Destination Spotlight: India in Full Color
November 28, 2023 by Hidden Doorways
Close your eyes and imagine India. A kaleidoscope of color. A mesmerizing landscape of majestic palaces and tropical forests in which elephants, tigers and leopards quietly reside. The taste of aromatic and flavorful spiced delicacies dancing across your palate. The embrace of people with the kindest eyes and the gentlest hearts.
India is an adventure unlike any other. To picture it in your mind’s eye is one thing. To step into its soul is another. With our four luxuriously minded partners, you can tread through all of India’s treasures as we take you by the hand to uncover its greatest riches…
THE LEELA PALACES
Embrace Cultural Grandeur
India puts out-of-this-world luxury at your fingertips. But its grandeur runs deeper than surface beauty. Look closely and you’ll uncover cultural backstories richer than your wildest dreams, whether you find yourself in the regal Pink City of Jaipur, the historic capital New Delhi, or Udaipur – known as the City of Lakes.
Those traveling to India in search of the finer things will delight in the country’s opulent decor and architecture, often reflecting local, time-honored artistry that immerses you in India’s spellbinding story. Learn of the ancient Vastu principles — akin to Feng Shui – that gift its buildings with a palpable sense of calmness and clarity. Or dive headfirst into India’s spiritual culture by unlocking destinations that offer ceremonial rituals such as Chakra cleansing in nirvana-like spas or astrology readings, art tours by Tuktuk, or even traditional music performed within touching distance so that you can feel the strum of the Sitar in your heart space. The food to be found is an experience at every meal too, celebrating traditional Indian cuisine and its unforgettable aromas by candlelight.
India’s cultural tapestry is woven throughout all of The Leela Palaces. Plant yourself in any and you’ll float straight into a fascinating fairytale.
SUJÁN
Encounter Unsurpassed Animal Sightings
India is where Rudyard Kipling’s, The Jungle Book, comes to life, and you get to choose how you live the tale, be it in a 1920s-style luxury tented experience or a reimagined Rajputana’s legendary caravan set on a private indigenous desert kingdom. Experiences that might sound like the stuff dreams are made of, but that patiently wait for intrepid explorers.
On the topic of exploration, an Indian safari experience is completely unparalleled. Ranthambhore National Park is the finest wild tiger habitat on the planet and where close to 100 small sloth bears play hide and seek. Adventure on foot or horseback along sand rivers, through rugged scrubland and over 850-million-year-old granite rock formations uncovering leopards and their young roaming wild and free. From forests and plains to enchanted dunes, they open you up to the clearest starry skies that carry the echoes of ancient folk songs and the animal calls of India’s native eagles, honey buzzards, wolves, and camels.
Rest assured that after each day of adventure, you’ll want for nothing ‘back at camp’ where at the SUJÁN resorts, heated sunken pools, organic kitchen gardens and cleansing spa rituals are just a few of the riches for the taking.
ANANDA IN THE HIMALAYAS
Step into The Spiritual Capital of Wellness
It doesn’t get more grounding than overlooking the ancient spiritual city of Rishikesh in Northern India’s Himalayan region. The birthplace of several of India’s most esteemed and ancient wellness disciplines, a trip here has been described as a ‘yatra,’ a pilgrimage, that will guide you to spiritual enlightenment.
Imagine opening a day practicing traditional Hatha yoga or trekking towards the snowcapped mountains, followed by sessions with healers, masters and scholars exploring Vedanta philosophy, Ayurvedic cooking and guided Pranayama breathing to release blockages in energy channels.
A spiritual quest is only one part of the promise at Ananda in the Himalayas. The resplendent façade of the palace of the Maharaja of Tehri Garhwal is what greets you first, and what rests inside is warmth, welcome, royal splendor and ravishing craftsmanship. An elevated guest experience centered on the Aristotelian principle of ‘eudaemonia’ (living well) is a promise here in a setting believed to be charged with cosmic energy, or Shakti as they say.
BANYAN TOURS
Experience the Uniqueness of India
While India’s mirage like vistas and life altering experiences are much talked about, its truest crown jewels and its majesty are rarely experienced. This is the uniqueness of Banyan Tours.
Whether it’s a passage through iconic festivals such as Holi as you’re hosted in a 300-year-old fort, or journeys from the markets of Jaipur to private prayer ceremonies in other-worldly spots, those who discover India’s deepest secrets sense a sort of rebirth as a result – experiences that are life-altering and scenery that will forever take away your breath.
Not only will you have access to exclusive experiences, but Banyan Tours look after every aspect of your Indian voyage and can lead you by the hand across the entire country. One moment you might be cooking in an intimate tribal village, days later you could find yourself dressed to the nines having a private dinner at an esteemed art gallery, and your trip could be concluded with a private music performance in the middle of an Indian desert. Excitement and exclusivity ripple through every one of its personalized tours.
From the serenity of India’s lofty peaks to the vivacious energy at its core, there really is no place quite like it…
PLAN YOUR CLIENT’S NEXT TRIP TO INDIA WITH US
When it comes to India, it can feel like the sky’s the limit…
Our India expert, Farimah Parang, can help you understand the nuances of this incredible, multi-faceted destination. Having just returned from a trip to India last month, she has her finger on the pulse of what’s new and noteworthy.
Feel free to reach out to her with any questions you might have about the destination or any of our partners in India.
Her email is farimah@hiddendoorwaystravel.com
