Discover Two Unique Travel Experiences In India

A country that will open your eyes and feed your soul, we take a look at two very unique travel experiences in India…

The Kambli Ghat Pass

For many of us, train journeys are something you have to take to get from A to B, but the train between the cities of Jodhpur and Udaipur in India is something a little out of the ordinary.

Travelling through the scenic Kambli Ghat Pass near Jojawar, Rajasthan, this is not a tourist train, but one that locals use everyday. As a result, if you do get to board, you can enjoy interesting conversation with them (well, if your Indian or their English is any good), as they try to suppress their surprise and excitement of meeting someone from overseas. This, paired with the moments when the train is drenched in complete darkness and children laugh and scream from the excitement, and when the train stops on bridges for brake checks, make the journey unique to say the least. If you seek local, cultural experiences while travelling, the Kambli Ghat Pass will tick all of the boxes.

While it’s not a tourist train per se, the Kambli Ghat Pass is still a picturesque ride through the beautiful hills and forests of Aravallis and the Aravali Range as well as desert-like landscapes, with one very memorable surprise guest. The train makes a scheduled stop to feed Langur monkeys, and these greedy devils know exactly when and where to jump on board. The passengers hold out biscuits for the monkeys, but these hungry primates can get aggressive, so there are bars across all of the windows. Now, you wouldn’t see that on the London Underground…

The Blue City

To say that Jodhpur leaves a lasting impression would be doing it an injustice. The second-largest city in Rajasthan is looked down upon by the great Mehrangarh Fort, 100ft tall and 400ft above the skyline of Jodhpur. Today, it may be best known for featuring in Hollywood movie, The Dark Knight Rises, but this imposing and muscular structure holds some of the finest palaces in the state, and its museum preserves priceless relics of ancient India. Most striking of all is its red sandstone colour contrasting with the beautiful blue of the local houses, giving Jodhpur the nickname The Blue City.

Theories behind the choice of colour range from its connotation of Brahmin to its use of repelling insects – but, whatever the reason, it’s certainly led many travellers to wander the old quarters and has as a result become the tourist hub of Jodhpur. You could wander these streets for hours, but a market is well worth a stop to pick up local treasures from musical instruments to saris. As well as the Mehrangarh Fort and Museum, visitors to Jodhpur can also lay their eyes upon the majestic sandstone Umaid Bhawan Palace and the white marble Jaswant Thada, both important icons of Jodhpur history and heritage.

A visit to Jodhpur and through the Kambli Ghat Pass are just two highlights on the Grand Heritage Tour of India with Travel & Taste. Exclusive to BBM readers, this tour also includes a visit to the Taj Mahal, an elephant ride in Jaipur, a boat ride on Lake Pichola in Udaipur and an overnight train from Jodhpur to Delhi. Ideal for first-time travellers to India, the Grand Heritage Tour provides comfortable but affordable travel, with hotel accommodation, a local guide and unique experiences over 15 days at just $999pp based on two people sharing an AC medium-sized car or $1499 for one person using an AC medium-sized car.

These tours are available exclusively to BBM readers and won’t be found on travelandtaste.com.au. For full details, call +61 (0) 438 517 598 or email [email protected]