Highlights of Northern India Discovery Holiday

Our Clients’ Reviews

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Average Review Rating: from 113 reviews.

Catherine Coleclough

HIGHLIGHTS OF NORTHERN INDIA

Written October 2010
Incredible India - the sights, the sounds and the smells - the crazyness of the place - you just have to love it! You see some fantastic sights. We had a great group of people that really helps make a trip - what a laugh we had at times!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There are a few! The Taj Mahal at sunrise, though quite a predictable moment, cannot go unmentioned. It is breathtaking and despite there being tonnes of people there, you can walk around and not actually feel like there are as many people there as there are (if that makes sense!).
Also the 2 boat trips on the Ganges - the night time one to see the evening ceremonies - we sat for some time watching the ceremonies take place which were quite hypnotic - it's hard to believe it happens every night. Then in the morning travelling up the Ganges at dawn to see the 100's of Hindu's bathing and praying in and by the river is a sight to be seen.
What did you think of your group leader?
Bali was great. He was informative and funny. He told us so much about the culture, religions etc of his country. He added little extras each day to add to the trip.
He made sure we all made it onto the overnight trains (along with our luggage) - quite impressive when you have 16 people who haven't a clue, plus a suitcase each and you only have 4 minutes to get them all on the train!
On our last day in Delhi he took great pride in taking us to his Sikh temple and showed us around. This was a very special part of the trip which I found quite moving. On the last night he even did a bit of Punjabi dancing for us!
All the local guides we had were very good too.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for some long days with very early mornings. It is a tiring trip, but well worth it for the wonderful sights you see. Take antibacterial hand gel! Loo roll is pretty scarce too so I'd take some of that too. I, and a lot of our group went veggie for most of the trip and managed to avoid Delhi belly - I managed to get food poisoning one evening, but think that was because I had a chicken pizza - should have stuck to veggie curries! I took a cheap duvet cover to sleep in on the train rather than use the blankets supplied and I was able to put my valuables in the bottom of it - that said we had no issues with anything going missing on the train.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Just be prepared for a busy but amazing trip - hope you have a great group of people like we did - and go for it! One thing we didn't manage to fit in was the trip to Fatehpu Sikri - I just can't see how it can be fitted in!
Oh yes and take plenty of camera memory and don't forget your camera battery charger!
Carole Gillman

HIGHLIGHTS OF NORTHERN INDIA

Written October 2010
This was a fabulous tour which gave an unforgettable experience of Northern India within a very short time.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The ghats at the Ganges in Varanasi - life and death before your eyes. Although I am not religious the whole experience from cremations; Aarti ceremony; boat trips; watching the sunrise over the Ganges; teeming masses of people who came to worship, bathe, meditate or even do their washing was incredibly moving and spiritual.
The Taj Mahal is reputed to be the most beautiful building in the world, and indeed it does live up to its reputation. Seeing it in the dawn and as the light changed making it appear like an ethereal image was an experience of a lifetime.
What did you think of your group leader?
Balvinder Singh was superb as a group leader. He entertained us with interesting stories and had a great sense of humour, his manner was extremely pleasant and polite - it's very difficult to organise groups of adults! Bali was very knowledgeable and helpful, he made sure all of us had the best of experiences - for instance ensuring that we all were grouped together in the sleeper train, which took a while to organise. Bali also took us on a fascinating visit to his own Sikh temple on Diwahli. He also found amazing places off the beaten track to visit, like the incredible step well (Baori) at Abaneri.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take spare batteries & large storage memory cards for your camera... & always carry them! Possibly even take two cameras if you use an SLR, a compact is handy at night. India is a photographer's paradise, the light is perfect.
If you are a woman covering your face by pulling a scarf/veil across is an excellent deterrent to pesky hawkers who won't take no for an answer!

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Go & enjoy!
Rebecca Roberts

HIGHLIGHTS OF NORTHERN INDIA

Written August 2010
So many sights, sounds, smells- a truly vibrant place to visit. I saw much more than I ever coudl have in that amount of time on my own and the group were fantastic.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Experiencing the Hindu rituals at Viranasi will never be forgotten: canlde light, incense, and chanting in a ritualistic dance invoking God of the Ganges- all encompassing.
Taj Mahal is truly awe-insipiring- I could not take my eyes off it- a majestic building with such presence.
Sitting in the silence of the Lotus Temple in Dehli was a wonderful way to end the trip.
What did you think of your group leader?
Excellent group leader, caring, informative and fun.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The itinery is intense-rest when you get home!!
Talk to the locals as much as you can, enjoy entering into the rituals.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Fabulous trip, fabulous country, fabulous group to trave with- highly recommended.
Duncan Muir

HIGHLIGHTS OF NORTHERN INDIA

Written April 2010
Excellent group and dynamics, tour leader Sanjay very helpful. Highlight were seeing a Tiger come out of the Jungle some 10M away and also spotting a Leopard! Taj Mahal at dawn better than I had imagined and Varanassi bewitchingly Beautiful. Lots of early rises and some long travel days but all in all a wonderful 10days intro to India. ...oh and bring a cossie cos 2 of the hotels have pools .
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Tracy Smith

HIGHLIGHTS OF NORTHERN INDIA

Written April 2010
Great trip, lovely mix of people that all interacted together well.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing a tiger! Only a very quick glimpse but amazing.
What did you think of your group leader?
Group leader - Krishna was brilliant - very knowledgeable but also relaxed and easy going and ready to help anybody with anything.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
There was lots of travelling - hadnt quite realised how much there would be. Which was fine but made everything quite tiring.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Go for it!
Craig White

HIGHLIGHTS OF NORTHERN INDIA

Written April 2010
I absolutely loved it! Great start as that was not only my first trip with exodus but also my first trip of this type, never thought of visiting India but I'm really glad I did. Its a great trip if you want to see all the sights in a short trip or if your looking for a taster to help plan a longer trip around India. Be warned there is a lot of traveling and the roads aren't great.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Couldn't pick one instance, the trips still a massive blur, but all the sights were amazing.
What did you think of your group leader?
Gopal was a great group leader, he has a wealth of knowledge on all the sights and the history of the country. He arranged every little detail so there was never a need to worry. We were all apprehensive about the sleeper train but Gopal was up several times a night on both trips to ensure we were ok (Not that I noticed as I was well away in dream land)
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Try and get sleep at every free opportunity, dont expect to sleep on the coach between destinations as the roads arent in great shape and the routes are extremely bumpy. Also make sure you keep well hydrated, re-hydration sachets and Imodium are a must.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The overview states moderate / leisurely but there is alot of traveling over the 10 days so be wary of this (approx 20hrs train and 30hrs coach)
Lucy Woods

HIGHLIGHTS OF NORTHERN INDIA

Written March 2010
India…wow, what a truly amazing place. So culturally different from home that it really has to be seen to be believed.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
A predictable highlight…the stunningly beautiful Taj Mahal. The wow factor kicked in at the first glimpse through the entrance gate. The early start was certainly worthwhile as a slight mist shrouded the building as we arrived. The sun soon appeared to cast yet a different light, making the exquisite white marble sparkle. The atmosphere was one of serenity and calmness and provided a unique experience. Varanasi was another highlight. The visit to evening prayers on the banks of the Ganges, the boat ride to the burning ghats and the sight of pilgrims bathing at sunrise will stay with me forever. It is a wonderful place to wander around on foot. A maze of narrow alleyways, dotted with cows, goats, children and women wearing the most colourful saris. At Ranthambore we spotted a tiger and pandemonium set in! We couldn’t quite believe our eyes as the beautiful creature strolled right past our vehicle. The scene was similar to that of a celebrity being tailed by the paparazzi, but the tiger seemed to take it in his stride. At least I hope it wasn’t affected by the hordes of tourists.
What did you think of your group leader?
Avtar had the most amazing organisational skills. He worked incredibly hard throughout the whole trip, especially during our overnight train journeys when he managed to negotiate so that the whole group were situated together, rather than dotted around the train. His enthusiasm for his country and his wish for us to experience the real India made for an unforgettable trip. There were a couple of ‘lost in translation’ moments, but these all added to the experience!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I opted for a solo date and was a little apprehensive beforehand. However, I shouldn’t have worried at all as the group was an absolutely fantastic bunch of people. I had chatted to several of the group on the Exodus forum before the trip departed. This was an excellent way of getting to know a few people and which broke the ice when we finally met. So if anyone is anxious about booking a holiday on their own, my advice would be just go for it and definitely use the forum before you go. The itinerary was packed so be prepared for early mornings, but as the trip was fairly short, this was the best way to see as much as possible. I’m not sure anything can prepare you for the poverty which is such a huge issue, but unfortunately this is the real India and shouldn’t be avoided just because you are on holiday. It certainly makes you appreciate what you have back home, often too much, and does make you re-evaluate your life to a certain extent. On a lighter note, the best piece of clothing I took was a pashmina-style wrap...it was an ideal cover up from the sun and from prying eyes and also doubled up as a headscarf when visiting temples. Oh, and take Exodus’ advice and pack gloves, hat and a scarf for the morning visit to Ranthambore (in February, not sure about other times of the year). It was freezing, and having sniggered at my travelling companion for having brought gloves along, I went on to borrow them to thaw out my icy hands!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I had the most amazing adventure and will definitely be booking future trips with Exodus. Their professionalism was second to none, from my first enquiry until after I returned home. Thank you Exodus!