used solely for cremation. Sublime and sometimes shocking to visitors, the whole experience is utterly unforgettable.

The rest of the city is home to some 23,000 temples, the sandstone Ramnagar Fort and numerous centres of education, philosophy, music and art. Small-scale industries and household production employ most of Varanasi’s residents and its winding alleyways are one of the best places to find fine silks, carpets and crafts.

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.

It has graced the pages of books for centuries but nothing quite prepares you for seeing the Taj Mahal for the very first 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 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. Rise early, meet your guide and visit during cool, calm hours of sunrise when the monument is bathed in the ethereal glow of the morning light.

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 to the west.

The capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is the state’s commercial hub and one of its most fascinating cultural destinations. The pace of life here is fast, but take your time you’ll find some of India’s most majestic palaces, atmospheric relics and learn the secrets of silk and cotton block printing at the Anokhi Museum, tucked away in a beautiful building on a quaint cobbled street.

During your time in the city, with your expert guide, visit the main sites including the sprawling City Palace with exclusive access to private quarters. The palace is pink, in keeping with the rest of the old city with an impressive facade and interiors in Rajput and Mughal styles of architecture. There’s also several museums, including a textile gallery. The well preserved Amber Fort is another site that simply cannot be missed. The ancient capital of the region has majestic ramparts rising steeply from the hillside. 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 scenic city of Udaipur sits surrounded on all sides by the wooded Aravalli Hills, its grand palaces reflected in serene lakes. Enjoy wandering the old city with your guide, winding your way through lanes that teem with cows, elephants and people. You’ll pass ancient bazaars , and witness a vibrant arts scene, finding intricate Mughal inspired miniature paintings, marble, silver craft and folk art hung on the walls of houses and pretty latticed haveli windows. It may seem busy, but tranquillity is never far away, be it boating on one of the lakes or a panoramic view from the hilltop Monsoon Temple.

During your stay tour the architectural wonder of Rajasthan; Udaipur’s City Palace on the banks of Lake Pichola. Several architectural styles including Moghal and Rajput are testament to the skill of its creators. A collection of towers, domes and arches face east to honour the royal family or ‘surya vansh’, descendents of the sun, along with the stunning bejewelled image of the sun at the entrance.