We set off in our coach to the Amber Fort. On the way we stopped to take photos of the ‘Palace of the Winds’ and we saw some snake charmers.

At the Amber Fort we swapped our comfortable coach for jeeps to take us up to the fort. Many tourists make the trip by elephant.

We set off to Ranthambore National Park at 6.30am for our dawn safari. It was very cold to start with but soon warmed up. We saw antelope, crocodiles, lots of birds, wild boar and monkeys. The monkeys were shouting a warning and the guide thought a leopard must be near but we didn’t see one. We heard jackals.

Back at Sawai Vilas we had a late breakfast and then set off in our coach to Jaipur. We travelled for about 4 hours passing colourful towns and villages.

We arrived in Jaipur and had a look round the Pink City Palace and the Jantar Mantar Observatory.

We arrived at our hotel in time for drinks and dinner.

Tomorrow we will drive to the ancient capital of Amber to see the fabulous Amber Fort.

We had a relaxing morning, swimming in the pool and relaxing on the terrace.

After lunch we set off in 2 Canters (20 seater safari vehicles) for our safari drive through Ranthambore National Park. It was an amazing experience! The park is very close to our hotel. We had a 3 hour drive around the park.

We saw plenty of deer, many species of birds, monkeys and crocodiles. It was nearly time to leave when suddenly jeeps and Canters began racing to a spot by the lake. We could see a tiger in the distance!

Amazingly the tiger walked right up to us!

She continued past the vehicles and joined her cub.

For a while it was very quiet except for the click of camera shutters! We came back very happy.

Tomorrow we have another chance to see the tigers on a dawn safari ride!

We have been so lucky!

We left Agra in our coach headed for Ranthambore National Park. It was a very long journey but we broke it up by first visiting Fatehpur Sikri, the ghost city. It was built by the third Mughal emperor, in the 16th Century, when he moved from Agra, to be near a holy man who blessed him with 3 sons. When the holy man died he returned to Agra and the walled city was abandoned.

We continued our journey, stopping for lunch in Bharatpur.

The Sawai Vilas are amazing. We even have an outdoor shower!

Tomorrow we have a relaxing morning followed by a safari!

We said goodbye for now, to Delhi and travelled by coach and train to Agra. The train was the Gatimaan Express, India’s fastest train. We visited Agra Fort (The Red Fort) before checking in to our hotel.

After lunch we visited the Taj Mahal, only minutes away from our hotel by coach. The Taj Mahal is a marble mausoleum built on the south bank of the Yamuna River. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Moghul Emperor Shah Jahen to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. They met as teenagers at an event at Agra Fort.

Our visit over we went back to the hotel for dinner, as the sun began to set, exhausted but exhilarated.

Tomorrow – Ranthambore National Park!

Today we had a guided sightseeing tour of Delhi, starting in New Delhi, with its wide, tree lined avenues, beautifully kept roundabouts and the impressive architecture of the government buildings and embassies.

This was followed by a visit to the Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque. We had to leave our shoes outside.

Following this we took a rickshaw ride through the streets of Old Delhi. It was chaotic, and slightly nerve wracking but fascinating.

Safely back on the coach, we drove to see Gandhi’s memorial sight where an eternal flame burns.

We then visited Humayun’s Tomb. He was the second Mughal Emperor. It was built for him, by his wife, in 1569. Set in beautiful, symmetrical gardens, it was an oasis of calm.

Tired and hungry by now, we stopped at a hand knotted carpet emporium for a demonstration of carpet making and lunch! We had the best Samosas in all of India, according to our guide, Raj.

Finally, and most poignantly, we visited the site of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. We were able to visit the room in which he stayed, and follow in his final footsteps.

It has been a packed day, full of contrasts, a truly amazing experience.

Tomorrow we leave Delhi (for now) to travel by train to Agra.

Until then

Carol

Today we took an optional tour, driving in taxis further up into the mountains through the amazing Kufri countryside of Upper Shimla.

We stopped at a viewpoint in the tiny village of Fagu.

We drove on to Wildflower Hall, a luxury hotel constructed on the site of the former summer residence of Lord Kitchener, where we had lunch.

We drove back to Shimla, a hair raising experience. The roads are narrow and winding and very busy. We passed through many villages, none of which have pavements. There were a few near misses but no one was injured!

Tomorrow we travelling back to Delhi, by taxis and train.

I think we will miss Shimla

Carol

This morning we had a very interesting talk, with slides, about the history of Shimla and the surrounding area by Raja Bhasin, who has appeared on Tv with Michael Portillo. We then got into a fleet of taxis and drove through narrow, packed streets to the Viceregal Lodge, which was the official residence of the Viceroy of India during the summer months when the British moved the seat of power to Shimla to escape the heat of Calcutta. Many British rulers have lived there including Mountbatten. It now houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies.

After lunch in another Oberoi Hotel we walked up Mall Road. Being on the mountainside, Shimla is very hilly.