East India with Nick Van Gruisen

This delightful tour offers a fascinating introduction to Eastern India, capturing the very essence of the region. It combines culture and tradition with ancient temples, the ever-present colonial history and architecture, and magnificent scenery.

Our journey begins in Kolkata (Calcutta), built by the British some 300 years ago, where we explore their widespread architectural legacy including Dalhousie Square, the Governor’s Residence, St. John’s Church, the Victoria Memorial, Botanical Gardens and Belvedere House. We travel on to Varanasi, the holiest of the Hindu cities, full of colourful bazaars, temples, mosques and palaces, all centring around the teeming ghats on the banks of the sacred River Ganges. We move on to explore the grand colonial monuments of Lucknow, Uttra Pradesh’s capital, with wide boulevards, green parks and acclaimed cuisine.

We continue to the vibrant old city of Hyderabad, famous for its quality pearls before finally exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi, set amidst the vastness of the Deccan Plateau, and one of India’s most spectacular archaeological treasures. Magnificent palaces, temples, watchtowers, and urban ruins, built in distinctive Dravidian style, line the banks of the Tungabhadra River and are a glorious legacy of the mighty 14th century Vijayanagar Empire.