Udaipur – Venice of the East, 007 and Saris

India is a vibrant country steeped in tradition, culture and contrasts.  She boasts mountain ranges, sweeping plateaus (deccans) and deserts, and modern sky-scrapers developed next to slums and temples. Udaipur nestles in the south western...

Day 14 – 19 April 2011 – Sleep Deprived

  Updated October 2021 Arrived just after 06:30 this morning from the overnight train from Jaipur and felt a tad groggy.  This perhaps had something to do with trying to sleep on a noisy train in...
Taj Mahal the travel dude

Day 7 – 12 April 2011 – Birthday Cake and Taj Mahal

Updated October 2021 Wow, wow and triple wow.  That sums up today. It was Rhys’ 17th Birthday today and we would be hard pressed to top this.  I can’t remember what I did for my 17th! We...

Day 12- 17 April 2011 – Match Day

Updated October 2021 Manish, our host from Friday’s meeting, had agreed to take us sightseeing today but our plans were significantly disrupted due to the death of Jaipur’s last maharaja, Bhawani Singh, who was 80. The...

An Unforgettable Afternoon with Sampa at Elefantastic

I’ll confess that I am neither overly fond of domestic pets or an animal activist. But that doesn’t mean that I’ll support animal cruelty or suffering. Quite the opposite. I’ll further admit that I went...

The Crown of Palaces – The Taj Mahal

Famous globally for its breathtaking beauty and mirror-like symmetry, the Taj Mahal is India’s most famous landmark. Located in Agra, it reportedly attracts more than 6 million visitors each year. The Crown of Palaces The Taj...
Postcard featuring attractions from an 8-day West Rajasthan cultural tour, highlighting forts, palaces, deserts, and vibrant cityscapes

West Rajasthan Cultural Tour: 8-Day Guide

Rajasthan, where history whispers through every stone, is a land of ancient palaces, golden dunes, and sacred temples. A West Rajasthan cultural tour unveils the timeless charm of this desert kingdom, inviting you to...
Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat

Day 1 – 6 April 2011 – Slumdog Millionaire, Rickshaws and Spicy Paneers

  Updated October 2021 After all of the planning and hype and nearly 24 hours flying, Rhys and I were finally in the city that Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire propelled to world fame.  But in the...

Rajasthan – The Enchanting Land of Kings

The Land of Kings Rajasthan, is surely the most colourful and unique state in Northern India, if not all of India. Its capital, Jaipur, the “Pink City”, derives its name from the reddish-pink stones...
The Red Fort or Lal Qila

Day 4 – 9 April 2011 – Sarongs, Sandstone and Cycle Rides

Updated October 2021 After a healthy breakfast of fruit and juices (honestly!) our driver collected us just after 8am to start a full day of sightseeing in Old Delhi.  First stop was the very impressive...