India Holidays

We are very saddened by the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai and our thoughts are very much with the friends of family of those injured or killed in the attacks. We are relieved to say that we had no clients or members of staff injured or killed in the attacks although we did have two clients caught up in the attacks. They were evacuated at 4am out of their bedroom window in the Taj and as they came down the ladder in the midst of the mayhem, they heard a voice say “Are you with A&K?” It was our representative waiting to take them away to safety. The clients said they were the most reassuring words they had ever heard!

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice advises against all non-essential travel to Mumbai. While none of us at A&K would wish to compromise the safety of our clients, the current situation is/was limited to Mumbai and is not reflected through rest of our country. For any queries or up to date information on the situation please call us on 0845 070 0615.

Most visitors to Northern India will come first to Delhi with its teeming bazaars, battlemented Red Fort and the country’s largest mosque; and New Delhi, whose elegant 1930s avenues and buildings reveal the enduring influence of the British Raj.

INDIA - THE NORTH

To the south-east, Agra is the setting of the renowned Taj Mahal. Westwards stretch the vast deserts and rugged mountains of Rajasthan, whose customs, palaces and fortresses vividly reflect the classical image of popular India. Here, famous Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur draw the visitor, while those for whom colourful Rajput history has a special spell, will want to travel to such locations as Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Gwalior, historic princely cities and to some of the smaller towns and villages that we have included in our programme. Eastwards lies Khajuraho famed for temples with their extraordinary erotic carvings and the holy city, Varanasi on the sacred Ganges.

INDIA - THE SOUTH

The gateways of Bombay (Mumbai) and Madras (Chennai) are essential ports of call in the south. They open on a more tropical India, slower, relaxed and even more exotic. Bangalore and delightful Mysore are musts. You will also want to visit the old hill station of Ootacamund and Cochin (Kochi), the oldest European settlement in India and the starting point for the tranquil backwaters of Kerala’s canals and rivers.

FLIGHTS & FACTS

Fly to: Delhi/Chennai/Mumbai/Bangalore Flying time: 8 hrs 20 mins non-stop Time Difference: GMT + 5 1/2 hrs Visas: Required for UK passport holders Health requirements: Yellow fever certificate if arriving from an endemic area Best time to travel: Oct-Apr

WEATHER

The best time to travel to India is during our winter months when the humidity is lower and the temperature more comfortable for sightseeing and exploration. However, the monsoon season of May to September should not be discounted for travel as the whole of India is bursting into lush greenery due to the rainfall, showing you a side of India not everyone sees. It can be said that the heavier showers occur in the mornings or the late afternoons, leaving the remainder of the day to explore.