Our special places
We design holidays tailored to your priorities. Please contact us to discuss any destination.
Rural Gems of India
Begin your journey with a night in Delhi at the fabulous Imperial Hotel. From here take the Shatabdi train to Gwalior where you will spend 2 nights at the Usha Kiran Palace. The ancient city of Gwalior is dominated by the magnificent fort, which rises 100 metres above the town, and is 3km long. Enjoy a guided visit to the fort, which houses many temples and palaces, and you can also see many impressive Jain sculptures that are hewn into the cliff face leading to the fort.
A short drive takes you to the pretty village of Orchha which is located on the Betwa River. Orchha is a peaceful and relatively undiscovered village and all the sites are easily reached on foot, including the cenotaphs on the Betwa River, which are also the nesting place of a healthy population of vultures and located right next door to your hotel – the Amar Mahal Palace. Two nights here will give you enough time to relax and see the sights at your own pace.
Another ride on the Shatabdi will take you to Bhopal where you will be met and transferred to Sanchi - a small village located 68kms from Bhopal and the location of some excellently preserved and stunningly carved Buddhist stupas. Enjoy a couple of nights at Jehan Numa Palace which will also give you chance to explore Bhopal before your journey to Satpura National Park.
Virtually free of any tourists Satpura National Park was designated a nature resrve in 1999. The park is home to tigers, leopard, sloth bear, gaur, wolf, hyena, jungle cats and a rich and varied bird population. Uniquely visitors can explore the park by foot and, accompanied by excellent guides, guests can track tigers through prime habitat and experience wildlife and the jungle in a way you cannot by jeep. Stay 3 nights at Forsyth's which will include early morning and afternoon game drives, which can take place by foot, elephant, boat or traditional gypsy jeep.
From Satpura it is then a long journey by road to the town of Mahweshwar but this is well worth it once you arrive and check in to the magical Ahilya Fort. Just because you are off the beaten track doesn’t mean roughing it. Staying at Ahliya Fort is an extraordinary experience and one which is straight out of the 18th century. The majestic 250 year old fort sits on the edge of a cliff, high above the sacred Narmada River and the views over the river and down to the ghats are exceptional at any time of the day. Ahilya Fort offers guests the rare chance to get off the tourist trail whilst, at the same time, offering an abundance of things to see and do. With the fabulous deserted city of Mandu nearby, and the famed temple of Omkareshwar even closer, this is a place to spend time relaxing and exploring an area undisturbed by other tourists.
Journey by train from Madhya Pradesh into Rajasthan and spend some time in Bundi, a delightful town which has managed to maintain a very medieval feel, with narrow cobbled streets, pretty blue-painted Bhramin houses, friendly bazaars and temples galore. Bundi Palace dating back to the 17th century looms over the town and features some fine murals, many incredibly well preserved. The Taragarh Fort dates back to the 14th Century and is well worth a visit, and often you'll find yourself alone bar the mischievous monkeys who scurry up and around the walls. Don't miss out on visiting the magnificent step well in the centre of the town, and the ancient cenotaphs, which rival any elsewhere in Rajasthan. 3 nights at Bundi Vilas will give you time to see the sights, visit the markets and relax on the roof terrace with its amazing view of the blue rooftops of Bundi and the stunning fort.
From Bundi you can access Southern Rajasthan which, with the exception of Udaipur, is off the main tourist trail. From Bundi you could head west for a stay at Shahpura Bagh, one of our favourite properties, or south to Bhainsrorgarh Fort which overlooks the scenic Chambal River – rich with birdlife and host to the mugger crocodile and the endangered Gharial.
Whichever route you decide to take we would then suggest you end your trip with a 3 night stay at Udai Bilas Palace, in the town of Dungarpur. Located on a vast lake and dominated by the deserted old palace, the Juna Mahal. The area is a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle in other parts of Rajasthan. The lake is home to many species of domestic and migratory birds which nest here in the winter months making it a great destination for birders as well as those looking for a taste of rural India.
Do Something Different: For those with more time then why not start or end this trip with a visit to Gujarat. India's most westerly state is blessed with a wild and deserted coastline, countless palaces and holy Jain temples which attract white-robed pilgrims in their thousands. The desolate wilderness of the Kutch region, home to the wild ass, has a rich tradition of tribal arts and crafts and the finest hand-made embroidered textiles are produced here. The last remaining Asiatic Lions roam free at Sasan Gir National Park. The most remarkable thing is how few tourists visit this spectacular region.
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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