India.
Few countries can match India's diversity. The landscape runs from featureless plains and arid deserts to the Himalayas and dense forests. Daily life mixes religious tradition with Western consumerism, though the consumerism lags somewhat behind the times. Gilded temples share space with English-looking Victorian town houses, and street hawkers work the pavements outside huge department stores. Officials and Indian guides go about their business in temperatures of around 100 degrees, wearing blue wool blazers. It's a strange place indeed, and if you can deal with the smells and the hassles and the scenes of abject poverty, you're in for a fascinating time.
Delhi, the capital, is as overcrowded, smelly and noisy as it is magical. The city holds some of the country's most striking urban architecture, serves the best food and has some of India's most intriguing and colourful bazaars in the district of Paharganji. Among the main sights are Connaught Place at the heart of the city, the Red Fort, and Jama Masjid, the largest active mosque in India, which takes in over 35,000 worshippers each Friday. The rich-poor divide shows most sharply in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), where the world's largest movie-making industry sits beside Asia's largest slums. Bollywood is the celebrity hub of India, and in all honesty it resembles a giant film set itself, with Victorian architecture and regular cricket matches. Here too you'll find India's most notorious red light area and some great beaches at Chowpatty. Mind you, those after a beach holiday usually head straight for Goa, where the sun and sand are only marred by the incessant hawkers and hedonism rife amongst the young and chemically imbalanced. Calcutta, on the other hand, is virtually a microcosm of the Indian nation, where bureaucratic institutions like the 'Writers Building' go head to head with goat sacrificing at Kali's temple.
Virtually no one makes the trip to India without stopping by the country's ultimate tourist symbol, the Taj Mahal in Agra, one of the most beautiful and extravagant buildings ever raised in the name of love. It does not disappoint, and at closer inspection only confirms what a wondrous work of art it really is. Jaipur also has its share of treasures, among them broad avenues and striking architecture, the famous Johari Bazaar jeweller's market, and the 'Pink City' with its seven gates. India is so different it is hard to imagine anyone not finding it fascinating. Sure, there are hassles like bureaucracy, street hawkers, poverty and pollution, but there is so much to marvel at that after only a short while you'll find yourself warming to India, even falling in love with it.
Rajasthan and the Lake Palace Hotel.
Often called the "Venice of India," the lake region of Rajasthan around Udaipur is quickly becoming one of India's premier tourist destinations. Made up of three artificial lakes courtesy of the Rajput Royal Family, the area has seen centuries of construction of offshore palaces and forts. The most famous, the Lake Palace of Udaipur, appeared in the James Bond movie Octopussy and is now a five-star hotel. Of special interest are the 20 elephant stables. The Palace also makes a great base from which to explore the other palaces and forts within the lake system.
Backwaters of Kerala.
Kerala sits on the southernmost tip of India and has only recently opened up to mass tourism. It has been established as one of the major winter sun destinations of the future. Its greatest attraction is the Backwaters, in particular the houseboats that drift along the lakes and rivers. These boats, actually converted cargo vessels, accommodate two couples and a four-person crew, and they stop daily at villages along the shore to collect supplies. More recently, tour operators have introduced tree houses in the coconut groves overlooking the lakes, offering full board with a bedroom, living area and bathroom facilities.
Taking tea in Darjeeling.
Sampling one of India's most famous exports in its place of origin is a wonderful experience. The Victorian holiday resort, a major tea-growing centre, is set in truly spectacular surroundings on a ridge over 6,600ft in the Himalayas. What could be more relaxing than sipping a cup of Darjeeling here? The leaves are delicate, yet they produce a full-bodied brew, and you can enjoy it while taking in mountain vistas and views of Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain.
Taj Mahal.
One of the Seven Wonders of the World and India's tourist emblem, the Taj Mahal is also regarded as one of the most beautiful monuments built in the name of love. Constructed entirely of white marble by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife and queen, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth, the building's beauty is beyond description, and no photograph can truly capture it. The best times to see the Taj Mahal are dawn or sunset, when the reflections of colour on the marble are genuinely breathtaking.
Best time to visit India?
India has marked differences in weather depending on the time of year. The winter months generally see pleasant temperatures, typically around the mid-twenties (although the central regions can be higher), making this a prime time for beach destinations. Northern India experiences colder temperatures, particularly in the Himalayas. From April to June, temperatures steadily increase as the sizzle begins. There is some respite up in the Himalayas, however. The end of June marks the beginning of the Monsoon season, when heavy rainstorms are prone to occur, particularly in the Himalayas and the tropical southern tip. Accommodation can be quieter during the summer months, as the rain puts many off, so you're likely to save a few pennies if you travel then.
