Dr_Andrea

Wow! What a place! It was totally a senses overload, but we loved it! I came home with so much stuff (pashminas, a 6-carat ruby ring, a print, jewelry, sequined shoes, scarves, etc.). It was definitely the best shopping I have ever done. India is so intense, but worth it. We had a private guide and driver the entire trip. This is an absolute necessity. We totally needed more days in India though. There is so much traveling between cities and the infrastructure is so bad, that an extra night in each hotel would have been great. But it is hard for my husband to take more than 12 nights off from work at one time. We also brought mostly summer clothes and ended up being very surprised how cold it got (especially on the tiger safari).

The Imperial (Dehli)-This hotel was gorgeous. We spent two nights here. The breakfast was delicious and the room was spectacular. I absolutely love marble and this hotel has so much. The British Colonial decor is really wonderful.

Oberoi Amarvilas (Agra)-The Oberoi has just the best service in our opinion. We had the Nehru Suite.....oh my gosh....unbelievable. It had the most amazing bathroom with a 360 degree shower, multiple patios with a telescope so that you could see the Taj Mahal, a dining room/living room, and tons of butler buttons. Unfortunately, were were so jet-lagged that we missed dinner both nights. But the breakfast and lunch was delicious. The Taj Mahal was amazing...way better than I anticipated. There is definitely something magical about it and frankly, I wasn't even that excited to visit it initially.

Oberoi Rajvilas, (Jaipur)-We spent another two nights in Jaipur. This Oberoi was just ranked in the top ten of resorts in Asia. But strangely, we liked the other Oberois better. The food was definitely delicious though. While I was most excited to visit Jaipur, I actually liked it the least of the cities we visited.

Taj Varanasi-Holy! This was by far our favorite city. I was so reluctant to visit because I heard that the accomodations are the least luxurious in Varanasi. Boy, am I glad we went. The ganges river was so cool, the ceremonies amazing, the shopping spectacular, and the people awe-inspiring. The Taj Hotel was above average, but definitely not in the same class as the other hotels. However, it is the best in Varanasi. We had a suite and it was nice (clean, large, etc.), but don't expect too much if you are a discriminating traveler. DO NOT VISIT INDIA WITHOUT GOING TO VARANASI. We only spent one night in Varanasi and we still felt like we saw everything we needed to see.

Oberoi Vanyavilas (Ranthambore/Tiger Safari)-WOW!!! The service is absolutely amazing. They went so above and beyond it was embarassing. After having two unsuccessful game drives (no tigers anywhere), they arranged for the former director (and Bill Clinton's guide when he was India) of the tiger reserve to personally escort us on the afternoon game drive. We were so excited and impressed that they did this. Sure enough, we found the tigers!!! We saw the Lady of the Lake and her three cubs. It was amazing! I would definitely repeat what everyone told me....don't go to Ranthambore expecting to see tigers. It really is luck and nothing like an african safari. Africa is decades ahead in their wildlife preservation. But even if you don't see them, it is still worth the trip. Vanyavilas was our favorite hotel/resort of the trip. The luxury tent is beautiful. The general manager is amazing and is staff is top notch. I can't say anything bad about this place.

I think that covers everything! India is definitely not for everyone. There were points were I was ready to freak out from the overwhelming poverty. It is so amazing how a country so filthy can be so beautiful. We definitely would like to return and do Southern India. But not for some time.

atravelynn

Thanks so much for your comments on another area of the world that also has many of us intrigued.

joeyi

thank you for taking the time to report on your trip. will you be posting any pictures?

santharamhari

Dr Andrea,

Thank you for a lovely report......

Yes, the Delhi area can be get pretty chilly this time of the year....also, in the jungles, yes....

The Imperial hotel in Delhi has very good Thai food....although, you probably ate Indian.....

Yes, please visit Southern India......you will LOVE it here...

Hari

santharamhari

Dr.Andreas,

Dont know if the guides mentioned this to you at Ranthambore.....but, the tigers President Clinton saw got so famous that literally on a weekly basis their sightings were monitored. Then suddenly, a few months later.....they vanished!!! (rumors are they were poached)

Hari

connette

Great report! Thanks. We are in the early planning stages. What company did you use for your guide and driver? Did you use them for your hotels, or did you book those yourselves? Any tips?

waynehazle

Aaaaah, the glory of India. I get so happy reading a trip report from someone who has seen tigers... then I get enraged, frustrated, sad and ANGRY when I read how the tigers are dissapearing in Ranthambore come on India, get it together!!!!

moremiles

We absolutely loved India when we visited many years ago and you're so right about Varanasi!

thit_cho

Thanks, a great report. I spent a month in India in 1996 and, like you, I was very pleasantly surprised with Varanasi -- I didn't know what to expect, and ended up spending a few days. Also, like you, I was underwhelmed by Jaipur -- its most famous monument is a facade. I was much happier in Udaipur.

Michael

santharamhari

Michael,

You been to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan? Also, strongly recommend a visit to South India.....completely different from anything you hv seen up north....

Hari

thit_cho

Hari, I haven't been to Jaisalmer because, at least when I was in Rajasthan you couldn't fly there but had to take a lengthy train ride, and it would have taken more time than I had available.

I intend to travel in the south, and the Lakshadweep and Andaman islands, but not at least until 2009 (I'm fully booked for 2007, and have largely completed my 2008 travels, at least the longer trips).

Thanks

santharamhari

sounds good Michael....but, i warn you....you will not recognize the India at present....the real estate boom taking away the traditional charm. High rise buildings in every corner of every town....big cities have American style suburban neighborddos with culdisacs and stop-signs....shopping malls all over the place.......traffic driving me insane!!!

Hari

cw

Hari,

Hope this isn't too silly a question, but what is the main difference between the North and South? Is it that the "landmarks" are in the North, or is it more the landscape?

CW

santharamhari

Hi CW,

The main landmarks that are marketed are all in the north.....i.e.,Taj, Rajasthan palaces, New Delhi etc etc.,

In the south.....there are still parts of old/primitive India.....lots of temples (Madurai), Kerala (which is marketed as God's own country) which is the home of Ayurveda and all the backwaters and sea coast. Yet, not as commercial as Goa. The people in the South are more laid back and relaxed compared to the north......where, everything is one big hustle, bustle...(it is changing now, though).

However, most of the well known tiger reserves are all in the north i.e.,Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Ranthambore etc etc.,

Hope this helps

Hari

santharamhari

oh, and the food completely different too......

santharamhari

sorry about all the typos........

that should read "neighborhood".....

iggy5858

Hari,
thinking about going to Bhutan-and also looking for Tigers in near by game parks. Is Manus good?
Which would be our best shot at seeing them-
We have been to the East-Ranthambore, Kana, Bandhavgarth and on another trip in the South Nagarhole, Periyar.
The TIGER is amazing... but anyone traveling to India should go to the CAVES-AJANTA & ELLORA [just Fantastic] Also been to Tiger tops but not Bardia [I heard there has been a lot of poaching here?] thanks Hari

Thomas
Check out my Jordan -Egypt photo

http://web.mac.com/t.s.world/iWeb/Si...DAN-EGYPT.html

cw

Hari,

Thanks for the information. There is so much to see in India, that it is hard to choose an itinerary for one trip. But it is on our list of places to go, definitely. Lots of useful information here (even if it is the Africa board).

(And if you run the Boston Marathon again, do let me know!)

Thanks for the report, Dr. Andrea.

CW

shothyme77

HI! I just got back from 3 weeks in India and we went to Bandavargh and had 11 tiger sightings over 3 days...10 different tigers. It was amazing and awesome and we got so close to them! We stayed at the Bandavargh Jungle lodge which I highly recommend!

waynehazle

No you KNOW you cannot post this temptation without sharing some pictures!