Passage to India

Four trips on the Subcontinent to stimulate your mind, body and soul

For a holiday that will reawaken your senses, head for India. With its rich spiritual heritage, welcoming people and picturesque landscapes, the country makes a rewarding destination, whether you dream of laying on a tropical beach, riding across a wild desert or trekking beside snow-capped mountains. No matter what your needs or interests, here are four trips that will help you make the most of this enchanting country: exploring in vibrant Rajasthan; walking in the breathtaking Himalayas; cooking in glorious Goa and relaxing in the tropical beauty of Kerala.

Explore Rajasthan

With its splendid hilltop forts, bejewelled palaces, austere deserts and dazzling colours, the north-western state of Rajasthan is India at full intensity. October to March is the ideal time to visit, when the weather is cooler and there are many festivals, but this is peak season, so book early. Variously pink, blue and golden, its cities offer irresistible shopping and fabulous places to stay, such as the lavishly decorated Samode Haveli in Jaipur and Amet Haveli in Udaipur, a regal heritage hotel overlooking Lake Pichola. For a memorable desert encounter, check into Mihir Garh, a romantic nine-suite luxury fort south of Jodhpur where you can go horse riding, enjoy spa treatments using the sacred Indian herb tulsi (holy basil), have a yoga lesson on the roof terrace and admire a night sky peppered with stars. Rajasthan, Delhi and Agra (Rough Guides, £14.99) is a comprehensive guide.

Ampersand Travel (020 7289 6100, ampersandtravel.com) offers packages to Rajasthan, including an eight-night tour with three nights at Mihir Gahr (mihigarh.com).

Hike in the Himalayas

Mountains don’t come any higher or more spectacular than the Himalayas. Take an overnight train northeast from Delhi to Kathgodam and you can then make a scenic drive winding up to the peace of the Saryu Valley, lined with majestic peaks that crown the borders with Tibet and Nepal. Working in partnership with local communities, Village Ways offers holidays that give visitors a rewarding insight into life in these remote mountains while also providing economic support for its traditional settlements.

Accommodation is in attractive guest houses and a tented camp set at 3,000 metres, with walking options that range from two to six hours accompanied by trained guides. October and November are good months to go, when the fields are still green but there is little rain, and there is every chance of enjoying clear and exhilarating views to the roof of the world. For more inspiration, get a copy of Trekking in the Indian Himalaya (Lonely Planet, £13.99). Village Ways (01223 750049, villageways.com) offers walking holidays in the Indian Himalayas, such as the 10-night ‘Saryu Classic’ tour which includes accommodation, transport, meals, guides and porterage. British Airways (ba.com) has flights from Heathrow to Delhi.

Get cooking in Goa

Fancy a fish curry? Or some pepper chicken chettinad spiced with cumin, coriander and fresh ginger? Book a cooking holiday to Goa and you don’t just learn how to make such dishes, you’ll also get to sit down and eat them for lunch, then snooze in a hammock by the sea. Set on India’s easygoing west coast, this balmy region is a well-established destination for a winter sun holiday, with palm-fringed beaches and impressive whitewashed churches left from the days when it was a Portuguese colony. A week’s holiday with On The Menu includes three cooking classes, plus a visit to a spice plantation and a local market to buy produce and enjoy an authentic south Indian breakfast. Shorter courses specialising in curry and vegetarian dishes are also available, and guests stay in the lively resort of Calangute at Casa de Goa, a three-star boutique hotel with air-conditioned villas and a pool. And when you get home, tanned and with new talents, it’s surprising how many friends suddenly want to come round for dinner. Get in the mood with World Kitchen India (Murdoch, £12.99), an informative mix of cookbook and culinary journey. On The Menu (08708 998844, holidayonthemenu.com) offers cooking holidays to Goa that include tuition and tours. Qatar Airways (qatarairways.com) has flights from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester via Doha.

Kick back in Kerala

Down in the warm, lush southwest corner of India, Kerala enjoys a reputation for offering truly relaxing holidays. There are good beaches and lots of small, friendly hotels. You can make stimulating trips inland to see tea plantations and wildlife sanctuaries, and spend a lazy day drifting along the tropical backwaters in a converted rice barge. It’s also a favourite place for yoga and ayurvedic treatments. Another good way to get a complete break from our hectic, screen-filled world is to spend a night or two in a guesthouse at one of the many farms that grow coffee, mangoes and nutmeg. The best time to visit is from late November to March. Fly into Trivandrum then head north to Thekkady, Alleppey and Cochin, a historic spice port with an atmospheric old quarter where you can check in to a delightful retreat such as Malabar House, a former Dutch colonial residence with a pool, gourmet restaurant and ayurvedic spa. Try a shirodhara treatment where herbal oil is poured rhythmically onto your head, instantly wiping away worry. Kerala (Thomas Cook, £4.99) is an up-to-date pocket guide. I-escape (i-escape.com) offers accommodation and tours in Kerala, such as the 12-night ‘Ayurveda and Backwaters’ tour that includes two nights at Malabar House (malabarhouse. com), transport, sightseeing and some meals. Emirates (emirates.com) has flights from six UK airports to Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) via Dubai.

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