prayer flags bhutan responsible travel we are passionate about the countries we specialise in and have always been firmly committed to the principles of ethical travel and sustainability our responsible travel policy has been awarded three stars the maximum possible by aito and we have drawn up a travellers code which will help you to ensure your trip does not threaten the sustainability of the places you visit audley support the friends of conservation carbon offsetting scheme for further details on how to offset the carbon emissions from your flight please visit our website or talk to the country specialist arranging your trip throughout the subcontinent we use properties such as the coconut lagoon in kerala that ensure they operate in a sustainable manner by employing and training local staff supporting local growers and conserving the resident flora and fauna should you wish to visit one of these projects during your trip our specialists will endeavour to help you do so in add
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meherangarh fort jodhpur jodhpur set on a steep rocky outcrop jodhpur s fort provides an outstanding vantage point overlooking the sprawling blue and whitewashed houses scattered below the meherangarh fort or `majestic fort is one of the most impressive in rajasthan lining the ramp climbing up to the fort are a number of enormous stone gateways the last of which shows the hand prints of the royal satis the former wives of the maharajas who jumped onto their husband s funeral pyres before the british outlawed the practice in the shadow of the fort jodhpur s colourful and vibrant market is an atmospheric collection of bustling stalls selling leather goods spices and silks a few hours wandering provides a vivid insight into the daily life of jodhpur s residents and may result in some interesting souvenirs taj hari mahal jodhpur an elegant hotel with a design inspired by the mughals the guest rooms are furnished using local materials and look onto the pool set in a cool central courtyard
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classic calcutta and the east from calcutta the heart of the east this tour will take you south to explore the ancient hindu and jain temples in orissa and north to the spectacular scenery of the himalaya home to stunning buddhist monasteries and british colonial history day 1 day 2 day 3 day 4 day 5 day 6 day 7 day 8 day 9 day 10 fly to calcutta arrive in calcutta tour of the city fly to bhubaneswar explore the city and visit nearby caves drive to puri and visit the jagannath temple travel to nearby konark to visit the sun temple morning at leisure fly to calcutta fly to bagdogra and drive to gangtok explore gangtok and the monasteries in the surrounding area drive to kalimpong afternoon to explore visit the thongsa gompa monastery drive to darjeeling days 11-12 explore darjeeling and the area including the ghoom monastery the oberoi grand calcutta since it opened its doors to guests over 125 years ago this hotel has become very much part of calcutta s raj heritage it has an ideal loc
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the ganges at rishikesh rishikesh one of india s seven hindu holy cities and bisected by the mighty ganges rishikesh is home to many ashrams offering spiritual learning yoga and meditation the river is the focal point of the fascinating evening aarti which starts with a holy fire ceremony priests offer a purifying mixture of herbs and ghee to the fire whilst prayers are chanted and small lamps are lit to thank the river for being the source of life and prosperity in the area since ancient times rishikesh has been a rest stop for holy men and pilgrims heading into the himalaya seeking purity ananda near rishikesh haridwar a fascinating and somewhat off-the-beaten track town on the ganges haridwar is easily accessible by rail from delhi and like rishikesh is one of india s seven hindu holy cities legend has it that it was sanctified by vishnu s footprint on the riverbank where the captivating evening aarti ceremony takes place at dusk priests seem to appear at every window and doorway al
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nandi bull tanjore infinity pool shreyas shreyas bangalore shreyas is a newly developed retreat located on the outskirts of bangalore with 12 luxurious tents and comfortable cottages accommodating a maximum of 25 guests here the focus is very much on promoting health and well-being through yoga sessions with highly trained yoga masters it is not aimed exclusively at experts and also teaches the art to beginners this property contrasts contemporary style with antiques and the facilities include a swimming pool two yoga halls and a fully-equipped audio visual room guests are encouraged to eat together at the communal dining table with organic homegrown vegetables always on the menu taj west end bangalore located on the outskirts of central bangalore the taj west end offers an oasis of calm in india s fastest growing city this colonial-style deluxe hotel has 129 guest rooms with views of the surrounding gardens and grounds other facilities include indian italian thai and chinese restauran
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tea estate munnar thekkady and periyar wildlife sanctuary thekkady is a popular resort and spice trading town next to periyar wildlife sanctuary in the cardamom hills and provides convenient access to the park early morning walks are recommended as the forest comes to life with the calls of birds and monkeys while a boat trip on the lake is a great way to spot elephants gaur and deer you may also stroll through one of the spice plantations a highly educational and enjoyable experience seeing how crops such as pepper and nutmeg are grown and harvested shalimar spice thekkady only eight kilometres from periyar wildlife sanctuary this delightful property blends into the surrounding hills scattered on the hillside surrounded by jungle and spices the 15 keralan guestrooms and cottages are a wonderfully peaceful experience each room has been carefully and uniquely decorated with traditional indian furniture and the rooms have individual sit-out areas overlooking the beautiful spice garden wh
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browsing elephants nagarhole corbett located in the himalayan foothills on the ramganga river corbett is the longest-established national park in india an astounding 580 species of bird have been sighted here including great pied hornbills and the rare ibisbill from february onwards wild elephants emerge from the sal forests to drink at the river home to marsh crocodiles and gharial a river-dwelling fish-eating crocodile domesticated elephants are available for safaris in the buffer zone surrounding the park kanha kanha covers over 900 square kilometres and has two entry points at kisli and the more remote mukki gate with accommodation at each over 200 bird species and 22 species of mammal including leopard the indian wild dog and swamp deer have been recorded and many can be seen over breakfast in the meadows during your morning game drive there is a healthy population of tiger and sloth bear although the bear s crepuscular habits mean it is rarely seen outside the hours of dawn or
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st andrews nuwara eliya pinnewala elephant orphanage kirchhayn bungalow bandarawela pinnewala elephant orphanage about an hour and a half west of kandy the famous pinnewala elephant orphanage was established in 1975 twice daily the babies are fed before they are taken to the nearby river to bathe watching them play as their mahouts throw buckets of water over them is a charming spectacle nearby the less well known millennium elephant foundation cares for old and sick elephants when they retire from forestry work nuwara eliya at 2,000 metres above sea level the 19th century colonial hill station of nuwara eliya was a favourite retreat of the british who were drawn by the climate and to this day it retains a colonial ambiance with its golf course gentlemen s clubs and mock-tudor buildings one of the best ways to reach nuwara eliya is by train from kandy the first-class observation car gives stunning views of the surrounding tea plantations waterfalls and dramatic mountain scenery st andr
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dhoni mighili and private dhoni dhoni mighili with just six rooms dhoni mighili is the maldives only boutique hotel and undoubtedly its most unusual resort the emphasis is on your own crewed dhoni which comes with its own beach bungalow the boat is at your disposal throughout your stay and can be taken for island hopping trips sandbank picnics or perhaps a sunset cruise fitted with a luxurious bedroom bathroom and kitchen it can even be taken for an overnight stay away from the island back on dry land the beach bungalows four of which have plunge pools are luxurious but simple and understated in keeping with the relaxed ambiance of the island marine life taj exotica resort spa at taj exotica the style is smart and sophisticated with rustic touches in keeping with the surroundings with 62 rooms the resort is perfect for those who want first-class luxury and impeccable service in a quiet relaxing setting a focal point is the newly opened jiva grande spa set on stilts above the lagoon o
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when to travel the southern part of bhutan is tropical and in general the eastern region of the country is warmer than the central valleys however the higher the altitude the cooler the weather and with a brisk wind blowing down off the mountains even low-lying valleys can become chilly the best time to visit bhutan is from october to may when the climate is mainly dry and sunny while in december and january snow may block mountain passes and travel is therefore restricted to the western valleys audley in bhutan paro is usually the entry and exit point to bhutan and flights operate from delhi via kathmandu and bangkok via calcutta bhutan can also be reached overland from india but it is a long drive from the border to the main places of interest journeys in bhutan can be slow as the one main road running east to west weaves its way over the himalayan foothills and routes are occasionally closed by landslides delays however are more than compensated for by the beautiful scenery and the
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new mill new mill lane witney oxfordshire ox29 9sx united kingdom telephone 01993 838 300 · fax 01993 838 010 email indsub@audleytravel.com · website www.audleytravel.com w8501 all of our brochures are printed on paper produced from sustainable resources should you wish to dispose of your brochure we kindly request that you recycle it with special thanks to the following photographers paul goldstein steve allen peter langer toby sinclair stanley c diamond jan willen den besten david fettes marinos costeletos marco pozzi robert harding john carr bill hobdell jamie marshall getty images alamy limited photgraphers direct ministry of tourism india various hotels and members of the audley indian subcontinent team.
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