Place Visit On This Trip
North India
Overall Feedback On The Trips And The Servies of India's Invitation
Our experience with the travel service was nothing short of spectacular. Before we departed they patiently revised and re-revised our itinerary to make sure we met our goals; to get a sense of this gigantic and complex country in 21 days -without killing ourselves. Along the way they suggested specific stop-offs in line with our interests They were willing to lower the final cost by slightly downgrading our lodging. (All of the hotels we stayed at were splendid.). At each visit (Delhi, Varanasi, Jaipur, Udaipur, Kochi). we were met at the airport by a company representative and our driver for the duration of our stay, soon followed by a guide. Both drivers and guides were superb. The guides provided a rich cultural and historical background to the sites, and helped transform the journey into a profound learning experience. Another comment re guides; uniformly well-informed, scholarly, quit,kt to give us background information on everything from Mughal History the importance of inlay work in the Taj Mahal & to the city of Agra; fine points of Hindu culture. As a musician I was eager to hear live Indian classical music, and sure enough my itinerary included regular concerts of classical and folk music. Added at the last moment was an outdoor concert of Sufi music performed on a rooftop outside Jaipur watching the sun set over the Rajasthan Hills, accompanied by a noted tabla virtuoso. The concert, attended by Ravi, the firms’ director. was followed by a magnificent outdoor buffet). We chose to end our three week stay in Kerala, in the semi tropical south, and were able to unwind on beautiful sandy beaches on the Arabian Sea, At the Rajasthan concert. Ravi told me he sees his role as that of a “conductor” pulling various beautiful elements together for his clients. An apt description, judging from our delightful experiene with this travel service.
What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?
So many, we don’t know where to begin! Touring Chandli Chowk in all its bustle & confusion. Walking the streets of Varanasi down to the ghats. The many evenings (and afternoons) of superb music that were scheduled (again, following our precise wishes!). We treasured our evening with a family in Jaipur, our “cooking lesson;” where we got to exchange ideas and information with a family very much like ours, Exploring the exquisite and beautiful Hindu temples. But perhaps the high point was the concert in Jaipur where we got to meet Ravi, enjoy the artistry of a celebrated tabla artist & a fine Sufi music ensemble, & enjoy an amazing meal. This to us epitomized what was great about this company; personal, thoughtful, first-class in every way, and above all, deeply informative. What seemed a genuine passion to share, explain and illuminate. We felt truly welcome.
