Ganges, Tigers & Palaces

When you arrive in Delhi you’ll be met by your private Yonder driver who will accommodate your every whim. Check in at The Imperial, Delhi’s great colonial era hotel, and relax after your long haul flight. Once you’ve recuperated, you’ll venture forth with your guide into Old Delhi by rickshaw to discover the sights, sounds and smells of the mesmerising maze of alleyways. You’ll then swap from peddle power to your air conditioned car to experience Delhi’s other major attractions including Humayun’s tomb, Raj Ghat (or Gandhi’s eternal flame) and India Gate along with the presidential and secretariat buildings.

We continue our journey with a short flight from Delhi to Varanasi. Beginning at the cosmic centre of the city, Kashi, the city of light, get familiar with rite and ritual by exploring ancient pathways to the temples and mosques of Hindus & Muslims as well as observe the age old cremation rituals of Manikarnika, the burning ghat. The highlight is Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Mandir which is said to hold the first of the jyotirlingas, the sacred shafts of light, which self-emanated from the earth, but how many know that this temple has been rebuilt not just once but four times in three different locations, two of which have mosques perched on top! Every evening, an illuminated aarti is performed at Dasahwamedh Ghat. The boat will be halted right at the steps for the best view. The presiding priests stand on a wooden Chauki in the water. To the chant of Sanskrit mantras and the clash of cymbals and drums, the river is worshipped with flowers, incense, sandalwood, milk and vermilion. First the blazing camphor lamp and then the many flamed aarti lamps are raised high and then arched back to the water, the dark river reflecting the golden flames as Ganges accepts the worship. It is the Ganges that gives Varanasi its spiritual resonance.

Today you will fly from Varanasi to Delhi before making the transfer to Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station to board train Vande Bharat Express to Agra. On arrival in Agra, you’ll be met by your private driver and whisked to the Oberoi Amarvilas with its direct view towards the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal, the world-famous ivory-white mausoleum, a sublime symbol of love, is even more ethereal in the twilight. The warm rays of the setting sun cast an almost mystical glow on the marble structure, its reflection shimmering in the tranquil waters of the Yamuna river. Walk through the beautiful gardens, adorned with neatly trimmed trees and flowerbeds, and feel the soothing coolness of the marble under your feet as you approach the monument. The intricate carvings, the delicate filigree work, the glittering inlay stones – each detail telling a story of passion and craftsmanship. As the sun sinks further, the sky turns into a canvas of pastel shades, a fitting backdrop to this incredible spectacle. The tranquillity of the moment, coupled with the monument’s architectural brilliance, is a profoundly moving experience.

We bid adieu to Agra and board our train to Ranthambore. The urban landscape transforms into pastoral scenes, dotted with villages, where life moves at a different pace. As the journey unfolds, the anticipation of entering the land of the majestic Bengal tiger builds. Upon arrival you’ll be met by your private driver and whisked to the comfort of Sher Bagh, a spellbinding tented camp on the edge of the national park. Over the next couple of days, you’ll venture out into the beautiful national park on four game drives. Hearts will be racing at the prospect of an encounter with ferocious felines as well as many other majestic creatures that call Ranthambore home.

The next stop on your Rajasthan holiday is the fabled pink city of Jaipur. The capital of Rajasthan is famed for sites such as the City Palace, Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar. You’ll pull up at the Rajmahal Palace, the new uber cool boutique hotel in the heart of the city. The spectacular Amber Fort, a short drive outside Jaipur, will be one of the first things you visit as your guide and driver make themselves at your disposal. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the streets and shops which hum with traditional artisans crafting products from metal, wood and textiles

A short hop and you’ll arrive into the sanctity of Jodhpur, for us, the cleanest and most orderly city in Rajasthan. The Maharaja has exacting standards which have helped ensure this small (by Indian metrics!) city is perfectly maintained. Our favourite place to stay is RAAS Jodhpur, a super elegant boutique pad, tucked away down a narrow street in the centre of the old town. With exceptional uninterrupted views up towards Mehrangarh Fort, it is perfectly located to allow guests to go out and explore on foot. On the doorstep you’ll find an ancient stepwell, deeper than you could imagine with its cascading staircases, a compact set of streets each with sections dedicated to specific crafts, and the sprawling market around the clock tower.

Only a few know about Rawla Narlai; a small hotel deep in rural India on the route from Jodhpur to Udaipur. It’s one of those Yonder hidden gems. Built into and around a former stronghold in the village of Narlai, the hotel is simple in its outlook but top-notch on experience. You’ll encounter charming staff drawn from the village, exceptional landscapes with lakes and hillocks perfect for afternoon tea and birdwatching, if you’re lucky a wild leopard might cross your path, and in the evening you’ll be taken by ox cart to the ancient step well for a magnificent lantern-lit feast.

We recently came across a phrase daubed on the side of a restaurant describing Udaipur as ‘God’s love nest’; it’s more often called the City of Love but you get the gist. The delightful water gardens, fabulous stained glass and mirror rooms in the City Palace and the stunning sunset Lake Pichola outings put romance in the air. Even the spectacular Jagdish temple, just a few steps down the hill from the city palace, sports a series of romantic (well, ok, really rather erotic!) carvings. Udaipur is a work of art, thanks in large part to the Maharanas who have thoughtfully built it over many centuries. And thanks in particular to Maharana Jagat Singh II who built the Lake Palace which is where you’ll settle in for a couple of nights.

We just love Mumbai. It is the wheelhouse of India’s economy, home of Bollywood and the spiritual homeland of cricket. Your last nights in India will be spent at the iconic Taj Mahal (no, not the same as the one in Agra!) where just being a guest is an experience in itself. You’ll go out into the city with your private guide to discover hidden corners, whole districts dedicated to a single industry and fascinating history and architecture.