Culture Tours in India
Explore the rich culture of India
‘The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page’ – Saint Augustine.
The adage is best realized after one has visited India – a miniature world, a lesson in chronological survey of human history, a collection of all race types and a study in culture. It is a ‘museum of anthropology’, as a 19th century British scholar commented.
Stretching back in an unbroken sweep over 5000 years, India’s culture has been enriched by successive waves of migration, which were absorbed into the Indian way of life. It is this variety, which is a special hallmark of India. Its physical, religious and racial variety is as immense as its linguistic diversity. Underneath this diversity lies the continuity of Indian civilization and social structure from the very earliest times until the present day.
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In Indian towns and cities there is a constant struggle between the ancient, medieval and present, rich and poor, and traditional and modern. And not surprisingly, Indian cities are a cornucopia of images. As one walks through them, one is awed by the ancient structures strewn around, the vibrant markets, the variety of street food, the colorful people, the multi-cultural mix of mosques and temples and the sheer throbbing energy of the country.
We believe the best way to know a country and people is through close interaction with its popular culture. Our wide range of walking tours of various cities offers glimpse of India’s popular culture that is real, intense, interactive and fun. Our goal is to ensure that your tour is an experience and not merely a visit.
Sample Itinerary: Rajasthan Revisited
• Delhi, an electrifying place with a cacophony of noise, colour and smells
• Drive to Samode and explore this quaint village on foot, cycle, camel back or horse back
• Visit Jaipur where past comes alive in magnificent forts and palaces
• Drive to Karauli, a colourful small town where Indian religiosity can be witnessed at its purest
• Drive to Bhainsrorgarh, a stunning 17th century fort, and enjoy village safari
• Drive to Shahpura Bagh and be the guests of the erstwhile ruling family
• Drive to Narlai, a village caught in a time warp, and stay in a 17th century hunting lodge converted into a heritage hotel
• Drive to the historic city of Udaipur that boasts museums, palaces, gardens, monuments and colorful festivals that allure travellers
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Sample Itinerary: Glimpse of North India
• Explore the capital Delhi, an electrifying place with a cacophony of noise, colour and smells
• Fly to Varanasi, India’s religious heart since time immemorial, and witness most esoteric rituals of life and death along the sacred Ganges
• Drive to Lucknow, an erstwhile princely state eulogized down the ages by writers, poets and historians alike
• Take a train ride to Agra for the iconic Taj Mahal
• Drive to Jaipur where past comes alive in magnificent forts and palaces
• Drive to Chhatrasagar, a campsite on the embankment of a private reservoir
• Drive to Jodhpur, a bustling city on the edge of Thar Desert
• Drive to the historic city of Udaipur that boasts museums, palaces, gardens, monuments and colorful festivals that allure travellers
Sample Itinerary: Ladakh Hemis Festival
• Begin the tour in Delhi, the capital of India
• Fly to Leh, the capital of Ladakh, a land like no other, bounded by two of the world’s mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalaya and the Karakoram
• Explore Leh and visit Leh Palace, Leh Mosque, Shanti Stupa and Stok Palace and Museum
• Visit Thiksey Monastery for morning prayers and Hemis Festival that celebrates the birth of guru Padmsambhava
• Drive to Alchi and visit its monastery
• Visit the stunning Nubra Valley, see the sand dunes at Hunder and enjoy camel ride on double-humped Bactrian camels
• Visit the beautiful Pangong Lake located between India and China
Sample Itinerary: South India Panorama
• Begin with the east coast city of Chennai where ancient traditions and cultures co-exist with modern day industry and commerce
• Fly to Madurai, a temple town that seethes with activity from dawn to dust, its many shrines attracting pilgrims from every part of India
• Visit Chettinadu, the erstwhile town of prosperous Chettiars, where exist their abandoned grand mansions embellished with marble and teak
• Drive to Munnar hill resort with its sprawling tea plantations and picture-book scenery
• Drive to the beautiful Thekkady region and see how spices are cultivated in this part of the world
• Spend a night in a Houseboat and cruise along the backwaters of Kerala to explore the small, quaint villages, some of which are completely isolated
• Continue to the port town of Cochin where you can see a Jewish synagogue, Portuguese churches, Dutch architecture, a couple of mosques, Hindu temples and Chinese fishing nets all in one day
Sample Itinerary: Eastern Vistas
• Begin with Kolkata, a social and cultural capital and the gateway to any journey to east India
• Fly to Bhubaneshwar and explore it temples, continue to Puri, the hallowed seat of Lord Jagannath where the pervasive sense of devotion prevails
• Drive to Konark and visit one of the finest temples in India
• Fly to Bagdogra and drive to Gangtok in Sikkim and experience the Buddhist culture and the tranquillity of its monasteries
• Drive to Darjeeling and be surrounded by mountain people and enchanted by the views over the mountains to the snowy peaks of Kanchenjunga
• End the tour at the sprawling Glenburn Tea Estate overlooked by the mighty Kanchenjunga mountain range