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Magical Mahweshwar and Colonial Goa
Like many an Indian odyssey your trip begins in Delhi from where, after a day or two to see the capitals sights, you travel by 1st class train to the city of Bhopal. Stay at the atmospheric Jehan Numa Palace and enjoy a guided visit to Sanchi, the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in existence. Dating back to the 3rd century BC the stupas, pillars, monastaries and temples are perfectly preserved and are a must see when in the region.
Continue south by train to the city of Indore where you will be met and transferred to the enchanting village of Mahweshar – home to Ahilya Fort. One of our favourite hotels in India and a truly magical place to spend a few days.
Maheshwar is located on the sacred Narmada River, a mighty river which is the focal point of the town and all those who come to worship on its banks and many river-front temples. Each morning you will awoken to the sound of women beating their washing clean, men indulging in their daily washing rituals and the squeals of children enjoying a swim in the river off the numerous ghats which lead down to the water. The Fort dominates the waterfront, and has an impressive temple as well as the palace which has been converted into a glorious boutique heritage property. The town is also famed for its weavers, and the Rewa Society is an excellent co-operative located next door to the fort, where you can buy beautifully weaved silks and cottons. You are also ideally located to visit the sites of Mandu and Omkareshwar.
From here, if you can cope with a long drive (approx 7 hours), you can include the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Ellora and Ajanta Caves on your itinerary. Dating as far back as the 2nd Century BC, the cave complexes consist of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples and monasteries all hewn from out of the mountainside. The caves demonstrate the religious tolerance that existed in ancient Indian society. The highlight of the caves at Ellora is the Kailasa Temple, which claims to be the largest monolithic structure in the world. Dedicated to Shiva, the entire vertical surface of the temple is carved with figures recounting the great Hindu epics of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
The logical base for excursions to the caves is the city of Aurangabad where we would suggest 3 nights at Taj Residency before flying on to Goa.
Although some of the beach resorts of Goa have experienced the downfall of runaway development it is still possible to find plenty of attractive, uncrowded beaches in this former Portugese colony. Because of its European history Goa has a very different feel to it than the rest of India, and the paddy fields and coconut groves co-exist with crumbling colonial fortresses and whitewashed Portuguese churches. Fresh fish caught daily go into making delicious Goan curries. Add a cold beer and that perfect sunset and you have the makings of a very relaxing way to end your holiday.
There are a number of properties we can suggest such as Siolim House in North Goa or, if you are looking for a resort style property you might like Vivanta by Taj. However for a real colonial experience try Vivenda dos Palhacos which is a one hundred year old, carefully renovated house, in Majorda South Goa.
Spend four nights here, relaxing in a hammock on the beach or hire a bike and cycle to nearby villages, before flying home via Mumbai.
To get a quote for this trip or to discuss any of our other Central India journeys please call 0207 359 3938 or email Matt and we can put together a tailormade trip of a lifetime.
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