India Specialist Frances
The people, the food, the hotels, the colours, the smells, the sounds, the variety of the areas within the country – I could go on! Every state is completely different, and this means that it really does take an entire lifetime to properly explore… you can never say you have ‘done India’.
I first visited when I was 19 and ended up staying until my visa ran out six months later! When I landed in Kolkata it felt like a culture shock, as compared to the UK everything is different (temperature, smells, colours, sights and more), but it all felt very exciting and like my eyes were on stalks. What also struck me was how everyone has a job, whether that was helping re-organise the bags on the luggage belt or selling street chai – everyone is working.
Six months is the longest I have spent there in one go, and I tend to return to India at least a few times every year, so I know it very well!
This is an impossible question! I love birds and so if I can incorporate a national park into my trip, that makes me very happy. That said, I love the mountains, so going to places like Darjeeling, Dharamsala and Leh are top of my list. But part of the reason I love India is because it is so versatile, so within one holiday you can see stunning scenery, bustling cities and wonderous wildlife.
I was travelling on a government bus to Dharamsala, which unfortunately broke down with still a good 30 minutes to go uphill; it was late and there were no other buses heading that way... I ended up hitch hiking on a water butt lorry, balancing alongside the water and getting very wet along the way. On a plus side, the Dalai Lama was in residence on arrival in Dharamsala!
Don’t try and cover the whole country in one go, it's impossible! I would recommend telling us what you like and the sorts of things you want to experience, so that we can make sure that we are suggesting the right area for you to explore.
Visit the countryside - while there are plenty of must-see city sites in guidebooks, make sure that you also save a few nights along the way to stay in some more rural hotels. The activities here give you a chance to see a totally different side of India.
Spices, just make sure that you seal them in something in your suitcase, otherwise everything you own will smell spicy for a little while! I am a huge fan of making masala chai from scratch and so spices for this are always my go to. I also always end up bringing home a lot of beautiful, patterned napkins.
There have been so many, when I was in Mysore last year, I had the most wonderful host take us to the market to buy lots of vegetables, and then we went to her home and cooked up a feast alongside her mother. What made it even more special is that my mother was with me, and so the four of us cooked together.
Malai kofta - I love it!
Ulley Valley in Ladakh, which you can reach by road from Leh, where I’d love to track snow leopards. You can also see red foxes, bharal, ibexes, wolves, Tibetan partridges, golden eagles and red-billed choughs here, to name a few!
It works for everyone, families, couples, solo travellers, friends… no matter who you are! There really is something for everyone.
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Original Travel
111 Upper Richmond Rd
London SW15 2TL
Tel: 020 7978 7333
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
