India Travel Tours

A rich cultural history, cosmopolitan and rural cities, and a diversified landscape characterize India. With its huge landmass, it is impossible to experience its natural treasures without a good travel package.The eight days' and seven nights' journey in "Palace on Wheels" takes a traveler across Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (Delhi-Jaipur-Jaisalmer-Jodhpur-Sawai Madhopur-Chittaurgarh-Udaipur-Bharatpur-Agra).

The luxury train has deluxe cabins, wall-to-wall carpeting, a bar, two dining cars and personalized service. Scheduled to leave the station in April 2006, the tariff per person for seven nights is single occupancy $395.00; double occupancy, $295.00; and triple occupancy, $240.00.

This is inclusive of meals, sightseeing tours in deluxe coaches, entrance fees for monuments, palaces cultural entertainment at Jaipur and Jaisalmer, boat ride to and from Lake Palace Hotel at Udaipur, Elephant ride at Jaipur, Camel ride at Jaisalmer and Rickshaw ride at Bharatpur.CONTACT: E-Mail: info@tsiindia.com; Tel: 91-11-29812205."Ananda Wellness Bliss" (five nights, six days) is the ideal tour to detoxify in Ananda Spa amid the serene Himalayas.

The package includes a detoxifying drink (ginger, lemon and honey in hot water); three spa cuisine meals, per night of stay, per person; transfers from Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun or Haridwar Railway Station; spa orientation; use of Hydrotherapy facilities (jacuzzi, steam, sauna, chill plunge pool, Kneipp Hydrotherapy foot bath and heated lap pool), yoga, Pranayama, and meditation; daily use of the Nutritional, Wellness and Lifestyle Library; Hydrotherapy Aromatic Bath; customized Body Exfoliation Therapy; and a customized Massage per day. Contact: Tel: 91-11-2689 9999; Fax: 2613 1066; E-mail: sales@anandaspa.com.Thirty kilometers south of Trivandrum on the backwaters, "Poovar Island Resort-Kerala Backwaters" is ideal for honeymooners and detoxifying ayurveda treatments. This resort is accessible only by a fifteen-minute cruise from the Poovar jetty.

The three-day package comes at a price of Rs. 12,999 (per room; land costs only), and includes two nights, three days accommodations, airport /station transfer, boat transfer, meals, and a sunset cruise on the backwater. Twin accommodation in a Floating Cottage comes at a steeper price of Rs. 19,999 (valid till March 31, 2006). Contact: Thomas Cook, Dr. DN Road, Fort, Mumbai 400001 India; Tel: 91-22-22048556; Fax: 91-22-22871069.

By: Alison Cole