Category: India

Travelling to Goa

We travelled to Goa from Delhi on 31st March with Air Asia at a cost of £90 each, which included extra luggage and a meal on the plane. Air Asia are very strict on weight and will charge you for even being the slightest kilo over. We had 20k each in hold luggage and 7k each in hand luggage. One of the hand luggage cases was only 6K and one of the hold cases was 21k. We were told that we could take 1k out of the hold luggage and put it in our hand luggage or we would have to pay. We decided to pay to avoid the hassle of opening up our suitcases and trying to transfer 1K of luggage. It was a bit over the top given we had already paid extra and the combined weight did not exceed the allowed weight. Anyway onto the plane and the meal we received was basic but edible . The flight took approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Transfer

When we arrived in Goa the temperature was quite high at 32^oC as it was 3.30 in the afternoon. We had booked our transfers with Booking.com. The advice on the booking information was that our driver would be waiting in the arrivals hall with a sign with our name on but unfortunately on arrival he was nowhere to be seen. Eventually we managed to contact our driver who told us he was waiting somewhere else at the airport and not in arrivals as we had been advised. We were carrying 2 large cases and 2 small cases; we finally located the driver who took the 2 large cases and asked us to follow him. We assumed that his car was in a nearby car park. To our dismay he took quite some distance down a road and then over what can only be described as a 3 lane motorway with all of our cases. He could not fit one of the cases through the central reservation therefore he left it leaning against it. The case was only inches away from being hit by a large truck. Luckily we managed to cross both sides of the motorway in one piece.

Accommodation

Finally we arrived at our hotel – the Accron Regina in Candolim. We arrived and were given a nice soft drink while we were checked in. Check in was relatively quick with very polite staff who spoke good English. Our cases were taken to our room by the porter. There were two lifts in the hotel which isn’t very big therefore you do not have to wait long. Our room was a double room overlooking the swimming pool. It had a decent sized bathroom with corner shower. There was adequate room to put clothing (wardrobe with drawers and extra drawers). There were tea and coffee making facilities in the room. We were a bit disappointed that considering the temperature that there was no fridge in the room. There appeared to be a place where a fridge had been previously. The room was nicely furnished although not really to our taste in decour. Each day the room is cleaned to a very good standard which we could not fault. Clean towels are provided each day and toiletries.

The pool was not very big but there were never a lot of guests using it. We only spent a couple of hours round the pool on our first day. The pool has a swim up bar but this was not open although you could order drinks which were brought to you from the bar. Lovely cocktails forapproximately £3 which was good value. There are nice sun loungers around the pool with beach towels provided by the hotel.

Beach Shacks

Most of the days in Goa we spent on the beach where there are many shack bars to visit. Each shack has its own sun loungers which are mostly free of charge as long as you buy a drink or something to eat from the shack. Our favourite shacks were Bob Marley’s and Stringfellows. We were offered massages and beauty treatments such as nail decoration for a reasonable price.

The cost of eating out and drinks at each of the shacks was very cheap and therefore great value. For one lunch we ordered chilli chicken, stir-fry chicken with noodles and chips. We also had a kingfisher beer each and the total cost was £12. A bottle of kingfisher was 90p. Bacardi breezers were £1.50. Cocktails ranged from £3 – 5 which did contain a generous amount of alcohol!

Some days we stayed on the beach into the early evening to watch the sunsets which were amazing. Dusk is a lovely part of the day when the weather is not too hot but pleasant. The shacks were quite busy at this time of day. Most people had had enough from sunbathing and being in the sea.

Food and Drink

We did go down onto the beach to the shacks on a couple of evenings but they are relatively quiet compared to the day. Also there was a lot of red sand around which stains your shoes especially if they are white.

The main street in Candolim has so much to choose from when it comes to restaurants and bars. The cost of eating out is very cheap in Goa no matter where you go. There are some up-market restaurants which do cost a bit more than most but are much cheaper than in the UK. No matter what your taste in food is or budget there is something for everyone.

We ate at the Fisherman’s Cove restaurant on a couple of occasions. It is always busy therefore you may have to wait for a table but not for long. While you are waiting there are seats at the bar where you can sit and have a drink. Each evening there is live music which adds to the atmosphere.

At the Fisherman’s Cove you could also order snacks to the bar if you did not want a big meal which included small pizza’s and fries which were lovely. We were pleasantly surprised that they served Indian Cider.

There are so many bars to choose from that serve great cocktails and beers. It is very interesting sitting in the bars on the main street watching the world go by. At one of the bars we went for a White Russian cocktail and a beer and it came to £3.50. The cocktail was lovely.

Sacred cows

One of the things that was quite strange when walking around Goa was the amount of cows on the streets. We have been to Goa before therefore did expect this but still it takes you by surprise when you are walking along and one brushes past you. Most of the cows seem to be on the main street on an evening.

Although we got used to cows being on the streets and roads it was a bit of a shock when one decided to walk into the bar we were sat in. It was very funny to see it looking to the bar for attention. When we tell anyone it sounds like we are about to tell a joke “a cow walks in to the bar” lol. As the cows are sacred the people of Goa respect and care for them.

Saturday/Sunday Bottomless Brunches

There are a number of bottomless brunches in both North and South Goa. The prices are exceptionally cheap compared to the UK. They start as low as £10 per person. We opted for a bottomless brunch at the 5 star Alila Diwa in South Goa which is part of the Hyatt chain of hotels. It cost £22 each plus £10 each in taxi fare for 3 hours all-inclusive food, drinks and use of the pool facilities.  The journey was about 1 hours drive from Candolim.

When we arrived at the hotel we were not disappointed as this was a much higher standard of hotel than the one we were staying in.  Even so it did lack in atmosphere around the pool which was very quiet. Not sure if this was due to the time of year as it was coming to the end of the season.

Drinks

We made our way to the restaurant where the food was being served. There were plenty of waiters on hand to guide you to your table. As it was such a lovely day we decided to sit outside. There was a waiter there to take our drinks order. When was asked for a menu we were told that they could make any drink that we could think of. Champagne was very popular at the brunch therefore we decided to try a glass or two. It was evident that this was actually Champagne and a decent quality one rather than prosecco which is served at most bottomless brunches in the UK.  There is a cocktail list on the bar but other than that any cocktail you want they will freshly make. There is also a DIY cocktail station where they will show you how to make cocktails which was good fun.

Food

The food at the brunch was very impressive with various food stations inside and several cooking areas outside. The variety of food was immense. Whether you are a meat eater, vegetarian or vegan there was so much choice. The choice was so vast it is impossible to mention everything that was on offer.

Pool

The pool area was lovely with an infinity pool. There were also tables and loungers in the pool where you could sip your cocktail whilst staying cool in the water. Using the pool was part of the bottomless brunch. We had read about this therefore we had come prepared with our swim wear. Towels were also provided by the hotel.

This was definitely the best bottomless brunch we have ever been to.

Goa Tour

We had arranged with the driver we used to take us to the bottomless brunch to take us to the waterfalls but upon speaking to some of the locals they informed us that at this time of year the waterfall was not impressive as it was dry season and the flow relatively low. It was also a good 3 hours away by taxi and then jeep. They suggested we visit the sites of Old Goa. We messaged our driver Miko to inform him of the change of plan which was no problem. He charged us the same as to go to the waterfall which was £19 each.

Miko arrived a few minutes early to our hotel. We explained to him where we wanted to go and that we were also open to suggestions from him as to where was worth visiting.

Old Goa

As we had been picked up early in the morning we hit peak traffic which was a bit chaotic. Our driver Miko appeared to abide by the rules of the road and never went over the speed limit unlike most of the other drivers in India.

Although it was relatively early there were still plenty of tourists in Old Goa.  Many of them entered into the lovely church in the centre Basillica of Bom Jesus. Unfortunately we were unable to enter the church due to wearing shorts so it’s worth taking something to cover legs and shoulders. The church was an impressive building made of red sandstone. Many people were lighting candles at a shrine.

Across from the Basillica is the Catholic Church of St Francis of Assis. This is a lovely white church with well kept grounds which is very picturesque. There is also a museum within the church which you can look round at a cost. As we did not have that much time we didn’t do this and just walked around the grounds.

On entering Old Goa or leaving Old Goa you will notice the St Augustine Ruins. These ruins also appear to be made of red sandstone. The ruins are on a hill. Unfortunately there is no parking here so you would need to walk up from the centre.

Charoa Island

The next stop was the Charoa Island which is a short ferry ride across the Mandovi River. The ferries are very small and only are able to carry up to 5 cars. Our driver was very skilled in parking his car on the ferry to maximise the number of vehicles that could get on. Miko actually lived on the island so he knew his way around. Whilst driving around he pointed out various places where members of his family lived. He took us to some lovely spots along the river where he told us that he went fishing in his spare time. He also took us to his cousin’s bar for a cold drink.

Christ the king (Rei Krist)

This is situated on the top of a hill. This is the highest point of the Charoa Island. The view from here was amazing. Miko provided us with information regarding the statue and the surrounding areas. On the entrance to the statue there are various names of people and the donations they have made for the upkeep of the grounds and the statues.

The island is beautiful with lots to see and do if you have the time. The island is also famous for the bird sanctuary which you can pay to visit.

Coco Beach and Dolphin spotting

After crossing the river back to mainland Goa we were taken to Coco Beach to go dolphin spotting. We paid £3.50 each for the experience so we weren’t expecting much. Usually when going to watch dolphin’s you are on a large boat with a lot of other people but this was not case here; the boats were small and with space for a maximum of 20 people.

As we set off out to sea the driver of the boat pointed out different landmarks including what he informed us was millionaires mansion and the government building.

Once we were out at sea we were lucky enough to see quite a few dolphins jumping out of the water. The dolphins were very quick therefore it was difficult to get clear photos of them. It was amazing to see them playing around in their natural habitat.

After a while we returned to shore – the boat trip lasted in total for about an hour. The beach looked most inviting as we approached it from the sea. The sand was so soft and the sea very clear. Just behind the beach there was a small market selling food, drinks, ice cream and a whole range of souvenirs.

Considering what we had paid we felt the trip was well worth it.

Anjuna Beach and Market

This was our final stop before heading back to our hotel. Our driver parked up and we walked through the market to the beach. The market sells a variety of things from clothing and spices to souvenirs. There is also a bar in the centre of the market with live music. The market is only open on certain days of the week – we went on a Wednesday but it’s best to check with the locals before visiting. There is a fairly smart restaurant at the end of the market looking out over the sea which offers a help-yourself buffet. This restaurant is very popular therefore there was a queue for a table and so we decided to eat at one of the bar/restaurants on the beach.

The beach was quiet rocky compared to the other beaches we had visited. The food we ordered did not compare to other places we had eaten at in Goa. We were very disappointed with the service, surroundings and the food.

Summary

Goa is a wonderful place with lots to see and do. The beaches are picturesque and the people are so friendly. Things are so cheap in Goa that people of pension age often stay for 6 months in the winter due to it being cheaper to live here than the UK. Goa is a place that would appeal to people of all ages. We don’t often go back to the same places as we like to travel to new destinations but we will definitely go back to Goa.

Things to do

• Visit old Goa
• Spend time on one of the lovely beaches
• Check out the best time to visit the waterfalls
• Sample the local cuisine
• Try a Saturday/Sunday bottomless brunch
• Visit both North and South Goa
• Have a cold drink in one of the beach shacks watching the sunset
• Do a Goa tour with a local driver.

Top Tips

• Research your hotel for location and standard as these do vary a lot.
• Don’t wear white shoes or trainers on the beach as these will become stained due to the red sand.
• Take plenty of mosquito spray.
• There are many wild dogs and if you have food they will follow you therefore be aware. However they were in no way aggressive.
• Be prepared for people asking for photos with you as some Indian people are not used to seeing many white westerners in the flesh.
• If booking a transfer from the airport book a taxi at the airport or you could call the driver we used (Miko) on +99 985 646 37 09 to make a booking if he is available. We booked with booking.com which we will never use again as we had issues in both Goa and New Delhi with our transfers. It seems they sub-contract to local suppliers but don’t monitor the service provided.
• Check out the weather below for best time to visit Goa.
• Check out government safety advice before travelling https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india
• Check out other destinations we have visited in India – click on the following links Mumbai , New Delhi
• Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips

Weather

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	31	31	33	33	33	32	30	30	31	33	34	32
Low Temp	20	20	23	26	28	27	26	26	27	25	23	21
Rainfall	1	1	1	12	113	868	995	513	252	125	31	17
Number of days	1	1	1	1	4	22	27	13	14	6	5	1

Travel to Mumbai

We flew to Mumbai from Goa on the 6th April via Go First airlines. The flights were £50 which included 15K hold luggage and 7K hand luggage. We were over in weight by 3k and had to pay £25. They didn’t weigh our hand luggage unlike Air Asia. This was a much more pleasurable flight than the flight to GOA with Air Asia.

When we arrived in Mumbai our cases were promptly off the plane therefore we were able to exit the airport very quickly. Due to this being domestic flight we did not need to go through customs.

Transfers

We booked our transfers on line with a company called . On our information regarding pickup we were advised that someone will be in arrivals with a sign with our name on it which they wasn’t. Due to having no signal at arrivals and not being able to connect to the internet we were unable to make contact with the driver. Finally we managed to contact the help line for the company who advised that we need to speak to the driver. They did not appear to understand what we were saying. After 1 hour we decided to get a taxi as we were waiting in 33 degrees heat. The taxi cost less than booking direct. We tried to contact the company on our return but have not been able to do so.

Accommodation

Finally we arrived at our hotel Gordon House which is located in the Colaba area of Mumbai. The hotel is ideally situated within yards to the Gateway of India and the famous Taj Mahal . There were renovations on the outside of the hotel. When we entered the hotel we were greeted by a member of staff and a porter. Access to the hotel rooms is via a lift. We were on the second floor.

Our rooms had a Mediterranean theme. The rooms were clean, spacious and nicely furnished. The bathroom was of a decent size and included toiletries. In our room there was 2 lovely slices of cake and “welcome to Gordon House” written in chocolate icing. This was a lovely touch.

The dinning area where they served breakfast was nice. It is also an Asian restaurant by day. The breakfast is waiter service and included a full English if this is what you require. Cereal, cakes, pastries are all help yourself. A very good breakfast to set you up for the day. The staff in the hotel were very attentive, polite and helpful.

Mumbai Tour

On our first full day we were stopped as we were walking by the Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Hotel and asked if we wanted a tour of Mumbai which we agreed to do at a cost of £30 for both of us. We were taken to a taxi who drove us to the destinations. His English was relatively good and he provided some information regarding the area’s of interest.

Laundry Site

Our first stop was where over a 1000 people was clothes by hand each day. The clothes etc are often laundry from hotels etc. Most of the washing takes place early morning therefore there wasn’t many people washing when we arrived. The drying of the clothes was evident though with items of washing hanging on lines.

Fisherman’s Slum

At the fisherman’s slum there were many men repairing a boat. The water and the land was covered in waste of bottles, packaging etc. It was as the name suggests. Being in India this is something we had expected therefore was not shocked. It was a shame as when you looked out to sea it looked quite nice with the little fishing boats and the sun shining on the sea.

Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach

We were then taking to Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach. The guide spoke to us about the Trident Hotel and how it was hit by the terrorists in 2008. Having read about Chowpatty Beach and how busy it is at night it was strange to see it practically empty during the day. Although the beach is lovely it is not like your typical beach as it nobody is sun bathing, in the sea etc

Sikh Temple

Our next stop was a Sikh Temple. You do not have to pay to enter but they except donations. Everyone has to remove their shoes before entering. Also women have to cover their shoulders and legs. They will provide wraps if you are not covered up. The Temple is only small but very ornate. It wasn’t too busy when we went which was good. Due to its size it didn’t take long to walk around.

Hanging Gardens

From the temple with went to the hanging gardens. Our driver gave us some information about the gardens. It was a lovely day when we visited the garden which made all the more impressive with its lovely plants, flowers and hedges cut in to various shapes. The view from one side of the gardens is spectacular where you can see the whole of Mumbai. There is also the iconic giant boot which the children are able to play in.

Mahatma Ghandi Museum

The next destination was the Ghandi Museum. Although we have read about Ghandi there is so much more interesting information in the museum. If you were to read everything in there it would take you a lot of hours. There are many items that were owned by Ghandi in there including wooden shoes. There is also the original room where Ghandi would pray.

Chhatrapati Sivaj Maharaj Terminal

Although we did not go in to the building we stopped outside for photo’s. This was a hive of activity with lots of people coming and going. The terminal is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is an impressive building

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation

Our final stop was the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The BMC which it is often known has is opposite the terminal. This building houses the civic body that govern Mumbai. It is said to be the largest civic organisation in India.

Street Food Tour

We booked the tour with Get Your Guide at a cost of £15 each for 3 hours. Our guide met us at Burger King outside the train station. Unfortunately we can not remember his name but he spoke excellent English and is the only guide that does this tour.

The first stop was within the train station itself at a little stall. We had Vada Pav which is also known has the Mumbai Burger. We do like meat dishes but although this was a vegetarian dish it tasted so nice.

Our guide then took us on a train to Chowpatty beach. The train itself was an experience. The doors on the train never close. Our guide advised that in peak times there are people hanging on the outside of the train. He also advised that some people jump on and off when the train is moving. The only health and safety sign was “don’t travel on the roof”.

Chowpatty Beach

Our next stop was Chowpatty Beach. This was a stark contrast to what we had seen during the day. The beach was full of life with many food stalls and families, couples and friends all having a great time. We tried various dishes from different stalls. As you are trying so much food the guide only ordered food to share which abled us to try a lot more food. Outside the food stalls there are various rugs where you can sit and eat your food. This was lovely over looking the sea. The cost of the food is really cheap with roughly 100 rupees to a £1 food cost less than a £1.

Khau Galli

We then got back on the train and went to Khau Galli. This was a street lined with various street food venders selling traditional Indian food, Pizza’s and Kebabs. There are a lot of places in Mumbai where food is very cheap but this was the cheapest we had seen. Every stall had lots of people sitting on small stools outside. We had a form of chicken wrap, curry and rice. After we had a mango smoothing which was lovely. At this point we were feeling extremely full.

Colaba

This was our final stop. Our guide took us to a Kebab stall called Bademiya which already had so many people waiting to be served. The guide advised that this Kebab stall is open 24 hours and 365 days a year. It has the reputation for being the best Kebab stall in Mumbai. Unfortunately, we were too full to eat the kebab therefore the guide asked for it to take away. It was delicious and extremely good value for money

Food and drink in Mumbai

As we were only in Mumbai a few days we did not manage to eat out at many of the restaurants. There is a good choice of places to eat from street food to nice restaurants. We found a bar called Effingut which is very near the gateway to India . It is an interesting bar with lots of unusual things on walls and ceiling including a motor bike suspended from the ceiling. On an evening it gets quite busy.

The food is good too which is very reasonable priced. Our favourite was the butter chicken curry which was amazing. A typical meal cost around £4.50. One of our curry’s came with lamb on the bone. After informing a member of staff that we didn’t want this they quickly changed it and apologised.

Another bar we went to was called Woodside Inn which had happy hour 4 – 8pm. The cocktails were lovely here and very reasonably priced during happy hour. This is a lovely bar with good service. We never ate here but food did look good.

Summary

We would definitely recommend visiting Mumbai there is so much to see and do. There are some lovely beachside hotels in Mumbai if your staying longer. As we were only in Mumbai for a few days we wanted to stay in the main area of Colaba. There are so many hotels to choose from to meet all budgets. Be prepared to be stopped in the streets an asked for photos as there isn’t that many western people in Mumbai. Obviously there is a lot of poverty in India also be prepared for this. Before we went to Mumabi we were advised to see the elephant caves but unfortunately we did not have time to do this. It was an amazing experience.

Things to do

• Visit Colaba area
• See the Gateway to India
• Visit the Elephant Caves
• Visit Mahatma Ghandi museum
• Do a street food tour
• Visit Chowpatty Beach on an evening
• Visit the causeway market
• Take a tour of Mumbai

Top Tips

• Although there is rules on driving in Mumbai nobody takes any notice. Crossing the road you have to just walk out and keep going hoping the cars will stop.
• Be careful with belongs especially handbags an phones
• Take hand sanitizer and toilet tissues with you especially away from the tourist area’s.
• Ensure you have plenty of mosquito repellent.
• Tipping is not essential but considering their wages have small notes for tipping.
• Book taxi at the airport and ask the hotel to book your return in advance. We were let down by our pre booked transfer by Cartrawler from the airport and have not been able to contact them to complain or get a refund.
• Check out the weather below for best time to visit Mumbai
• Check out the government safety advice before travelling to Mumbai https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india
• Check out over places with have visited in India. Click on the following links New Delhi
• Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips

Weather

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	30	31	32	33	33	32	30	30	31	33	33	32
Low Temp	18	18	21	24	27	26	25	25	24	24	22	19
Rainfall	10	10	10	10	10	560	640	520	320	90	20	10
Number of days	2	1	1	1	4	20	28	27	19	5	1	1

Travel to New Delhi

We flew from Manchester to Heathrow the day before our flight to New Delhi with British Airways. It is a very short flight but still it included a meal and a glass of champagne which was very nice.

The night before we flew to New Delhi we stayed at Premier Inn at terminal 4. This was a decent room for the price of £60. On the evening before our flight we decided to have a few pre holiday cocktails at the Hilton which is next hotel. It is a lovely bar where the bar tenders make all the cocktails fresh.

Our flight from Heathrow was very nice as we had business class seats which made the 9 hour journey a lot more pleasurable. The food and the drinks on the plane were also very nice. They had a really good choice on board with spirits, champagne and cocktails. After watching a few movies, having a few drinks and plenty of nice food it seemed that the flight was a lot shorter than it was.

Transfers

We had booked our transfers with booking.com as we did not arrive in New Delhi until 11.30pm and did not know how it would be to get a taxi. The driver was there with a sign with our name on it. He took us to his car which was a small car but fortunately had a luggage rack on the roof. He put the suitcase on the roof and we waited for him to tie them on but this did not happen. Fortunately the case arrived safely at our destination.

Accommodation

Our hotel was the Sky Rich International in Karol Bagh which cost £93 for 3 nights. The rooms were cleaned to a good standard. We had twin beds which had fresh bedding on each day. Clean towels were also replaced daily. The staff were very helpful and on hand 24 hours. Breakfast was basic and served in your room. It consisted of egg, toast, cornflakes, coffee and juice which cost £2.60 each. The location of the hotel is pretty good if you want to be near lots of street food and market stalls. Considering we were in Indian and what we paid for the hotel we were very happy with our stay. Of course there are hotels of a much higher standard but obviously the price reflects this.

New and Old Delhi Tour

On our first full day in New Delhi we had booked a tour of New and Old Delhi. We booked the tour through Get Your Guide which cost £16 each. This included a driver who picks you up from your hotel, a guide, a Tut Tut ride, and entrance fees in to monuments.

The driver arrived at our hotel and took us to meet our guide. He introduced himself Mayanka (not sure about the spelling). His English was ok but we struggled on occasions. We were then taken to a Tut Tut who was take to take us to our first destination.

Jama Masjid

Our first stop was the Jama Masjid Mosque. When walking up to it you can see what a spectacular building it is. When you arrive at the mosque you have to take your shoes off at the door. The entrance fee to the mosque was included in our tour but it isnt a lot to enter. Although I (Debbie) had my shoulders and legs covered I was still advised that I needed to wear what we describe as a gown. The guide provided us with information about the mosque and also about the Red Fort which could be seen in the distance. Apparently both have been built purposely of the same height.

Old Delhi Market

Old Delhi Market is an hive of activity. From the bottom of the stairs of the Jama Majid the market starts and runs down a fair distance. We didn’t walk round the market as it was not in our itinerary but we could clearly see the Hussle and bustle.

Spice Market

Our next stop was the Spice Market which covered street and streets of Old Delhi. When wandering around the smells of the spices were quite strong in some areas which was a nice smell. Delhi is the main trading place of India hence why there are so many streets of stalls selling spices. Our guide then took us to shop which sold spices at a cost which was more expensive than England. The owner of the store gave information about each spice and what it is used for. It was a bit of an hard sell therefore we think the tour guide was given commission if we bought something which we didn’t. This is the only downside to organised tours they take you somewhere where there is a bit of pressure to buy something so they get the commission.

Akshardham

Following the Spice Market the Tut Tut driver and our guide took us to our driver who then took us to Akshardham Hindu Temple. Akshardham means the divine abode of God. As you are not able to take photo’s of the Temple our guide stopped where we could have a photo with the Temple in the background.

When you arrive at the Temple you have to go through security with men in one line and women in the other. In Delhi they don’t see many westerners so you do get a lot of people staring especially if you are blonde and female. You are not able to take any belongings in to the temple therefore we left everything in the car apart from water. When at the temple you have to remove your shoes. The temple is said to be the largest temple in the world. We would say that this is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world that we have seen. The architecture, statues and colours are spectacular. Our guide was very informative about the temple. We were shocked when he told us that it was built in 2005.

Lunch

We were taken to lunch at a very nice restaurant in the Connaught Place area of Delhi. The restaurant was called The Imperial Spice. The surrounding and service at the restaurant was lovely. The food was amazing and reasonable priced for the standard of the restaurant. The meal cost £20 for both of us including soft drinks

Mahatma Ghandi’s Cremation Site

Our next stop was Mahatma Ghandi’s cremation site. This had lovely well kept garden’s as you walked up to the site. You have to also remove your shoes before going through to the site. Our guide explained things to us along the way to the actual site. At the site there are many people paying their respects and praying. The black marble square is inscribed with the words “He Ram” which are alleged to be his final words when he was shot which mean Oh God. There is also an eternal flame burning at the site.

Making of rugs

We thought we were going to see a family business with all the family making rugs as this was what was described to us but this was not the case. When we arrived it is clearly just a shop selling expensive rugs with the smallest selling at £500 and the largest selling at £2000 +. They had a what looked like an hand loom which owner of the shop stated that this is how all the rugs were made by all his family. Although the owner stated we were under no obligation to buy it was uncomfortable saying we wanted to leave at not buy anything. There were other floors to the store and we were encourage to look round which we did not really want to do. We had had booked the tour to site see not go shopping.

Sikh Temple

We were then taken to a Sikh Temple which was very busy. It was compulsory to cover most of our hair therefore a scarf which was tied around our heads was provided. Females have to ensure their legs are completely covered. Trousers are also provided if necessary. The guide explained to us about the times of worship and that food is provided for everyone following worship. He advised that volunteers work 24 hours a day 365 days a year to provide the food. We were then shown to the kitchens where all the food was prepared. It was a constant flow of curries, rice and breads. It is heart warming to see young and old working so hard to provide for the less fortunate.

The India Gate (Formerly known as the All Indian War Memorial)

Our guide explained about the British influence in India and why the memorial was erected. It was dedicated to the troops of British India who died in wars between 1914 and 1919. Our tour was shortly coming to end therefore we did not have much time to walk around the gardens manage to take close up photo’s of the India Gate. It was extremely busy and understandably a popular tourist site.

Parliament Buildings

Our final stop was the Parliament Buildings. It was very difficult to park anywhere near the buildings due to security. Our driver was told to move on on more than one occasion. We did get chance to get out of the car and take some photo’s. The guide advised us that the presidents house is the largest house in the world. Having googled this it does not appear to be true.

Summary of tour

Apart from the times we were taken to buy things we did not want the tour is definitely worth doing. Our guide had a lot of knowledge about the sites we visited. It was interesting listening to some of the facts he informed us of. We would recommend this tour.

Trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort

Again we booked this prior to travelling to India through Get Your Guide. The travel to the Taj Mahal cost £20 each. We were picked up at our hotel by the driver at 6am as we were advised it is best to go there in the morning. Our driver explained to us that our guide would meet us in Agra. The journey from Delhi to Agra is approximately 4 hours. On the way there we stopped at the equivalent of our motorway station and had some Indian coffee. This was a lot sweeter and more milky than our coffee which we did like.

When we arrived in Agra we were taken to the office where our guide would meet us. We then headed to the Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

The driver dropped us off at the gate to the Taj Mahal which is located on the banks of the river Yamuna. There is a walk up to the main entrance where women have to queue in one line and men in another to go through security. The cost of entering the Taj Mahal is approximately £13. You can wander around the lovely gardens and admire the architecture of the buildings as long as you want. The Taj Mahal is far more spectacular and beautiful then any of the photo’s we have seen and on TV.

The Taj Mahal was built in 1632 to house the tomb of his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. There are many buildings with in the Taj Mahal not just the iconic ivory white building. Our guide was very informative about the Taj Mahal, its grounds and various other buildings. He was also very good at taking photo’s. He tried his best to ensure that nobody else was in our photo’s which was quiet difficult considering the amount of people who were there.

When you enter the main building of the Taj Mahal you will need to put covers over your shoes to protect the floor of the Taj Mahal. These are supplied just before you enter the building. Don’t think you have to pay for these. As far as we are aware the shoe covers are recyclable. Our guide informed that in Agra the government is ensuring that Agra is environmentally friendly and has put a ban on some factories due the carbon emission.

Agra Fort

Our next destination was the Agra Fort which is also quiet spectacular but nothing compared to the Taj Mahal. The Agra Fort which is also known has the Red Fort was just a short drive from the Taj Mahal. In fact you can see the Taj Mahal in the distance from the Fort It is known has the Red Fort due to it being made from red sandstone.It was very busy around the entrance to the Fort with many people trying to sell you things. The cost to enter the fort is £7.

Most of the tourist places we had visited in Delhi/Agra we have had to remove or cover our shoes but we did not have to do this at the Fort. Again our guide was very informative and took many photo’s of us at the Fort. It was far more interesting knowing actual facts when walking round the Fort as apposed to seeing it on our own. There were other groups of people with guides we didn’t feel that they had the personal touch like we did.

We were given as much time as we wanted to look around the Fort. Every room or outside area we went through our guide gave us information about it. He also had some fun techniques when taking photo’s which are great memories.

Lunch

After seeing the Agra Fort it was around 2.30 pm at this time we were feeling quiet hungry. The driver and our guide took us to a small restaurant. We offered to pay for the guides meal but he advised that he got his free. The restaurant wasn’t of the standard of the one in Delhi but was clean and the food was nice. We ordered two mains, rice, Roti and soft drinks which cost £14 which was very good value.

Hand crafted marble inlays

Our guide informed that we would be taken to a place that sells various products of marble inlay which is all done by hand. He stated that we would be able to watch them making table tops, chess tables, place mats etc. This is a regular tourist place who are brought there by the guides. We were advised that the government states that they must bring tourists here but not sure how true this is. They allowed us to have a go at smoothing out a stone on a piece of equipment that looked quiet primitive.

We were then taking in to a room where there were some beautiful items especially the tables. The cost of the tables were £3000 plus but here were smaller items for sale for example a coaster. The work that went in to the items was evident. They showed us how many pieces went in to one flower on the coaster. Although there were beautiful items we were not on the tour to buy anything. It did not appear to be hard sell like on the Delhi tour.

Finally we were driven back to Delhi which took another 4 hours. We arrived back at our hotel at 7.30 in the evening.

Summary of tour

At the end of the tour we were taking to the office of the tour operators and asked how the tour went by the manager. We informed him this was a lovely experience and well worth the money. The guide Ahmed was amazing with his photography skills and his knowledge. Although we booked through Get Your Guide the operator of this tour was a third party. Strongly recommend this tour.

Food and drink in Delhi

The food varies so much in Delhi from street food to lovely restaurants depending where you are staying. A lot of the more up market restaurants are around Connaught Place where as a lot of the street food is around Karol Bagh. We thought that the Imperial Spice at Connaught Place had amazing food and service. There are not many bars in Delhi but there are a few. Most of the bars we went to were of a good standard and also served food. A cocktail was between £5 – £8 and a pint of beer was between £4 – £5’50.

If you are wanting street food there is so much to choose from in Karol Bagh. We dont like food on the bone but our street food came with chicken and lamb on the bone. Due to the language barrier we could not explain this.

Transfer back to airport

We had booked our transfers with Booking.com many weeks in advance. On the day of our return we were getting worried that the transfer had not turned up. Finally we got a call from the driver saying he was lost. The hotel receptionist gave the driver the directions. He turned up 1 1/2 hours late.

When the car arrived it had more dints then we have ever seen on a car. The boot was full with a large water barrel therefore no room for any cases. After the hotel staff disgusted things we the driver he put the cases on the back seat and we were on our way to the airport. We were already late and were worried we may miss our flight to Goa. As you can imagine we were very angry when he decided to stop and have a wash in a water fountain at the side of the road. We did catch our flight but just by the skin of our teeth.

Summary of Delhi

We were pleasantly surprised with New and Old Delhi. Although you do see a lot of poverty there are a lot of lovely places to visit, have a meal or a drink. The driving in Delhi is ever man for himself. Lanes on roads or motorways are pointless as nobody takes any notice of them. Everyone drives around on their mobiles. I would definitely recommend a visit to Delhi and especially the Taj Mahal. Usually we don’t have enough time in the places we have been to in order to see and do everything we want to but 3 nights in Delhi was enough. Although it was none stop fitting everything in it was worth it.

Things to do

• Try the street food
• Visit the Taj Mahal
• Visit Akshardham
• Visit Agra Fort
• Visit Jama Masjid
• Take a Tut Tut ride
• Visit the spice market
• Visit Mahatma Ghandi’s Cremation Site
• Visit a Sikh Temple
• Visit India Gate

Top Tips

• Do not book transfers in the Uk. It is cheaper, easier and more reliable getting the taxi at the airport and getting the hotel to sort it on your return.
• When booking your hotel ensure you look in to the area you are staying and the standard of the hotel. Area’s that are recommended for Western tourists are Connaught Place, Karol Bagh and Aerocity
• Both men and women are advised to cover their legs in Delhi. Women are also advised to cover shoulders.
• Be prepared for people asking to have their photo’s taken with you as they do not see many westerners.
• Be prepared to see a lot of poverty and people begging.
• Book tours in advance which will help you to make the most of your stay if staying for short time.
• Take plenty of mosquito spray
• Take plenty of hand sanitizer
• Check out weather below for best time to visit New Delhi
• Following UK government advice when travelling to Delhi https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india
• Check out other places with have visited in India. Click on the following links Mumbai , Goa
• Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips

Weather

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	18	23	28	36	39	37	34	33	33	31	27	21
Low Temp	7	11	15	22	28	27	27	26	24	19	13	8
Rainfall	23	18	13	8	13	74	180	173	117	10	3	10
Number of days	2	2	1	1	2	4	8	8	4	3	0	1