North India

This is the land of romance. It is here that the deep love of one man for one woman created the Taj Mahal; where the King of Kings ruled; where the sacred Ganges flows past holy cities; where the Himalayas stand silent and magnificent; where 5000 years of culture waits to be absorbed. Relax sitting on the balcony of one of the beautiful hotels in the mountains, breathing in the pure air and idly watch sparkling rivers cascading down the mountainside.

On the journey towards the peaks of the Himalayas, yet another totally different and magnificent experience beckons. Imagine standing alone on the top of the world with swirling white clouds beneath you and yet another snowy ridge ahead. Visit silvery Kashmir, beautiful Shimla, or the lush green Kulu Valley with its flower-strewn walks and sparkling brooks. Breathe in the pine-scented air from the tall forests and watch the local people in their homespun woollen clothes drying apricots in the sun.

Take in the wonders of the sublime Taj Mahal in Agra, the old ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri, and the exotic pink city of Jaipur. Ride a camel or see a tiger stalking in the distance in glorious Rajasthan. Stay in a fairy-tale palace in Udaipur. Extend your Arabian nights' fantasy to magical Jaisalmer - a yellow city whose buildings radiate the colour of the sun. Visit Khajuraho. Nowhere else in the world is mankind's sensual nature celebrated in such intriguing and graceful tableaux as in its sculptured temples.

See the gracious Red Fort in Delhi, which is really two distinct cities. The energy and colour and the thronged bazars and Moghul architecture of Old Delhi contrast with the formal splendour of New Delhi.. Wander around the inexpensive modern shops and handicrafts centres. Magicians and dancing bears entertain crowds in the marketplace, while fortune tellers may offer glimpses of the future. The heat of the day gives way to balmy evenings; enjoy a meal in one of the many splendid restaurants, the exotic music of sitars and veenas and the subtle rhythms of the tabla accompanying the delicious cuisines from throughout the country.
There is a distinct difference in the cooking of the north and the south. North Indian cooking which has been traditionally rich bears the influence of Muslim cuisine like the sumptuous fare of Biryani (rice cooked with lamb or chicken) which once the Mughal emperors favoured. Another north Indian speciality is Tandoori or a food cooked in a clay oven which includes chicken best eaten with naan or roti (flat bread) also cooked in a tandoor. A great number of vegetarian preparations are found in this part of the country owing to the large number of vegetarians.