India

- I can only begin to explain how painfully misunderstood this beautiful city is.

Many have the impression that India is unsafe, unsanitary, difficult to get around etc. Admittedly, I too had the same conceptions about India. When presented with the opportunity to travel to India, I even hesitated for fear of all the "worst case scenarios" in my head. Eventually, the thirst to visit unexplored territory and immerse myself in a new culture helped me to get past those fears. I guess it's really about reminding yourself of what travel is about to you. Here, I pen down (or rather, type) my experience in India with the small hope that I might inspire more great stories in this captivating country.

The Itinerary

Delhi - Agra – Ranthambhore – Jaipur – Udaipur – Delhi

Day 1 - Delhi

We arrived in Delhi and enjoyed a warm welcome by our personal concierge from Ravishing India Holidays. We were then brought to our hotel - Trident Gurgaon and were greeted by the most immaculately dressed porter I've ever seen. (He also had the strongest mustache game ever) I wish I could show you guys a picture but it was pretty late and I thought it would've been rude to take a snap upon arrival.

Tips:

It can get pretty chilly in December, so make sure you pack versatile clothes that you can layer depending on the weather.
Waiting for your luggage at the airport may take a while, (we waited 45 minutes for ours due to some issues with the baggage belt) so you may want to make sure you have some entertainment material or snacks with you.
Most hotels don't provide free wiFi, so it's advisable to get your data cards from the reliable operators at the airport. Luckily for us, wiFi was provided by our concierge service provider.

Day 2 - Delhi + Agra

We finally had a good look of our gorgeous hotel and enjoyed an amazing spread for breakfast. The hotels here serve a wide variety of foods. The best part was the fact that the food didn't have the typical "hotel buffet food" taste that I dread after a while.

Trident Gurgaon
Address: 443, Udyog Vihar Phase V, Phase V, Sector 19, Gurgaon, Haryana 122016, India
Phone: +91 124 245 0505

After which, we were treated to a morning rickshaw ride, taking in the intriguing sights, sounds and smells of Old Delhi as we navigated through the spice bazaar, street markets and old monuments.

We then headed back to the hotel to pack up. Up next was a 4 hour drive to Agra in the hopes of catching the Taj Mahal at sunset. Unfortunately, we missed the closing time of the Taj and ended up camel riding in the vicinity. I must say that it was a pretty swell experience discounting the fact that I did have a mini freak-out getting from the wagon onto the camel's back.

Taj Mahal
Address: Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001, India
Phone: +91 562 222 66431

We then headed back to another luxurious member of the Trident group and had a pleasant surprise! We were greeted by a warm Indian welcome ceremony, complete with beautiful floral garlands around our necks and traditional red tikkas painted on our foreheads. The hotel also had multiple booths that featured aspects of Indian culture. This included henna, instruments, pottery and palm reading. The hotel also had a magic show by a warm fire - definitely family-friendly!

Trident Agra
Address: Next to TDI Mall, Fatehabad Rd, Tajganj, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001, India
Phone: +91 562 223 5000

Tips:

Indian food in India is very different from that of Singapore. Be sure to take small portions of the food you want to try before piling on something that might turn out tasting entirely different from what you expected.
If you're going to be on any open-air transport (like a trishaw in our case) in Winter, be sure to pack a scarf as it can get pretty chilly. If you're useless in the cold like I am, bring a thick jacket and beanie to be extra safe!
Travelling in India usually means spending a lot of time on a travel van (unless you're a baller and choose to fly between cities). I'd recommend road tripping to get a fuller experience. Make sure you travel with people you don't mind spending extended periods of time with and bring good entertainment material!
The Taj Mahal is open daily from sunrise to sunset. (Closed on Fridays)

DAY 3 - AGRA + RANTHAMBHORE

Going to India (especially for the first time) means a mandatory pilgrimage to the Taj Mahal. Filled with excitement, we were off at the crack of dawn, anticipating our guided tour at the famed Taj. The best part of the tour was understanding the story behind this beautiful monument. I don't want to spoil it for you guys but it's safe to say that once again, I was in awe of India's magnificent architecture and rich history.

After our lovely and insightful tour, we headed for lunch at a local cafe run by victims of acid attacks - Sheroes Hangout. It was moving to see the strength and determination of the women who work here after surviving terrible assaults. The cafe had a pay-as-much-as-you-want scheme where visitors were encouraged to give from the heart. Find out more about their cause here!

Sheroes' Hangout
Address: Opposite The Gateway Hotel (Taj View)
Fatehabad Road, Agra,
Uttar Pradesh, India
Phone: +91-562-4000401, +91-7533083502

Soon after, we were on our next road trip to Rhanthambhore, home of one of the world's most stunning safaris - the Rhanthambhore National Park. We reached pretty late so we just checked into Nahargarh Fort and got dinner there. The hotel has a small but delicious buffet spread which starts early in the morning and vary at every meal. This was super convenient for us since we were up very early for safari rides every day. The place was beautiful, incorporating British colonial influences and luxurious Indian architecture and interior design.

Nahargarh Fort
Address: Narghard Road, Krishna Nagar, Brahmpuri, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302001, India

Tips:

I would recommend wearing comfortable shoes to the Taj since the compound is pretty big. Also, it would be wise to wear shoes with smooth soles as visitors are required to put thin fabric covers over any footwear when entering the Taj. I say this because my shoes actually ripped the fabric covers apart.
For longer road trips, it'd be good to pack some healthy snacks along. I brought granola bars and fruits whenever we were scheduled for a long ride. (This would help to curb the 'Delhi Belly' that people talk about!)

DAY 4/5 - RANTHAMBHORE

We spent most of our days at Ranthambhore's famed safari. With scenery and a variety of animals like that, who could walk away without taking some breathtaking photos? The best memory here has gotta be enjoying hot ginger milk tea and cookies surrounded by lush forests. An experience not to be missed!

Ranthambhore's beauty is undisputed, Full of photo-worthy landscapes and monuments, how could we give the Ranthambhore Fort a miss?

Tips:

To get the best experience at the safari, ask for the open jeep. During the winter, it can get very chilly. Be sure to layer, chuck some gloves and a scarf in your bag. You can remove the layers as the day gets warmer.
Given the history and age of the monument, the ground is bound to be uneven. As such, if you choose to climb the fort, it is advisable to have comfortable shoes on. Also, be sure to keep your bags and snacks (if any) safe as there are many monkeys on the fort. (They can be pretty sneaky!)

DAY 6 - JAIPUR

It was time to pay homage to India's one and only "Pink City" - Jaipur! Known for the pink façade of the buildings in the historic centre, the city never failed to offer gorgeous sights at every turn!

After taking in the beauty of the city, it was difficult to expect any less from our next hotel. We were treated to the stunning Samode Bagh Jaipur that was once a private garden retreat for the Jaipur Royal Family. In the comfort of luxurious air-conditioned tents, we enjoyed the splendid sunset over the Aravelli range, any stereotype of India was instantly forgotten.

Samode Bagh Jaipur
Address: Village Fatehpura, Samode
303806, District Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Phone: +91 1423 240235/36, 240145

DAY 7 - JAIPUR

The most anticipated part of the trip was finally here. A hot air balloon ride over the plains of Jaipur. With every hue you could imagine, there really is nothing quite like watching the sun rise over Aravelli mountains. I feel like my words could never do it justice but I'd say it's definitely something you need to add to your bucket list.

After a breathtaking ride in the skies of Jaipur, we headed back to the hotel for a scrumptious breakfast and some much-needed rest. The ladies were pretty stoked for what was up next - shopping at Jaipur's local bazaar! Needless to say, its rustic charm won our hearts over instantly.

Jaipur's magnificent Amber Fort served as the perfect juxtaposition to the rest of the city. We were fortunate enough to have dinner at AD1135, a fine dining restaurant located here.

Tips:

Winter mornings in Jaipur get really cold. Despite the fact that I was all bundled up with the thickest jacket I brought and multiple layers underneath, I was still freezing. I would definitely recommend thermal layers for this.
Pack a tote to put your shopping in! It's best to keep your hands free so you can browse various shops with ease without worrying about forgetting anything.

DAY 8 to 10 - UDAIPUR

The last 3 days of the trip were spent in another beautiful city. Known as Venice of the East, the city of Udaipur is known for its fairytale palaces, placid lakes, exotic temples and resplendent gardens. Did you know 007 Octopussy was filmed here?

The itinerary here included a visit to City Palace, cruise on Lake Pichola and a visit to Udaipur's Vintage & Classic Car Collection Museum (you can find the original vintage car from the movie here).

We stayed at another elegant member of the Trident group, Trident Udaipur. To complete our trip in the best way possible, we indulged in lush massages and beauty treatments. I would definitely recommend the massage treatments here. The treatment rooms and therapists were amazing. Get ready to be transported to spa paradise!

Trident Udaipur
Address: 24.576948, 73.669137, Pichola, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
Phone: +91 294 243 2200

Tips:

If you're not used to eating Indian food every day, you might start craving lighter options pretty quick. I packed cup noodles and ordered chinese or western options when I could. This was one thing I was not prepared for. I felt quite sick from the rich food after just a day, so the rice porridge served at Trident Udaipur during breakfast was really a lifesaver. The chef even prepared a special order for me after a waiter saw how I was taking extra portions from the buffet. The staff here are very nice so feel free to reach out to them!

- Fin

This concludes my memorable trip to India. I'll be back someday (hopefully, real soon)! I hope this post has inspired and/or helped you guys in some way! Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or thoughts.

This trip was meticulously and lovingly put together by Ravishing India Holidays. They offer customised holidays with a local and private concierge that will make sure all your travel needs are met. The team is extremely friendly and can't wait to share this beautiful country with you. Contact them to find out more, I promise you won't regret it. Don't forget to tell them that I sent you!

Ravishing India Holidays
Website: ravishingindiaholidays.com
Email: info@ravishingindiaholidays.com
Phone: +65 8118 2227