Written by Kathy Churchill

Rajasthan, a land of tigers,

temples and painted cities

India is a vast country offeringvisitors an amazing array ofsights. Opulent palaces,Mughal architecture, whitesandy beaches, vibrant citiesand tranquil backwaters awaitdiscovery. To explore it allwould take months and indeedfor many Gap year studentswith the luxury of time it is apopular first stop on the welltrodden route via Asia to

Australia. However for those ofyou wanting to experienceIndia for the first time I wouldrecommend a trip to Rajasthan,a land unequalled for itsheritage and culture.

First stop Delhi, a busy andexciting city. Here you can visitthe beautiful Lotus Temple,explore the Red Fort in the oldtown or take a rickshaw to

Silver Street and try out yourbartering skills in the busymarkets. Then onto Agra andawaiting you here are some ofthe most stunning architecturalwonders of the Mughal period.Lose yourself at Sikandra, thelast resting place of the MughalEmperor, Akbar the Great. Visitthe ancient capital FatehpurSikri, where local children keepvisitors amused by jumping offthe dangerously high walls intoshallow muddy pools belowand leave enough time toexplore the magnificent AgraFort.

This imposing red sandstonefort was rebuilt by Akbar in1573 and its towers, rampartsand bastions symbolise the

confidence and power of this3rd Mughal emperor. Enteringthe monumental Delhi Gate,two life-sized stone elephantsguard the wooden drawbridgethat leads you across to aninner paradise of mirroredpalaces, white marblemosques, walled gardens andpeacock thrones. HoweverAgra is most famous for theinspirational and utterlybeautiful Taj Mahal. This purewhite marble mausoleum isone of the eight wonders ofthe world and, although youwill have seen it a hundredtimes before, nothing cancompare to being there as thesun slowly rises over itsglittering domes and minarets.It was built by Shah Jahan in

Travel

India is a spectacular sensual feast. The

bright colours, heady scents and cacophony

of sounds surround you as soon as you step

off the plane and stay with you long after

you have returned.

Shiva Hindu God Tiger

memory of his third wife andqueen, Mumtaz Mahal. He wasdeeply in love with her andwhen she died he dedicatedthe next twenty years tocreating this symbol of hiseternal love. It is a special,slightly sad place and, even asthe crowds start to gather, youcan sense just a hint of hisloneliness and the intensity ofhis grief.

Leaving the metropolis behind,head for Ranthambore NationalPark, a former hunting groundof the Maharajas of Jaipur. Thisis the land of the Bengal Tiger,made famous by RudyardKipling and the reserve offersone of the best chances ofspotting these magnificentcats. A few years have passedsince I was last there but thehairs on the back of my neckstill stand up when I rememberthe way a full grown femaletiger strolled nonchalantly pastthe back our vehicle. She camewithin 5 metres of us and youcould look right into the depthsof her amber eyes. At thatmoment, crouched awkwardlyin the back of an open pick-uptruck, I felt rather helpless andit was only when she hadsilently passed that I drewbreath again. There is anabundance of wildlife here andyou need to look out for slothbears, wild boar, porcupines,leopard, Sambhar deer and,hanging from the trees, thecolourful tail feathers ofpeacocks gone to roost. Justoutside the park there are

some lovely tented camps andcolonial lodges, where overafternoon tea and cucumbersquares you find yourselfdrifting back to the time of theRaj.

The colourful and lively cities ofJaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipurare also a must. Jaipur, knownas the Pink City is a mix ofmodern living and traditionalvalues. Expensive cars expertlydodge the sacred cows thatwander the highways andcrowded buses rub shoulderswith painted elephants en-route to the Amber Palace, set

high above the city. You mustvisit the extraordinaryobservatory, Jantar Mantar,which consists of fourteenenormous geometric devicesused for measuring time,predicting eclipses and trackingstars and then take a momentto stand beneath the Palace ofthe Winds. It’s highly decorativefacade screened the royal

ladies, who were forbiddenfrom being seen by men,allowing them to secretlywatch the festivals andprocessions unfolding below.

Udaipur, the City of Lakes, isrenowned for its palaces, themost famous being the LakePalace. It’s white marblesilhouette is perfectly reflectedin the waters of Lake Picholaand a sunset boat trip followedby dinner is a real highlight.Jodphur, the Blue City, has acharm and a grace all of itsown and is one of myfavourites. Within the walls ofthe old city the pace of lifeseems to slow a little. Sat at acafe, sipping the eyewateringly bitter coffee, thestreets are a sea of colour;men crowned by colourfulturbans, hennaed ladiesadorned in bright costumesand bedecked in jewels,copper pots brimming withspices and bazaars selling theircarpets, leatherwear and inlaidmarble. A great last stop tostock up on gifts and forbuying the wonderful textilesand richly embroidered clothsavailable.

Travelling by car with a guide isthe best way to see India andbombing about the countrysidein an old Ambassador can bean adventure in itself. Or for areal treat climb aboard theMaharajas’ Express, a luxurioustrain that launched last year.Just the name, the Maharajas’Express, summons up romantic

images of times gone by, theswish of satin gowns, crushedvelvet smoking jackets and thecrackle of a freshly pouredG&T.

Exploring the delights andspectacles of this fascinatingcountry and learning thesecrets of its timeless traditionsmakes for a wonderfullyrewarding holiday and one Ihighly recommend.

The best time to visit Rajasthanis between October and Apriland if you are interested inlearning more about this exoticlocation or would like helpcreating your own tailor-madeitinerary please contact:

Holmes Travel42g Barrack SquareMartlesham HeathSuffolk IP5 3RFT: 01473 610 666E: martin@holmestravel.co.ukwww.holmestravel.co.uk

Lake Palace Udaipur

City Palace Maharajas’ Express

Local colour