Tag Archives: travel to India

Modern India Adventure

Adventure Travel Week

Delhi from a rickshaw
Transportation in Delhi

Destination: India


Book: Planes, Trains, and Auto-Rickshaws,  A Journey Through Modern India (NEW July 2012) by Laura Pedersen

What is adventure travel? While there are many definitions and many degrees of adventure, surely most of us will agree that adventure means going beyond your comfort level. This week we will go on three very different  adventures–India, Palestine and the Amazon.

When you are six years old, crossing the street alone is an adventure.  When you are sixteen, driving across town can be hair-raising. The first time you leave your home country, going through customs or Passport Control can set your heart racing.  Seasoned travelers demand a little more of adventure travel.  For Laura Pedersen, who had some preconceived notions about travel to India, India definitely looked like an adventure. Continue reading Modern India Adventure

How To: Visit Marigold Hotel

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Judi Dench forges her own path in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, photo complements of movie producers.

UPDATE

I just found some information about the locations of the movie,The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which Jane Boursaw reviewed for us recently.  As I suspected, the hotel itself, which is not quite as run down as the movie depicts it, also is not situated in a busy town (Jaipur in the movie) but in a more rural setting. (Ravla Khempur, near Udaipur).

This London Mail newspaper article covers the subject quite well.

And if all this tempts you to travel to the locations of the movie, Geringer Global Travel has a detailed route mapped out. I am a bit surprised that they don’t make more of the fact that the Ravla Khempur Hotel is the actual Marigold Hotel–the place is mentioned on a day trip, but I had to read the description three times to figure out that was the stand in for the Marigold Hotel that  they were talking about. Note that the cost of $2230 for the 13-day tour (4 * accommodations) does not include international airfare.

Wild Frontiers Travel , a British company, is another one of several that offer special Marigold Hotel tours. however, their 11- day itinerary for a small group (5-12) actually includes a two night stay in the very hotel used for the movie. The price of £1495 ($2340) does not include international flights.

Note: neither of these travel companies is paying  A Traveler’s Library to feature them.  I just thought you would be interested. However, come to think of it, if they’re interested in becoming a sponsor, I’m always willing to talk.