Indian Inspiration - Anecdotes share their top 5 travel concepts to experience the very best of the Subcontinent.
When your clients are seeking experiential India at its breathtaking best, there’s no better DMC to deliver than Anecdotes.
Their exciting range of tailor-made trips, boutique group tours and signature itineraries is driven by their passion for celebrating the beauty and diversity of the whole of India and Indian culture, each one diving deep into the undiscovered stories of the Subcontinent from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean.
It’s Anecdotes' belief that the best - the only way to truly explore and experience the transformative spirit, colour and life of this fascinating nation is through the themes that lie at its heart; from its heritage, culture, architecture to its festivals, crafts and cuisine.
So we asked them to compile their top 5 thematic experiences - a snapshot selection of travel concepts that offer all you need to inspire the India trip of a lifetime for your guests.
Celebrating Indian Heritage
When it comes to experiencing the heritage of India, there are plenty of places which are widely known and widely visited - and then there are some rare jewels, tucked away off the well-beaten tourist trail.
Hampi, the “Lost City of Legends” is such a place.
Once the magnificent capital of the last great Hindu Kingdom, this incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site is an open-air museum of ancient palaces, temples and towers, where you can explore the exquisitely carved Dravidian architecture, musical Saregama pillars and local culture for hours.
Here, guests are hosted by Anecdotes’ local storyteller, offering unique insights into this deeply spiritual place as they move between the palatial ruins and the many stunning temples and temple complexes - with more spellbinding stories to follow over meals of mouth-watering South Indian cuisine.
Early mornings are the perfect time to experience a sound healing session, where notes gently echo off cave walls on the banks of the river Tungabhadra, which later provide the ideal setting for a scenic post-session breakfast.
And, for a truly authentic way to soak up the views, a tractor drive takes guests through the stunning greenery of the surrounding valley - on a quintessentially rural mode of transport!
This is a place where responsible tourism is taken very seriously, with various initiatives launched to enrich and empower the native peoples.
One can be experienced with a trip to nearby Kishkinda Trust, a model arts and crafts village led and managed by community stakeholders. Here, travellers can browse the wares of local artisans and be part of the drive to preserve the area’s ancient culture and heritage.
To the East, a visit to the tranquil region of Odisha (formerly Orissa) combines wonderfully well with the bustling pace of Calcutta.
Known for its various temples - including the Puri, Lingaraj and the unmissable Sun Temple at Konark - the region remains off the radar for tourist crowds. It is also home to a number of fascinating hill and jungle-dwelling tribes, making for a completely unique cultural taste of India.
And it’s also a treasure-trove for textile lovers, with opportunities to see and buy the region’s incredible rainbow-coloured applique fabrics and Pattachitra cloth scrolls.
With Anecdotes, the itinerary through Odisha sees guests welcomed to a number of boutique stays and palatial homes, often owner-run, adding an extra dimension to their experience of local stories and culture.
Celebrating Indian Festivals
Festivals are a crucial part of India’s culture, helping the Indian people celebrate their history and heritage, providing entertainment and enlightenment and allowing them to share their values in a range of diverse and inclusive celebrations.
Anecdotes begin their guests’ festival experiences with Durga Puja, held in October and especially celebrated with immense joy in Calcutta.
This revered, multi-day Hindu festival brings the City together, as communities create and decorate temporary structures known as “Pandals” to hold rituals, prayers, dances and performances celebrating the goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasur.
As they tour the Pandals, guests can interact with the communities for an authentic understanding of the festival’s social significance, going on to explore Calcutta’s fabulous colonial architecture and legacy before finishing with a local home culinary experience.
Here, guests enjoy a delicious meal of local Bengali specialities at the heritage home of their welcoming host, whose unique art collection is second only to their free-flowing stories of Bengali history and culture.
In November, visit the Holy City of Varanasi for Dev Deepawali - a true bucket list experience.
During the festivities of Dev Deepawali, a visit to the home of a classical maestro of Indian music allows for a deep immersion in the culture, with an exclusive performance of the region’s age-old “Benares Gharana” music.
A unique curated walk through the lanes of Varanasi allows guests to discover the local sweets and quintessential dishes of the region.
Finally, here in one of the world’s oldest Cities, board a private boat to witness the magical spectacle of this iconic festival from the waters of the Ganges - the perfect place to take in the sights and sounds as every ghat and temple is lit and prayers and vedic mantras are chanted to welcome the Gods to Earth.
In December, the vibrant Hornbill Festival offers a chance for guests to immerse themselves in the biggest cultural extravaganza of the beautiful state of Nagaland.
A colourful transcript of time-honoured music, traditional costumes, dances and contemporary arts, this captivating tribal celebration is set amongst the picturesque hills and valleys, filling the air with excitement as locals and visitors alike gather to witness a spectacle of music, dance, art and traditional sporting events.
The rhythmic beats of drums and the melodic tunes of indigenous musical instruments transport guests to a bygone era.
Indulging in mouthwatering traditional Naga delicacies and discovering exquisite handicrafts and handlooms that represent the unique craftsmanship of the Naga tribes, guests gain a fascinating insight into the heritage of the Naga people that leaves a lasting impression on all who attend.
Celebrating Indian Wildlife
One of the world’s most biodiverse countries, home to a host of rare and endangered species and dedicated to conservation through its reserves and sanctuaries, if it’s wildlife you love, then India is a tough act to beat.
In Rajasthan, guests can head into the wild for a unique adventure at Ranthambore National Park, whose 10 zones are home to leopards, sloth bears, gaur and - of course - the Indian Tiger.
Within the park, guests can explore areas once the hunting grounds of the Kings of Jaipur, discover the UNESCO listed Hill Fort and visit one of India’s oldest temples as they tour around - and, for the ultimate immersive experience, Anecdotes often invite a former park warden to guide and share their vast knowledge of the flora and fauna.
At Kaziranga Park in Assam, combine a nature and culture tour of the states of Assam and Meghalaya with an exploration that offers the chance to see the rare one-horned Rhino in its natural habitat.
Almost two-thirds of the world’s population of these magnificent creatures roam this lush, dense forest, also home to leopards, Indian wild elephants, Rhinoceros, wild buffalo and wild boars as well as many other species.
For a complete wildlife experience, Anecdotes’ Gujarat itinerary takes in a range of parks, including Gir - home to the Asiatic Lion - to the Flamingo sanctuaries, before finishing with a visit to the Rann of Kutch, the white salt lands of India.
Celebrating Indian Textiles
Renowned for their beauty, artistry and vibrancy, India’s textiles history stretches back thousands of years, its secrets passed down through the generations.
Rich in culture and heritage, Gujarat in North Western India has a thriving textiles industry, much of it driven by tribal communities living in beautiful countryside villages.
Here, amongst these temple towns, oceanside villages and hill tribes, each village is known for a particular handicraft - from Ikat to block printing; beadwork to embroidery.
And guests are able to experience this fabulous tapestry of skills visiting the villages showcasing beautiful bead jewellery and single Ikat weaving, the latter being a signature Kutch tribal embroidery which is considered some of the best in the world; the heirloom stitching of the Sodha Rajput, Kharapat and Rabari communities and the unmatched silk Patola sarees of the Salvis.
Anecdotes have a wonderful itinerary that takes in the best of this theme and region together.
With the opportunity to interact with local artisans as they showcase their works, guests can learn about these age-old skills, as well as immerse themselves in local cultures that vary from place to place.
And not forgetting the region’s many other experiences!
For a uniquely holistic trip, Anecdotes recommend combining Gujarat's textile trail with the Asiatic Lions of Gir and the Salt Lands of Gujarat, where the salt desert sprawls over almost 5,000 sq ft and local musicians stage a unique performance - an itinerary that lands a big tick with a twist on the bucket list!
Celebrating Indian Adventures
For those with adventure in their soul, the call of the scenic, mountainous beauty of the Himalayas or Kashmir - known as paradise on earth - is hard to resist.
And no wonder.
From the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas in the north to the lush Western Ghats in the south, it’s possible to trek and travel through these stunning landscapes at leisure, soaking up both the sights and the diversity of these remote regions with their traditional cultures, customs and cuisines.
Trekking in India is a unique and rewarding experience, allowing guests total immersion in their picturesque surroundings - and there’s an option for every level, from beginners to the most advanced mountaineers.
But for those wishing to see the real India up close and off the beaten trail, Anecdotes have two suggestions.
The first is the Tosamaidan Trek, a moderate trail which traverses a new area of Kashmir that remains relatively unexplored.
This 7-day, 68 km trek is based at Tosamaidan, the “King of Meadows”, which lies to the west of Srinagar.
Crossing 9 Alpine high-altitude lakes, 12 vast meadows and 5 key rivers, the ideal season for this trek is between June and September, when the weather is clear and the landscape lush.
From this base, guests are able to explore a landscape rich in flora, fauna and natural Indian beauty, with stunning lakes, mountain passes and peaks, gushing rivers and green meadows and forests dotted with wildflowers - a true heaven for any nature lover.
Or, for those who wish to travel a wider distance, Anecdotes’ Trans-Himalayan Road Expedition charts a trail that takes guests by car from the meadows of Kashmir, up through some of India’s highest motorable passes to the desert plateau of Ladakh in the North, a place cut off from the outside world until the 1970s.
In Ladakh, guests can participate in their choice of fascinating experiences - viewing the prehistoric rock art of the Nubra Valley, visiting India’s northernmost village, stargazing the clearest of night skies and picnicking by the incredible monasteries on the riverbank of Leh - an unforgettable way to end the perfect Indian adventure.
We hope we’ve given you and your clients plenty of food for thought when it comes to planning their Indian travel experience of a lifetime - and remember, Anecdotes are the experts at personalising the perfect explorative experience to help your guests get right to the real heart of this incredible country and make memories they’ll treasure always.
For an introduction to Aditi and the Anecdotes team, drop us a line today.