Explore India with us
Explore
INDIA ,
We invite you to consider the destinations listed below,
then consult our Tours Section, to choose the tour that includes your
particular favored destinations. Or, email to discuss your own customized
itinerary with one of our highly experienced travel consultants.
India is the favored destination of many travelers to Asia. This vast nation
has enough to captivate travelers of any taste and travel style. From the
hypnotic desert palaces of Rajasthan, to the wildlife parks throughout the
country; from the pilgrimage sites of Varanasi, Sarnath and Madurai, to the
ethereal alpine majesty of the Himalayan Foothills, India is bound to
captivate any traveler. Compass India has developed a series of extensive
programs, which incorporate the following destinations.
The Capital
The capital city of Delhi bears witness to
generations of rule and cultural cross-fertilization. Delhi's history
stretches back over 3,000 years, with monuments of this extended history
throughout the city. The Red Fort is one of the primary Moghul masterpieces,
a self-contained city of palaces, dance halls, and meeting places. Nearby,
the Jama Masjid is India's largest mosque, with 25,000 worshippers filling
the courtyard each Friday. Visit Raj Ghat, the site of Mahatma Gandhi's
cremation: a highly informative and captivating museum documents the
Mahatma's life through photographs and personal mementos, which provide a
unique insight into India's history. A walk down Rajpath towards India Gate
or Parliament House displays the unique imagination of Sir Edward Lutyens,
the architect who combined British Imperial style with archetypal Moghul
style to create this unforgettable testimony to India's modern democratic
history. Connaught Circus and Janpath are the heart of New Delhi's
commercial sector, perfect for souvenir shopping. To experience Delhi's
bustling markets, visit Paharganj and Chandni Chowk, where the city's
residents shop for fruit and vegetables, brass bells, copper pots, and
anything else you can imagine. Nearby, the Jantar Mantar is a huge
250-year-old observatory, whose timekeeping is as impressive as its elegant
abstract lines. Spend an afternoon at the National Museum, with its
extensive collection covering over 5,000 years of India's history. Also
worth visiting is the Crafts Museum, covering building traditions and folk
art from all of Indiaís rural communities. Tibet House organizes
seminars, lectures, and has a small display of Tibetan art. Humayan's Tomb
is a beautiful building in its own right, and is also fascinating as it is
the greatest Moghul monument built before the Taj Mahal; you can see the
stylistic similarities in the two buildings. Safdarjung's Tomb was built
after the Taj; its style is associated with the twilight of Moghul style.
Nearby are the Lodi Gardens, a popular gathering point for young Delhi
residents; the gardens are dotted with early tombs dating back to the 15th
century. Visit Nizamuddin, a lively Muslim market area surrounding the tomb
of the saint. Qawwalis are sung here on Thursday evenings. Delhi's charms
extend beyond the heart of the city. Visit the Baha'i Temple, a graceful
structure with a distinctive air of tranquility and reflection. Nearby is
Tuqlaqabad, the ghostly remains of the third city of Delhi, built during the
short reign of Tughluq, in the 14th century. Also worth visiting is the Qutb
Minar complex, a marvelous example of Delhi's complex history: the first
mosque in the city was built with broken remnants of the Hindu temple which
ha previously been on this site.
The
Taj--memories of love
No visit to
India is complete without a journey to Agra. The Taj Mahal is one of
those extremely rare creations: an image so often seen in photographs and
media, yet still imbued with a fresh, awesome power when one sees it in
reality. Shah Jahan's sublime testament to his departed wife, Mumtaz Mahal,
is a marvel of marble and precious inlay. Visit it at sunrise and sunset to
see the effects of differing lights. While in Agra, also visit some of the
other sights of the city: Itm-Ud-Daulah, designed by Nur Jahan, the most
powerful woman in Moghul history, and Agra Fort, where Shah Jahan was
imprisoned by his son, Aurangzeb. A few miles outside of Agra is the
abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri, built by the Emperor Akbar, but abandoned
due to water shortages. This enchanting, atmospheric site is often used as a
stage set for Hindi films.
For many visitors, the western desert
state of Rajasthan is the archetypal India: broad sweeping desert
landscapes, punctuated by imposing forts and castles. Men in turbans lead
camels through markets, while women in heavy silver bangles and bold printed
skirts balance towering loads on their heads. Jaipur is known as "The
Pink City" for its use of soft pink sandstone. The City Palace is a
treasure trove of wildly painted reception halls, and doors decorated with
vividly painted peacocks and abstract designs of pure bold color. Nearby,
the Palace of Winds reminds visitors of a wedding cake, its finely tooled
stonework a marvel of masonry. Just outside Jaipur is the town of Amber,
known for its massive fortress. Its walls are covered in Moghul style
mosaics. Wander through the town, with its wealth of temples and ruins.
Travel onwards to Udaipur: for
many, this is the prime jewel of Rajasthan. Situated on the banks of Lake
Pichola, the city has many sights itself, and is a luxurious base for
exploring the surrounding area. Visit the City Palace, with mirror-encrusted
walls, gaily-painted murals, and a labyrinth of courtyards and balconies.
The Jagdish Temple is one of the busiest in the city. Visit the Bharatiya
Lok Kala, Udaipurís excellent Folk Museum, covering the many aspects
of Rajasthanís folk traditions: block printing, puppetry, painting,
and music. Travel to nearby Nagda, a pro-Mughal city dating back to the 7th
century, and Eklingji, an important Siva temple complex: the Maharana of
Udaipur worships here on Mondays. Also visit Ranakpur, a massive Jain temple
complex in a delightfully peaceful setting. The abandoned fortress of
Chittorgarh is a classic Rajput fort: its bloody history saw dramatic cases
of ritual JOHAR, where the women threw themselves onto a funeral pyre to
avoid being taken captive by the Moghul conquerors.
Many visitors
are drawn to Pushkar for its annual Camel Fair in February, where the desert
comes alive with camel races, and music and dance festivals. Also visit
Jodhpur, and tour the Mehrangarh Fort: the museum houses a prize 250 year
old pure silk tent, seized from the Mughal Court in Delhi.
In the
Far West of Rajasthan, the Desert City of Jaisalmer has superb Haveli
architecture, and is the base for camel treks in the Thar Desert. Many
desert oases in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan have excellent frescoes,
and their palaces have been converted to some of the most romantic hotels in
the world. Visit such atmospheric towns as Bikaner and Mandawa.
The spiritual heart of India is undoubtedly Varanasi, also known as Benaras,
Kashi, and the City of Light. Situated on the banks of the Ganges, the most
sacred Hindu City is a center for studying classical Indian music and dance,
yoga, and Hinduism. The old city is a maze of small temples, shrines, and
houses. An early morning boat ride on the Ganges is unforgettable: float
past the GHATS, where men do early morning yoga, and women fetch holy water
from the river to anoint the many small shrines throughout the old city.
Varanasi is also world famous for its dazzling silks and saris. There are
often music festivals and performances. Travel to Sarnath, whose tranquil
atmosphere is highly appropriate for this site of the Buddha's first
teachings. Several monasteries and universities are active here; it is also
a popular site for families to escape the busy pace of Varanasi.
Khajuraho is the site of some of the finest sculptures in India. Although
the temples are renowned for their erotic sculpture, all of the sculptures
represent the apex of Indian art. The nearby city of Lucknow is
traditionally the center of traditional Mughal arts and music, with a
festival of Kathak dance each February. The sacred city of Allahabad is the
site of the Maha Kumbh Mela every 12 years: the greatest Sivaite festival in
India. The city was Jawaharlal Nehru spent his childhood in Allahabad: his
home is now a museum documenting the Indian Independence movement.
Many people are drawn to India to visit the fabulous wildlife parks. Travel
to the lush Ranthambore National Park where Project Tiger originated.
Although few tigers survive, the park has many chital, nilgai, panthers,
storks, serpent eagles, and glorious paradise flycatchers. Madhya Pradesh is
home to two of the best parks in India. Bandavgarh is said to have the
highest density of tigers in any park in India. There are also lovely
rock-cut caves and a magnificent fort on the grounds. The park is
particularly fine for bird-watchers. Rare hornbills and many kinds of
rollers live here. Nearby, Kanha is a vast range of savannah, forest, hills
and rivers, covering over two thousand square kilometers. Many aficionados
consider Kanha to be the finest park in India, with hundreds of species of
animals and birds. Indeed, it is sometimes known as the NíGorongoro
of India. Southern India is home to Nagarhole National Park, which borders
Bandipur park: the two consist of nearly 1500 square km. Nagarhole has dense
jungle, and a great abundance of wildlife. It is one of the best places to
see Asian elephants, as well as gaur, the shy sambar deer, spotted chital,
and small, barking muntjac. A coracle ride along the Kabini River offers
sightings of crocodiles, and the plethora of birds that live in the park.
Your guide will point out to you the many species that inhabit the park.
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is at its prime in winter, when it is home to
migrating birds from Siberia, including cormorants, night herons, pheasants,
tree pies, and others. Nearby, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is in the Cardamom
Hills, centered on a lake. With four types of forest, including open
grasslands and tropical evergreen, many species of bird and animal live in
this diverse landscape. It is possible to get up to 20 yards away from huge
elephant herds, and listen to their broad range of sounds. Eastern India has
only recently been opened up to tourism. One of the highlights of the region
is the Kaziranga National Park. This lush valley, on the banks of the
Brahmaputra River, is home to rhinos, buffalo, and wild boar. The grasslands
are prime territories for raptors; Kaziranga is home to crested serpent
eagles and fishing eagles, as well as partridges, teal, and pelicans.
Southern India offers the visitor with a distinctly different experience
than the north. The inhabitants of Tamil Nadu pride themselves on being "true
Hindus", their culture and religion relatively unaffected by the
Mughals of the North. Madras is Indiaís fourth largest city, with
many examples of British influence, including St Mary's Church, and Fort St
George. The Government Museum houses an excellent collection of South Indian
arts, such as an unsurpassable series of Chola bronzes. Also visit
Kapaleeshwara Temple, with its archetypal Dravidian gopuram. A highly
recommended day trip takes in Kanchipuram, one of the seven sacred cities of
India, and Mahabalipuram, with its collection of temples along the seafront
including the Five Rathas, and the Shore Temples. Drive to Pondicherry, an
unusual bastion of French flavor. Once the capital of French India,
Pondicherry is now known for Auroville, an ashram inspired by a French
woman, known as "The Mother", who was a disciple of Sri Aurobindo.
Travel inland towards Madurai, one of the most dynamic pilgrimage sites in
India: each day, over 10,000 pilgrims visit the main temple. Also visit
Tanjore, with one of the loveliest Siva temples in the country. The Ganesh
temple in Trichy is perched on the Rock Fort: an 80 metre high vast stone
outcrop, offering panoramic views of the city. Outside the city, the
Srirangam temple is a frenzied, bustling Vishnu temple, surrounded by small
shops selling coconuts and other offerings for the temple. Rest and relax in
the cool climate of Kodaikanal, one of India's finest hill stations. Travel
onwards to Kerala, and visit Cochin. The city has an extraordinary history,
with a synagogue decorated with Belgian chandeliers and Chinese tile-work.
The harbor is still fished with Chinese fishing nets - the elegant, timeless
design brought to Cochin by traders from the court of Kubla Khan. Travel
along the sleepy backwaters to Alleppey, floating past palm trees and coffee
plantations.
Bombay is the starting point for many great journeys
in Central India. Visit Elephanta Island with its remarkable Trimurti
sculpture. Visit Malabar Hill with its commanding views over the bay. Travel
to Aurangabad, your base for exploring some of the greatest wonders of
India: Ajanta and Ellora. These cave temples house some of the finest art
treasures of the world. Ajanta is a series of rock cut temples along a
river; the cave walls are decorated with some of India's earliest Buddhist
paintings. Ellora has Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain temples, including the
Kailasa, the largest rock cut temple in the world. These two sites are
breathtaking on both an aesthetic, and engineering level, with meditation
halls hewn out of cliff walls, and thousands of tons of rock shifted away to
create free standing temples. Also visit Daulatabad, with its vast fort
rising out of the barren surrounding plains.
The residents of the
Bengal City of Calcutta consider themselves the intellegensia of India, and
have good reason for this self-image. Some of India's greatest thinkers,
writers, and artists have come from the vicinity of Calcutta: Rabindranath
Tagore, Satyajit Ray, Ramakrishna, and Sri Aurobindo. This paradoxical city
has a superb museum, the Victoria Memorial, one of the world's largest
planetariums, and fantastic markets. Travel to Darjeeling, the famed hill
station with an unusually diverse history. Stroll through tea plantations,
Tibetan markets, and the lovely Botanical Gardens. Set out early to Tiger
Hill for a sublime sunrise: Kanchenjunga, Everest and a full 360-degree
panorama are illuminated by the early morning light. Visit Ghoom Monastery
and other active Tibetan Buddhist monasteries.
The northeast
state of Orissa offers visitors unique temples, ethnic diversity, dramatic
dances, and unique local arts. Begin your visit in Bhubaneswar, with its two
thousand years of history. Orissa is home to a wide array of indigenous
peoples; their diverse arts are displayed in the city's museum. The city is
an excellent place to see the distinctive Orissan temple style, with one of
the most distinctive styles in Asia. After Bhubaneswar, visit Konarak, with
its massive temple of the sun. The temple was abandoned for centuries, and
only unearthed earlier this century. The temple depicts a massive chariot,
pulled by a team of horses. Visit Puri, with the Jaganath temple. Chilka
Lake is Asia's largest Lagoon, and a bird-watcher's Mecca.
The
Western Himalayan region of India is one of the wildest, most beautiful
parts of the country, accessible to people of all levels of fitness. From
Delhi, travel north to Chandigarh, the unusual city designed by Le
Corbusier. Continue north to one of the most beautiful areas of India, the
Kangra valley, famous for its school of paintings. Visit McLeod Ganj, the
site of the Tibetan government in exile. The Dalai Lama's presence in this
mountain town continues to draw a steady stream of refugees escaping Chinese
oppression and torture. The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives offers
daily classes in Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy. The library also has a museum
of thangkas, statues, and other sacred objects.
Continue up the
Kulu valley to Nagar. Kulu encompasses a dramatically changing landscape.
The valley was a major trade corridor between Central Asia & the
Gangetic plains. The small village of Nagar was home to the Russian set
designer, writer, and philosopher Nicholas Roerich. His landscapes of the
Himalayas, done in bold, dramatic colors, are displayed in his old house,
where he lived until his death in 1929. The town of Manali is surrounded by
lush valleys, and high mountains, and is a delightful base for day hikes in
the cool, fresh hills. Visit Shimla, the summer capital of the British Raj.
Walk along the Mall, and "Scandal Point" - where the Grande Dames
of the Raj exchanged the latest news and gossip. Christ Church and the
Gaiety Theater contribute to the colonial atmosphere of this hill station,
as does the impressive Vice Regal Lodge, amid pine forests and landscaped
gardens. For a more intense mountain experience, drive to Sarahan,
approximately 200 km east of Simla. The drive takes you into the Himalayan
foothills, up the Sutlej valley. The valley was traditionally a trade route
between Western Tibet and India; Tibetans would trade salt & wool from
the plateau in exchange for the great bounty on offer in India. Sarahan
boasts one of the finest temples in the region - the Bhima Kali temple.
Continue driving east along the Sutlej valley. The vegetation changes as you
travel, and the population becomes increasingly sparse. The inhabitants are
increasingly Buddhist, rather than Hindu, as you draw closer to the Tibetan
border. Drive up the stunningly beautiful Sangla valley, covered in dense
pine forests, with majestic views of Kinner Kailash and the high peaks of
the Garwhal region on the horizon. Abundant in birdlife and wildflowers,
with waterfalls cascading down the mountains, the Sangla valley is a
near-paradisiacal destination in the summer - a world away from the heat of
the plains.
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