Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

 

Incredible India-waiting to be experienced 
“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries” - Aldous Huxley

 

Asia sticks to you. From the nomadic steppes of Kazakhstan to the frenetic streets of Hanoi, Asia is a continent so full of intrigue, adventure, solace & spirituality that it has fixated & confounded travellers for centuries. Wrapped in rainforests, edged by golden sands, crowned by volcanoes, studded with ruins of lost civilisations: this is Asia as you have always imagined it. The joss sticks lit for the household shrines in Thailand impart a sweet perfume to the thick air & the heavenly aroma of Indian spices follows you for days.

 

And India is an incredibly varied & exciting vacation destination, pulsating with a spectacular mix of people, traditions & landscapes. With an intoxicatingly rich history, which has spawned a number of exquisite Palaces, Temples & monuments, your journey through this mind-stirring country will blaze in your memory long after you have left its shores.  Come, discover India with us……..

 

Spirituality infused with the gods of past & present with ancient spirits of the land & the family, the deities of Buddhism & Hinduism & the rules of Islam, swirls around Southeast Asia like the thick smoke from incense sticks of the devotees in Taoist temples. At dawn in Buddhist nations, monks flood into the streets to gather alms in endless monochrome chains. In Muslim countries, the call to prayer rises in a multi-throated chorus above rooftops while tribal people in remote villages mark the new day's arrival with arcane animist rituals.

 

The continent has contributed a cast of villains & heroes to global history. Most of the significant achievements of the modern world had their infancy in Asia. Historic trading routes sliced across epic terrain as expanding empires competed to trade goods & ideas throughout the continent & beyond. Asia’s ambitious civilisations ultimately gave rise to some of the world’s most revolutionary ideas & important technology.

 

From sublime coastlines to snow-capped mountains, rolling landscapes fed by the monsoon rains, frenetic cities fizzling with energy, the majestic Mekong River to wildlife infested jungle where tigers still roam free (though far from noisy tourists), the diversity of Asia’s landscapes hold an immediacy & vibrancy that captivates & enchants.

 

Immense expanses of desert flow down from inhospitable mountains, which in turn give way to seemingly impenetrable forests. Trekking in Malaysia’s steamy jungles & wildlife spotting in southern India to riding horses through the Mongolian steppes, skiing in Japan’s Alps & dodging falling coconuts on one of the many remote islands. Nature continues to be the driving force in many peoples’ lives. Virtually every climate on the globe is represented here; take a trek over the Gobi’s arching dunes or sun yourself on the sand-fringed tropical islands of the South China Sea.

 

Ancient wonders & sacred spaces abound across the continent, from the Great Wall of China & the Temples of Angkor to lesser-known marvels in Myanmar, Nepal & Afghanistan.

 

A frenetic buzz surrounds urban Asia: the fashion, culture & business in the continent’s metropolises easily challenge the biggest European & American cities for their status as global hubs. Asia's mighty megacities are stepping boldly towards the future with one foot planted firmly in the past.

 

Watch rice paddies flash by from a whooshing high-speed magnetic trains, pick up a shiny new laptop in a Hong Kong electronics market or shiny smartphones or go to a robot cabaret show in Japan - the future is now.

 

Gleaming Skyscrapers rise above the roads like crystal gardens, while at street level, traders hustle, food-hawkers hawk & Temples bustle with devotees toting their offerings. China is charging its way into the 21^st century with its economy developing at a head-spinning pace, while South Korea boasts some of the fastest internet speeds in the world & India is a hub of growing technology. Urban energy of Bangkok, or the organised modernity of Singapore, each of Asia's capitals has its own unique character, defined by religion, culture, geography & in most cases, by centuries of colonialism & feuding dynasties.

 

Every aspect of life here has a spiritual dimension, from the food people eat to the religious geometry that dictates the layout of centuries-old Mosques & Temples.

 

Is there any greater place to eat than Asia? The continent has exported its cuisines the world over: India’s red hot curries, China’s juicy dumplings, Vietnam’s steaming bowls of pho soup & Thailand’s heaping plates of pat tai (pad Thai) noodles are known & loved across the globe. Asia is where the flavours of some of the world's greatest cuisines melt into one another, throwing up ever more mesmerising combinations.

 

The region's spices were once valued more highly than gold & combined with one notable import - the South American chilli - they have created a cooking palette that inflames the senses & leaves the taste buds begging for more.

 

Whether settling down for a Michelin-starred meal in one of Singapore’s finest restaurants or pulling up a plastic stool on a Bangkok street, hungry travellers will never be bored by the diversity of Asia’s cuisines. This is a region where humble hawker stalls come with Michelin stars, where a meal at a roadside canteen or night market can be as memorable as a 5*, dim sum banquet.

 

And now let us talk about India, one of the oldest civilisations in the world, a mosaic of multicultural experiences., a rich heritage & myriad attractions,

 

Ancient Civilisations| vast Landscapes |expectedly Unexpected |Soul Warming

Bamboozling. There is simply no other word that convincingly captures the enigma that is India. With its sumptuous mix of traditions, spiritual beliefs, festivals, architecture & landscapes, your memories of India will blaze bright long after you have left its shores.

 

India's landscapes are as fantastically varied as its cultural traditions. From the snow-dusted peaks of the Himalaya to the sun-splashed beaches of the tropical south, the country has a bounty of outdoor attractions. Travel aficionados of the great outdoors, can scout for big jungle cats on a blood-pumping scenic wildlife safaris, paddle in the shimmering waters of one of many balmy beaches of coastal retreats or trek high in the mountains or simply inhale pine-scented air on a meditative forest walk. Among all these natural treasures is a wealth of architectural gems, from serene temples rising out of pancake-flat plains to crumbling fortresses looming high above plunging ravines.

 

With its in-your-face diversity, from snow-dusted mountains to sun-washed beaches, tranquil temples to feisty festivals, lantern-lit villages to software supremo cities, it is hardly surprising that this country has been dubbed the world’s most multi-dimensional. Love it or loathe it & most visitors see-saw between the two, India promises to jostle your entire being, and no matter where you go or what you do, it is a place you will never forget.

 

Spirituality is the ubiquitous thread in India's richly diverse tapestry, weaving all the way from the snowy mountains of the far north to the tropical shores of the deep south. Hinduism & Islam have the most followers, while Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity & Zoroastrianism are also widely practised. The multitude of sacred sites & rituals are testament to the country's long, colourful, & sometimes tumultuous, religious history.

 

So, for those seeking spiritual sustenance, India has oodles of sacrosanct sites & stirring philosophical epics, while history buffs will encounter gems from the past almost everywhere - from grand vestiges of the British Raj serenely peering over swarming spice bazaars. For those in search of tropical bliss, there are the palm-fringed beaches of Goa & the serene backwaters of Kerala. And for fresh air & serenity, India ripples with pristine mountains & hills, from the towering beauty & eternal snows of the mighty Himalayas to a bevy of beautiful pine forests, orchards & babbling streams.

 

Apart from its ancient spiritual framework, India's vastness also challenges the imagination, being home to one sixth of the world’s population. With more than one billion people, the sub-continent bristles with an eclectic melange of ethnic groups, which translates into an intoxicating cultural cocktail for the traveler.

 

A land of myriad cultures, with an intoxicatingly rich history which has spawned a number of exquisite Palaces, Temples & monuments, it is truly representative of “Unity in Diversity”. India is proud to be home to the Taj Mahal - a majestic architectural creation that travelers have crossed continents to visit, in the city of Agra within close proximity to the cities of Delhi & Jaipur connecting the 3 cities to present the “Golden Triangle” a tourist circuit most first time travelers to India choose to tread.

 

Meanwhile, the people-packed cities of Mumbai (Bombay) & Kolkata (Calcutta) have a bustling, colorful charm, while the holy city of Varanasi & the awe-inspiring Temples of Tamil Nadu are rewarding places of pilgrimage.

 

And not to forget the colorful mosaic of Indian festivals & fairs as diverse as the land - an eternal expression of the spirit of celebration. Observed with enthusiasm & gaiety, every season brings along new festivals - each a true celebration of the rich tradition of India. India hosts some of the world's most dazzling devotional celebrations - from formidable city parades celebrating auspicious events on the religious calendar to simple harvest fairs that pay homage to a locally worshipped deity

 

And then of course, there is the food! Indian cuisine is a scrumptious smorgasbord of regionally distinct recipes, each with their own traditional preparation techniques & presentation styles - from the competing flavours of masterfully marinated meats & thalis (plate meals) to the simple splendour of vegetarian curries & deep-sea delights. From squidgy South Indian idlis (fermented rice cakes) to zesty north Indian curries, foodies can look forward to savoring a seductive smorgasbord of specialties. Here you will fry, simmer, sizzle, knead, roast & flip across a deliciously diverse repertoire of dishes.

 

Spices lie at the heart of Indian cooking, with the crackle of cumin seeds in hot oil a familiar sound in most kitchens. The country is also renowned for its tempting array of street food, with vendors selling everything from spicy samosas and kebabs to cooling kulfi (ice cream) & lassi (yoghurt drink).

 

Once you touch down on sub-continental soil, you will also quickly discover that Cricket - India’s sporting obsession - is one of the most spirited topics of conversation, along with the latest shenanigans in the razzle-dazzle world of Bollywood. However, it is politics - whether at the national, state or village level - that consistently dominates news headlines, with middle, lower & upper-class India keenly keeping a track of the world.

 

The destination reflects the rich glories of the past in its culture, tradition & cuisine. Love it or loathe it - & most travelers see-saw between the two - to embrace India's unpredictability is to embrace her soul. A mystical land that presents the guests with an array of unforgettable experiences. From the deserts of the West to the deltas of the East, India truly has it all. .......yep, India is waiting & The Journeys is ready to take you on well, a journey (or journeys) of discovery.

 

 Come…be inspired & discover the World with us

 

We are in the process of updating our Offerings of experiential journeys to India. Please contact us in the interim if you want to explore options & we will be happy to offer suggestions based on your personal preferences…