A Jungle Journey
Ranthambore, Agra, Khajuraho, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench
The subcontinent is really a country made up of many ‘countries’, which is what makes India so fascinating and why so many people return year on year.
There is no other land which can boast such verdant, tropical jungle and glorious stretches of golden beaches; barren deserts and huge, arid plateaus; rolling foothills and one of the most mighty mountain ranges in the world; wildlife sanctuaries and innumerable ancient monuments. Above all, few nations are home to such an incredible wealth of history and culture.
Each region is unique, and each holds its own wonders, secrets and beauty.
In the North, you have the eternally enchanting and historic state of Rajasthan, whose palaces, forts and temples open your mind to India’s rich past. Marvel at the remote Himalayan landscapes of the far North, where Buddhist monasteries, swathed in prayer flags, are perched precariously on mountain tops.
Travel to the East to discover echoes of the British Raj in colonial Kolkata and experience India’s holiest Hindu city: Varanasi. Enjoy the easy pace of the cool hill country in Darjeeling on gentle treks around the mist-swirled tea plantations.
In the central region, discover the vibrant port of Mumbai, the ‘gateway to India’, where your senses will be overloaded at the spice bazaars, fragrant with jasmine and cardamom. Take stock on tropical beaches in exotic Goa and feast on the finest seafood curries.
The scenic South offers exploration in India’s fertile lands. Kerala is a lush paradise backed by coconut plantations and wild, natural beaches, bright green paddy fields and peaceful backwaters teeming with birdlife. Whichever direction you head in India, you will be astonished by the rich variety that this magical country offers.
Bordered by the Thar desert and tempered by the cooling Arabian sea breezes, West India is less visited but intriguing part of India. Rich in natural resources, ancient caves, towering temples, arid salt marshes and the commercial beating heart – Mumbai. Venture beyond the bright lights, big city of Mumbai to Gujarat, birth place of Gandhi and the last natural habitat for the endangered Asiatic Lion.
Enchanting Rajasthan represents India at its most regal, vibrant and colourful. Explore the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, brimming with historical splendour or simply head off the beaten track to the many hidden gems, miniature forts and desert camps of the rural countryside. Discover the pink sandstone city of Jaipur, savour the shimmering lake palaces of Udaipur and be awestruck by the formidable ramparts of Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort.
Ranthambore, Agra, Khajuraho, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench
Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Mihir Garh, Jawai, Udaipur
Delhi, Udaipur, Ranakpur, Jaipur, Agra,
Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Shimla,
Delhi, Varanasi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Agra, Jaipur
Mumbai, Udaipur, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Agra, Delhi
Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Mumbai
Choose from one of the five fascinating journeys. The itineraries range from 4 Days /3 Nights - 8 Days / 7 Nights
The East of India is an area of improbable diversity, one of the last frontiers that has much to reward the intrepid traveller, reaching from the Himalayas heights down to the Bay of Bengal, via the wild mangroves and swamps of the Sundarbans. The revered Ganges River snakes its way through the flat basin of Bihar, including the remarkable holy city of Bodhgaya, the sacred Buddhist place where Buddha gained enlightenment. There are many wonderful aspects to discovery with luxury holidays to East India.
At the very north-eastern tip, you will find the Seven Sister states home to the water-coloured, tea plantations of Assam, the ancient tribes of Nagaland and the magnolia clad mountain meadows of Sikkim peppered with monasteries wrapped in fluttering prayer flags, overlooked by the great Himalayas. Nearby Darjeeling is set high up in cool, misty tea plantations where gentle walks and journeys on the celebrated Toy Train are a must. Drink in the tea scented countryside as the ‘toy train’, gently loops through the terraced tea plantations to the Victorian resort of Darjeeling. Step back in time at the impossibly charming Glenburn Tea Estate, boasting bedroom views of the spellbinding Kanchenjunga, a truly luxury holiday to East India.
Kolkata, Kalimpong, Gangtok, Pelling, Glenburn,
Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong, Balipara, Kaziranga
Delhi, Varanasi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Agra, Jaipur
Delhi, Agra, Orchha, Khajuraho, Varanasi, Kathmandu, Chitwan National Park, Pokhara
Delhi, Bhubaneshwar, Puri, Dhenkanal, Baripada, Kolkata, Murshidabad
14 Days / 13 Nights
Puducherry, Mahabalipuram, Chennai, Havelock Island, Kolkata
Paro, Punakha, Phodrang, Thimphu, Phuntsholing, Darjeeling
Landlocked central India is a less-visited region, challenging yet rewarding to explore. Much of remote and uninhabited Madhya Pradesh is covered in dense forest where tigers reside in the verdant National Parks, whose grasslands, savannahs and forests inspired Kipling’s ‘Jungle Book’. This is the very heart of India.
This region holds the largest wild population of the mighty Bengal Tiger and there are many wildlife parks to discover such as Bandhavgarh National Park, Kanha National Park, Satpura National Park, Panna and Pench National Park. For a luxury holiday to Madhya Pradesh, you can choose from a wealth of wilderness dwellings from the Taj luxury tented camps, to the boutique lodges such as Samode Safari, Jamtara and Sarai by Toria.
Central India is also home to the state of Chhattisgarh, a remote forested state known for its waterfalls and temples. The capital Raipur is home to the pretty Kawardha Palace, offering an authentic chance to go off the beaten track and discover rural and tribal central India.
Ranthambore, Agra, Khajuraho, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench
Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Mumbai
Delhi, Agra, Gwalior, Khajuraho, Orchha, Bhopal, Indore, Maheshwar
Tadoba, Pench, Satpura, Bhopal, Maheshwar
The Tropical south offers a laid-back gentle introduction to India. The fertile state of Kerala is surrounded by a profusion of natural landscapes; coconut palm-backed beaches, cool tea plantations, bright green paddy fields and lush waterways teeming with exotic bird life. Here there is a gentler pace of life: spend your days drifting through the latticed canals on a private houseboat, relaxing on the Malabar Coast, or soaking up the architectural styles of Fort Cochin. Well known for its Ayurvedic spas, yoga retreats and Malabar fish curry a luxury holiday to South India is the place to unwind.
North of Kerala is the dry plateau of Mysore, in the state of Karnataka, where scents of sandalwood and jasmine swirl round the lavish Hindu Maharaja’s Palace. Karnataka is home to amazing ancient cultural sites, rain forested hills and untouched beaches. Since the infrastructure of this fascinating state may be a little tricky, why not hop aboard the Golden Chariot train, for a luxury holiday to South India, which effortlessly weaves it way throughout the land stopping at all the major sites along the way, from garden city of Bangalore to the champagne sands of colonial Goa and of course the highlight, the primordial city of Hampi with its colossal ruins that are scattered throughout the boulder strewn landscape, the last remnants of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Hyderabad, Gulbarga, Bijapur, Badami, Hampi, Goa, Mumbai
Bengaluru, Mysuru, Chikmagalur, Hampi, Hyderabad, Aurangabad, Mumbai Mumbai,
Kochi, Munnar, Periyar, Kumarakom, Alleppey, Mararikulam
Bengaluru, Mysuru, Nagarhole, Madurai, Chettinad, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Puducherry, Mahabalipuram, Chennai
Bengaluru, Mysuru, Coorg, Neeleshwar, Hyderabad
Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Chettinad, Madurai, Dindigul,
Puducherry, Mahabalipuram, Chennai, Havelock Island, Kolkata
8 Days / 7 Nights
Bounded by the scorching Thar Desert and cooled by the Arabian Sea, west India is rich in natural resource, golden beaches, mist shrouded jungles, desolate salt plains and the bright lights big city commercial capital of Mumbai. This is the birth place of Gandhi, and many a dream.
Goa in particular is famed for its kilometres of palm-fringed golden coastline. A former Portuguese colony where ruined forts, baroque churches, vibrant night markets and fabulous seafood are the draw to this, the most popular seaside resort in the country. For luxury holidays to Goa, choose between the larger beach resorts of the south, nestled amongst sleepy fishing villages, or head north to the colonial mansions turned boutique hotels.
Metropolitan Mumbai lures visitors with its cosmopolitan nightlife and vivid bazaars whilst juxtaposing its rich multi-faceted heritage. Highlights include the colonial architecture of the ‘Gateway of India’ and the ancient art carvings on Elephanta Island. This immense, maximum city is one of the most dense urban jungles in the world. Here mighty high rises give way to Gothic mansions and the Victorian, Indo-Saracenic architecture of the past. For luxury holidays to Mumbai you can stay at the elegant Oberoi Mumbai, or the grand dame Taj Mahal Palace and Towers.
Hyderabad, Gulbarga, Bijapur, Badami, Hampi, Goa, Mumbai
Ahmedabad, Dasada, Bhuj, Gondal, Sasan Gir, Bhavanagar
Mumbai, Udaipur, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Agra, Delhi
Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Mumbai
8 Days / 7 Nights
8 Days / 7 Nights
Tadoba, Pench, Satpura, Bhopal, Maheshwar
Greaves are quite honestly the bee’s knees of travel to India. I have found their expert knowledge and insight invaluable when planning a trip and throughout my visits have appreciated their discreet care and efficiency. From the foothills of the Himalayas to the deserts of Rajasthan, Greaves have shown me the best of India in the best possible way.
Diana Preston, Author and Freelance Journalist to The Sunday Telegraph