When I heard about a luxury India tour, I had to know more. I was first exposed to the concept of “luxury India” when I worked in India on and off for about eight years in cities like Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai. The Indian concept of luxury was one of the things that most impressed me about this multifaceted country.
The company I was working with held a regional meeting at one of those incredible Indian palaces scattered about the country. I had never seen such decoration, such unique design and landscaping. The rooms were large, innovatively decorated, airy and comfortable. After such an experience I quickly realized that nobody does luxury like India.
The Indian view of luxury probably comes from the pre-independence era, before 1947, when India was separated into almost 600 different states. These states were ruled by princes or maharajas who governed their domains like, … well, like princes. These rulers surrounded themselves with opulent palaces, manicured gardens and legions of servants.
After Indian independence, these princes retained their status and fortunes during a transition period before being incorporated into the India we see today. Most princes were eventually pensioned off. But what happened to their opulent palaces?
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that some of these former princely palaces have been converted into heritage hotels. You can actually stay in a former palace and experience a sumptuous piece of Indian history!
Cracking India Tours offers luxury India tours where guests can stay in some of these heritage hotels. I learned about these tours reading about a woman, who went on a Cracking India Tour because she wanted to visit the family she had stayed with as a teenage exchange student over 40 years before.
The story intrigued me. What could it have felt like to return to India after 40 years especially returning to the same host family? I contacted the woman, Julia from Australia, and asked if she would share her experiences with me.
Read on to learn about this heartwarming story in Julia’s own words.
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Return to India after 40 years
“When I was 15 years old and lived in Western Australia, I went on a mixed school trip to Tasmania. I met Beth a Canadian who was a Rotary Exchange Student and I thought, “I want to do that!”
The selection to become a Rotary Exchange student is quite rigorous and it is a prestigious award. I decided on India for my destination in 1981 as I thought it would be a great opportunity to experience the country in a way I wouldn’t as a tourist.
My family was very supportive of my choice to go to India, and they gave me a lot of encouragement. So began my adventure in India for 12 months in 1981 aged 17 years old living in Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
My initial impression of India through my eyes as a Rotary Exchange student was very varied. I was bemused by the servant situation in my host mother’s home. She was at home during the day and spent a lot of time in the kitchen, but she still employed a servant for daily cleaning of the house.
How Rotary Exchange worked was you lived with a family for one to three months. I definitely had a favourite family that spoke quite good English. I stayed with some families that had no English at all and had to rely on my basic Gujrati to communicate.
I only attended school for a few weeks then I began spending more time at home with my host family or travelling to visit other Rotary Exchange Students in their different towns.
I was quite sad to be leaving because I had such an amazing experience, but I was also keen to return home to my family. I had been in India for 12 months which is a long time in a 17-year old’s life.
I maintained contact over the years by letter, and my favourite host family rang me on my wedding day.
I found Cracking India Tours on Facebook. They were advertising a Textile Tour of Gujarat- the state I had lived in India. I contacted them and asked for details of which cities and towns were visited.
When I heard Dhordo was one of the villages, I was very keen to join the tour. I had stayed in Dhordo for ten days in November 1981. Cracking India Tours was based in Bhuj for 4 days and the village of Dhordo was 2 hours’ drive into the desert, it was easily accessible.
When I arrived in Dhordo the villagers were very welcoming and pleased to see me. We toured the village and saw the original mud hut I stayed in 40 years ago.
My actual host family in Dhordo had prospered and moved out of the village and now lived in a large compound with 5 of their sons. What surprised me most on my return was my host mum had two photos of me from 40 years ago.
Also surprising for me was trying to work out what I had done to occupy myself for ten days here. There was no TV or English books or magazines. I think I just hung out in the kitchen with the women and occasionally joined the headman of the village on the back of his motorbike checking on outlying villagers.
So how did I feel when I returned to Dhordo? I felt happy that I had been able to return to see the family prospering.
My impression of India on my return trip in 2022 was that India still had her fabulous colours. I saw some wonderful textiles and brought some home with me.”
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Luxury India Tour
The India tour that reunited Julia with her favorite host family in India was a remarkable 17-day Incredible India Textile Tour with Cracking India Tours. Reading about that tour is where I learned about the India Luxury Tour.
The India luxury tour package seems to be similar to what I had experienced for one night in that wonderful, luxurious Heritage Hotel only its 20 days of unsurpassed Indian luxury!
Cracking India’s luxury India tour runs from February 22 to March 12, 2023. It visits the classic Indian cities of Delhi, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udiapur, Bundi, Jaipur, Agra and others.
What’s Included in the India Luxury Tour Package
Accommodations at sumptuous Heritage Hotels, some of which are former palaces, are included, as are many Indian meals worthy of a maharaja, and local excursions.
Some of the most exciting local activities include visiting medieval villages, bustling markets and bazaars, desert fortresses, local craft shops, museums, animal sanctuaries and tiger reserves.
Participate in an ancient festival
Highlights include participating the colorful Holi Festival, also known as the spring celebration of love, frolic and colors. This festival commemorates the triumph of good over evil celebrating the victory of Lord Vishnu over Hiranyakashipu. Participants gather to smear each other with colored powders resulting in a great free-for-all where everyone is fair game. It is a unique, authentic experience, not to mention amazing photos you’ll bring home with you.
See the Taj Mahal at Sunset
…and talk about memorable photos, how’s this?
This magnificent structure built by Shah Jahan as a tomb for his wife, Mumtaz, is one of the modern seven wonders of the world and an iconic UNESCO World Heritage site. China has its Forbidden City, Tibet has its Potala Palace, Cambodia has its Angkor Wat and India has its majestic and universally admired Taj Mahal.
A once in a lifetime experience
The tour sounds ideal for people that want to taste the ultimate in old world luxury while experiencing a fascinating culture in comfort and safety. Sounds good to me!
For more information contact: Ann Marie McCarthy, (732) 567-3965, email: [email protected]
What are your thoughts on this India luxury tour?
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