• Home
  • /
  • Category Archives: Travel in India

The Delhi to Agra train scam.

Fog + Gatiman = latest train scam. At an ungodly hour, bleary eyed, and trying to enter New Delhi train station, we heard, “No madam, you must go to that entrance.” Half asleep I complied. At that entrance, an official looking man in a suit said, “Madam, tickets please.” I complied. Then, “Madam, Bhopal Shatabdi,…

Discovering Destinations Differently

The origin of “Discovering Destinations Differently.” Back in 2015 I started visiting mainstream destinations, spending a day visiting what all tour companies showcase and then, bucket list ticked I’d spend another week there finding out what else made those destinations tick. Why else they were ‘famous?’  What did locals do,  where did they eat, what…

Travel Planning: The Written Word vs Reality

I’m currently consulting on a wonderful project, putting together India, Nepal and Bhutan portfolios for a new to India tour operator. This has involved writing up itineraries, something I haven’t done for a few years and it made me have a realisation.  Itineraries are, more often than not, put together determined by facts. The drive…

Has tourism failed the camels which made Pushkar Camel Fair a Globally Recognised tourist event?

It has become a scene as synonymous with India as the Taj Mahal, thousands of Raika camel traders with their immaculate white dhotis and brilliant and intricately tied red turbans, squatting, drinking chai amidst their brilliantly festooned camels. ‘’Every year, some 30,000 camels descend on Pushkar, a small town in the state of Rajasthan, in…

WTM RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS INDIA LEADS THE WAY – 17 WINNERS REVEALED

India was the standout destination at this year’s awards, winning 17 accolades and emerging as a “leading country for responsible tourism.” An international panel of judges came together remotely to determine the top achievers. First launched in 2004, the awards recognise and reward businesses, destinations and operations contributing to a more sustainable and tourism industry….

Three hotels in Gujarat which aren’t quite what you’d expect.

Think of Gujarat and what comes to mind? The first thing every inbound agent will say is that you can’t drink, not strictly true but yes, it can be off-putting to those who enjoy a drink or two with dinner. But once that hurdle has been overcome, what are the words that spring to mind…

My Top Five Books Tiger Centric Books – A great and diverse small collection for International Tiger Day 2020

It’s International Tiger Day, social media will be flooded with images of this truly magnificent animal, hopefully also praise for the forest guards who spend their lives protecting them, the conservation groups who also do their utmost to raise awareness to protect this endangered species, and the lodge owners who provide wonderful accommodation for you…

Why India?

It’s a fact that most people who think of travelling to India don’t know much about it. They only know what they have heard about – which I understand is a ridiculous statement to make, but hear me out. People have heard of certain destinations and some monuments and these are what they ask for…