A Voyage through India - British Muslim Magazine

Words: Tahira Khan

Discover its’ majestic heritage and make sure that all the unseen elements of traditional Southern and Northern India come to light.

Going back in history to Rajasthan.

This tour travels through the heart of Rajasthan, exploring its magnificent forts and ornate palaces, as well as Ranthambore National Park and the Taj Mahal. Starting in Mumbai, the trip also includes Udaipur, the rural Aravalli hills, Jodhpur and Jaipur.

A Passage through Kerala

Taking in the beautiful sights and landscapes of Kerala and Karnataka, this tour includes Mysore, Nagarhole National Park, the scenic narrow gauge Blue Mountain train journey to Ooty and a cruise on the backwaters of Kochi. After a guided visit during the day to Mysore’s Maharajah’s Palace – the largest in India -the tour returns in the evening to see it spectacularly illuminated by over 1,000 lights.

A Journey of The Taj Mahal, Tigers and Trains

Crossing the Ganges plain over fourteen days from Delhi to Kolkata, this new tour takes in the majestic Taj Mahal, the wildlife of Ranthambore, colonial Lucknow and Kolkata and spiritual Varanasi. The trip ends with a trip on the Darjeeling toy train and a visit to a working tea plantation; a traditional home-cooked Awadhi dinner in Lucknow with a royal family is also included in the tour.

The Colours of Rajasthan

This is one of the easy paced private tours and the 17-day luxury trip is where most tours spend a number of nights in Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaipur as well as stays in Pali and Deogarh. Discovering the main attractions of India’s most colourful region and its lesser-known sights, there is a balance of exploration and time at leisure.

Northern India

Visiting Northern India – This trip explores the more historic and traditional aspects of the region than compared to the more well- known tourist attractions.

The Legacy of Delhi Tour

The first day in Northern India starts with a sightseeing tour of New Delhi by beginning with the tallest minaret in the world that is made of brick. The Qutub Minar, built by Aibak in 1199, is the architectural significance of Humayun’s Tomb makes it a proud example of the Mughal era’s building techniques.

Getting closer to the Indian legacy and witnessing the journey of India, from being a ruled country to becoming a free democracy, you will be taking time to stop at places such as India Gate, the President’s Palace, Secretariat buildings and the Indian Parliament House. Then you will discover the richness of Old Delhi, starting with the grand red stone marvel, Lal Qila, known as the ‘Red Fort’; continuing on to the Jama Masjid, built by Emperor Shah Jahan, this mosque is decorated with Ply chrome stonework and contains a huge courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees. A visit to Birla House, a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, helps us to remember this ‘Father of the Nation’ ahead of an afternoon at the National Museum, rich with archaeological artefacts and art from the last 5,000 years. You also get the chance to experience a rickshaw ride in the markets of Old Delhi.

The Heritage in Lucknow Tour

Lucknow is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh: Starting with a walking tour to discover some of the heritage of the city at Gol Darwaaza, and exploring its culture, before ending at the Akbari Gate. You will also be visiting the exquisitely decorated Rumi Darwaza, also known as the Turkish Gate.

We also see the magnificent Bara, Husainabad and Asafuddaula Immambara’s, which reflect the quintessence of Awadhi architecture with its strong Persian influence. The Hussainabad Picture Gallery houses a collection of life-size oil paintings of the Nawabs of Oudh (1882 – 1885), in its foreground is the British Style Clock Tower built in 1881. Our afternoon includes an insight into Chikankari (traditional hand embroidery).

For more detailed information visit: CoxandKings.co.uk/andantetravels.co.uk