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BEYOND RAJASTHAN - FOUR NEW MADHYA PRADESH ITINERARIES
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Venture beyond Rajasthan with our new suggested itineraries focusing on the hidden gem region of Madhya Pradesh. This much less visited part of India is home to temples, ruins, caves and other archeological wonders dating back to ancient kingdoms. From natural parks boasting Bengal tigers, remote safari drives and majestic waterfalls to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, peaceful temples and an iconic festival celebration, these new curated journeys provide immersive, cultural and adventurous experiences that allow travelers to escape the crowds and and experience a new side of India.
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Meaning “central region” in native Hindi, Madhya Pradesh is an insular seat of India’s rich religious, artistic, and even prehistoric past. Ancient temples – featuring some of the world’s most breathtaking stone carvings – stand alongside other major historical sites sure to pique the interest of history buffs, photo enthusiasts, and general sightseers alike. But while your visit to Madhya Pradesh is sure to be a richly stimulating experience for all the senses, you can count on a distinct lack of one thing: bustling tourist crowds. Your trip will include visits to temples and ruins, such as those of an ancient Rajuput royal kingdom, as well as guided tours of tucked-away metropolitan sites like the central market in Old Bhopal City – known as the “City of Lakes” and one of the greenest cities in India. Feel as though you’ve stepped back in time, and away from the road most traveled, on this 10-day trip from Delhi to Mumbai through the highlights of Madhya Pradesh.
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Madhya Pradesh is a cornerstone of India’s rich religious, artistic, and even prehistoric past. This 12-day trip will see you enjoying numerous stops throughout the region at a variety of heritage-filled cities and UNESCO world heritage sites. Designed for visitors who have potentially been to India before and want to dig deeper into its vibrant culture, the itinerary features a healthy mixture of guided tours and opportunities to break away for independent exploration, should you desire. You can even do a charity city walk as organized by a local Indian non-profit. Visitors whose travel plans coincide with the Dev Deepawali celebration, typically celebrated in early November, are truly in for a treat with the opportunity to experience this holiday marking the Hindu gods’ descent to Earth to bathe in the Ganges River. Fireworks fill the skies, oil lamps light the night, and homes are covered with colorful designs as a procession of elaborately decorated deities make their rounds through the streets. It’s truly a sight worth seeing.
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Over the course of Madhya Pradesh’s rich history, it has it has been home to Hindu kings, Muslim sultanates, and Buddhist believers alike. All of these groups have left cultural marvels behind that still dot the lush landscapes of this central Indian state, and this 13-day trip gives you an excellent opportunity to explore them all. Discover towering sandstone forts, ornate Hindu temples, and ancient Buddhist stupas with pictorials that narrate the religion’s teaching through painstakingly crafted stonework. You will even get a chance to observe early cave drawings made tens of thousands of years ago by early humans. Madhya Pradesh is known as the “Heart of India” and promises not only insight into the cultural heritage of India, but also into that of humanity itself.
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This trip is especially geared toward travelers with naturalist inclinations, as it veers through the Bandhavgarh, Panna, and Satpura national parks. While of the same state, each park still has its own unique characteristics. Bandhavgarh is known for its large population of Bengal tigers, majestic waterfalls punctuate Panna’s stunning vistas, and the vast Satpura’s remote safari drive can take you far away from other sightseers. In addition to days spent exploring these national parks, there is also time spent exploring the local culture. See the Khajuraho temples and tour the many temples and palaces of Orchha, which was once the seat of the Orchha State, and you’ll also get a taste of vibrant Old Delhi. Madhya Pradesh is a land rich with biodiversity, natural beauty, and traditional culture – framed perfectly by this adventurous 11-day trip.
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Zhangjiajie – home to kilometer-high karst pillars, dense forests, and fascinating hiking trails – is a great place to visit in all seasons. It’s pretty well known the region inspired James Cameron’s film Avatar; the government even renamed one of the sky columns after the movie in a bid to promote tourism. A mountainous national park in Southern Hunan, this area of China also boasts the tallest outdoor elevator in the world and some terrifying glass walkways perched on the side of sheer cliffs. There is so much to do, see, and photograph that one might easily spend a week in the area and not see it all.
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Southeast Asia is littered with amazing historical ruins that rival the Greek and Roman monuments of the Occident, though many are rather obscure to Western travelers. Thailand in particular is home to many stunning examples of Thai and Khmer ruins, most notably the grand remains of Ayyuthaya and Sukothai. Roughly 150 kilometers from Thailand’s bustling Bangkok sits the small city Lopburi that has the lesser known yet interesting temple ruins of Prasat Sam Yot. It’s not really the history or architecture for which this region is famous, but its primate occupants. It is, for lack of a better word, infested with long-tailed macaques.
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Crime writers and film-makers often squabble over what is meant by the term noir. The dictionary tells us noir is “crime fiction featuring hard-boiled cynical characters and bleak sleazy settings.” Here in Bangkok we have our fair share of sleazy settings and cynical characters, and some hard-boiled cynical fiction. The French will have us believe noir means “black” or ‘dark film.’ Shouldn’t we take their word for noir seeing they invented the term? Well, not necessarily. Etymological evolution crosses borders – words grow organically overseas fertilized by new understanding. And although noir often evokes the lights and shadows, blacks and whites, smoky streets and lamp-lit streets of the French auteur flick it isn’t the only definition in town.
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There’s nothing quite like hearing heavy footsteps splashing across a creek toward you and spying a trunk curling through the trees – that is, until you creep close enough to witness the expressiveness in an elephant’s eye. Fans of conservation can find different ways to give back to the world of wildlife on their cultural journey through the sleepy travel town of Luang Prabang.
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There are many things to love about Bangkok’s Yaowarat neighborhood, from the lively scene of Sino-Thai traders doing business to the scenic shrines and iconic neon signs – and of course, its treasure trove of street food. While non-locals may refer to Yaowarat as Chinatown, it’s worth noting there’s no such word in Thai, but locals and tourists alike can agree that Yaowarat is the heart of Bangkok’s dining scene.
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Ho Chi Minh City’s flourishing contemporary art scene reflects its status as Vietnam’s most cosmopolitan and dynamic city. Over the past decade, Saigon has evolved from a commercial art hub to a more eclectic community of artists, curators, and educators creating platforms to promote Vietnamese contemporary art.
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