Darjeeling unlimited

LM: Of all places to pursue a luxurious vacation, why India?

LH: It is the largest English-speaking nation on Earth and it’s exotic! India offers over 4,000 years of history, heritage and multiple cultures, including Hindu, Muslim, Moghul and British.

In a more modern context, three of the Top 10 Hotels of the World are to be found in India! India is truly a destination that cannot be matched in regards to excitement, value and offerings of the utmost in luxury travel.

LM: What is a luxurious dining experience like in India?

LH: Dining in India is both varied and distinctive. As many Indians are vegetarian, all restaurants offer both vegetarian and non-vegetarian menus featuring a wide variety of regional Indian dishes. The only way to really experience the culture of any country is to at least try the local cooking styles. However, all the major hotels feature multinational restaurants to further expand the options.

Based on India’s known hospitality, it should not be a surprise if an Indian welcomes you over to their home for dinner or to enjoy some Indian tea. The tea lounges in the Taj Hotels offer up to 30 blends of Darjeeling tea alone!

For travellers seeking the utmost in comfort and luxury, SITA offers the exclusive “India in Luxury” tour that visits some of the most remarkable cities in India, including: Delhi, Varanasi, Khajuraho, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur and Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay). This luxurious tour offers an elegant journey through palaces, breathtaking landscapes, abandoned cities and glorious temples. It is a journey through the heart of India that falls nothing short of lavish and inspirational.

LM: What geography would be covered on a luxury trip to India?

LH: This beautiful country is bordered to the north by the world’s highest mountain chain, to the east by the great Thar Desert — the second largest in Asia — and to the south and west by tropical rain forests and palm-fringed beaches.

India is one-third the size of the United States, so in many ways the geographical terrain resembles the Western States with high mountains, desert and beaches. The difference is in the thousands of years of preserved and recorded heritage and culture.

…………………….…………………….…………………….…………………….…………………….…………………….…………………….…………………….…………………….…………………….…………………….…………………….

The key to a successful journey to India is working through a reputable Tour Operator such as SITA, which has more than 77 years of experience and has won the coveted Ministry of Tourism India award for “Best Tour Operator from the Americas” in three various years — 1995, 2004 and 2007.  •

Find out more at sitatourscanada.com.

Photo courtesy of Taj Resorts Hotels and Palaces