Hi Devender,
We must give you a very big thank you as you and your team ensured that our first visit to India and Katmundu was such a tremendous success and a really wonderful experience.
From our earlier exchange of emails where you tailored our itinery and programme we already had good vibes about this adventure and must congratulate you and all your staff as the most professional and caring people we were privileged to meet during our 2 week tour, always giving us kid glove treatment.
First and foremost thanks to our wonderful driver Shyam who constantly kept us entertained during our 11 days and 1800 kms drive in India with his long term experience about the local peoples, customs religions and politics and also the agriculture and local life. All this whilst silky smooth driving us safely through many times chaotic traffic in cities highways and the winding narrow local roads – always with a smile and good humour.
Every stop we were met by your local friendly caring managers and the very knowledgeable local guides – the Jaipur guide JK was particularly outstanding with his knowledge and way of expressing things and also his sense of humour – we really enjoyed him and especially his advise that there are 485 different snakes in India and all found in one place – at the parliament in New Delhi !!
Also in Katmundu we were well cared for with good people especially our careful driver and extremely knowlegeable guide there.
All our hotels were all first class – especially the Samode Haveli in Jaipore staying with the Maharaj in his wonderful old palace – probably the most exotic room/suite that we have ever stayed in throughout our life long World travels. The Samode Palace was also very nice and also a good place to relax with a great modern swimming pool deck area set in its mountain backdrop.
Agra Wyndham Grand was also first class as well as the Soalter Crowne Plaza in Katmundu. But the Justa Residence hotel in Delhi also a first class boutique hotel with very friendly staff and good food.
Highlights of our trip
1) Ranthambhore National Park where we followed a big tigress up a stream only 20 to 40m away for almost an hour and the final charge at some grazing impala – she missed ! Having lived for 50 years in South Africa we have seen many wild animals but none as beautiful as this tiger.
2) Jaipur City with its bustling crowds and a kaleidoscope of vibrant colours of the ladies dresses plus beautiful old buildings and city walls and elaborate gates. .Next morning a ride up to the wonderful Amber Palace on elephants – a marvelous experience and the very interesting palace and fortifications. Then a visit to the historical observatory – most interesting.
3) Agra – Taj Mahal – just wonderful and the large fort visit.
4) Delhi with its very contrasting New Delhi colonial capital buildings, and Old Delhi with its magnificent Red Fort and the beautifl old Jama Masjid Mosque and the Qutab Minar tower built in 1199.
The bike rickshaw ride through the narrow alleys of Old Delhi was a most erotic experience of bustle sights and smells.
5) Katmundu – a great experience of old religious cultures – but much more polluted than India !
Highlight was the return flight to Delhi above the clouds and 30 mins flight parallel to the Himalaya’s seeing Mount Everest, Annupurna and the other great peaks.
Wow what an experience and we will be back and certainly only using Central Tours of central India.
Thanks again.