India’s Golden Triangle, Tigers and Shimla

We meet our fellow travellers and Tour Manager at London Heathrow ready for our evening flight to magical India. This captivating country dazzles and beguiles visitors with its heady mix of sights, scents and spiritual beliefs. Our incredible holiday takes in the foothills of the Himalayas, tropical plains and wild landscapes stalked by iconic wildlife. As our flight continues overnight, we can sit back and anticipate the fascinating experiences that await us.

Arriving in the Indian capital in late morning, we transfer to our 5-Star hotel for a chance to unwind. Delhi is one of India's most colourful and exciting metropolises, where old and new exists in harmony. Our hotel is opposite the central Delhi forest, the green lungs of the city that protects it from hot desert winds blowing in from Rajasthan.

You could enjoy a dip in the outdoor swimming pool or relax in the Tea Lounge, where you will find an expansive array of coffees and exotic teas, before we regroup this evening to get to know one another better over dinner in the restaurant.

This morning, we transfer to New Delhi for our journey to Kalka in the foothills of the Himalayas. From our seats in our AC Chair Class carriages on the Shatabdi Express, we travel through 170 miles of northern Indian scenery in a little over four hours.

From Kalka, we board the UNESCO-listed, narrow-gauge Himalayan Queen, affectionately referred to as the 'Toy Train', enjoying a picnic lunch at our seats. Over 60 miles, this vintage train chugs its way up a winding route through the Shivalik Hills, passing lush green countryside and tree-covered valleys. We cross hundreds of bridges and traverse 102 tunnels as we journey at a leisurely pace to the mountain town of Shimla. For those who would prefer, there is the opportunity to travel this route by car.

Formerly the summer capital of the British Raj, delightful Shimla enjoys a cooler climate that India's bustling cities. On arrival we check into our historic 5-Star hotel that has enjoyed wonderful views across the valleys and hills for more than a century. The centre of Shimla's social scene during the Raj, this hotel remains popular today with our customers. This evening we enjoy dinner together in the hotel.

After breakfast today, we are joined by author and historian Raaja Bhasin, who presents an informative talk full of spellbinding stories about his hometown as he brings to life the history of Shimla. Afterwards, we put our newfound knowledge of Shimla to good use as we are taxied around this charismatic city in private cars.

We start our sightseeing tour at the Viceregal Lodge, the most historically important building in the city. As the summer residence of the Indian Viceroy, the leader of the British Raj, many significant historical moments occurred here, including the discussions which lead to the Partition of India in 1947. An elaborate Jacobean revival stately home, this impressive palace has sat at the top of Observatory Hill since it was completed in 1888. Today, it is surrounded by manicured gardens and offers fantastic views of cedar-dappled hills.

Our exploration continues on a visit to the colourful Sankat Mochan Temple, a serene complex dedicated to Hanuman - a Hindu god and companion of Rama. We can admire the idols to deities including Rama, Shiva and Ganesha, as well as soaking up the views across the sprawling hill station of Shimla. The tour continues with a visit to the Gothic revival Gaiety Theatre. Popular with Bollywood filmmakers to this day, this hall of irrefutably British style has seen many famous people tread its boards, including Rudyard Kipling and Robert Baden-Powell.

Later this evening, we enjoy dinner back at our hotel.

Today is spent at leisure among the fresh mountain air and beautiful tree-covered slopes of Shimla. One option is to take a trip to Kufri, where the sense of entering the elemental and intimidating Himalayas really dawns. Although a resort with many amenities, visiting Kufri really feels like you are heading off the beaten track. From here, indulge in the luxury of a high-tea lunch in the opulent surroundings of Wildflower Hall.

Alternatively, take a leisurely stroll down Mall Road and the Ridge, the centre of Shimla's colonial town. Enjoy great views from Scandal Point - so named as it was once a popular place for people to gather and share gossip - before admiring the charming Children's Library and stately Christ Church. With classic British architecture, these buildings wouldn't look out of place dotted around the green in a peaceful English village. In the afternoon, you could also make your way to Lakkar Bazaar, a long stretch of open-air stalls selling traditional woodwork and souvenirs.

This evening we regroup at our hotel for dinner.

This morning we return down the mountains in private cars, navigating the twisting route amid incredible scenery of verdant valleys fading into the haze. At Chandigarh Junction railway station, we board the train in AC Chair Class for our journey back to Delhi. With a picnic lunch to enjoy at our seats, we can observe daily life in the state of Haryana, from the buzz of large towns to pastoral rural scenes that pass by our windows, spotting the occasional temple enroute.

We arrive back at our 5-Star Delhi hotel in late afternoon, with time to relax or take a dip in the pool before dinner this evening.

Founded in 1648, Delhi was initially a walled city named Shahjahanabad after the Mughal emperor who called for its construction and moved his capital here from Agra. Shah Jahan had a huge impact on this part of India - as we'll see tomorrow - and his 17th-century capital has gone on to become a sprawling world city. At its heart remain some spectacular sights, and we view them on a sightseeing tour with a local guide.

On our coach, we first head to Jama Masjid, one of India's largest mosques. Made from red sandstone and white marble, this impressive 17th-century place of worship with three domes and two piercing minarets can accommodate 25,000 worshippers. After a short rickshaw ride through narrow streets, our tour comes to an end after we pass the striking Red Fort and the simple but moving Gandhi memorial, Raj Ghat.

There is free time to enjoy lunch before we embark on a sightseeing tour of New Delhi's wide, leafy avenues and colonial architecture. With large parts designed by Edward Lutyens, the new city was lauded as a testament to Britain's imperial aspirations when it became the seat of government in 1931. Its ceremonial centre, Kartavya Path, formerly known as Kingsway, contains India Gate, a triumphal arch commemorating Indian soldiers killed during the First World War. At the other end of this magnificent boulevard is Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of India's president and originally the palatial home of the viceroy built in a blend of Mughal and European architecture.

After a visit to the opulent 16th-century tomb of Mughal emperor Humayun, we conclude our tour at the Gandhi Smriti Museum. Anti-colonial nationalist and nonviolent campaigner Mahatma Gandhi spent the final 144 days of his life here, until he was assassinated in 1948. Here we learn about the life of the man who Indians call the 'Father of the Nation' through informative artefacts and personal effects.

We return to our hotel this evening in time for dinner.

Today is a highlight of any visit to India as we leave Delhi this morning on the Gatimaan Express bound for Agra in AC Chair Class. On arrival we head straight to the city's most famous attraction, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World - the Taj Mahal. This UNESCO-listed mausoleum complex was built by emperor Shah Jahan to honour his wife Mumtaz Mahal and is regarded as the pinnacle of Mughal architecture. Poetry in white marble, the spectral Taj Mahal is a monument to undying love. With towering minarets on each corner of the complex, a 115ft onion dome and intricate decorations adorning the exterior, this spellbinding structure is regularly considered to be the most beautiful building ever built.

We enjoy a guided tour of the sumptuous Taj Mahal and its magnificently manicured grounds before checking in to our 5-Star hotel, where there is time to relax before visiting the imposing red sandstone Agra Fort. The centrepiece of this historic complex is the Musamman Burj, an octagonal tower with a marble balcony where Shah Jahan spent his last eight years of his life imprisoned, in view of the Taj Mahal. Inside the fort are some exquisite specimens of Mughal architecture, including the Moti Masjid - a white marble mosque.

After a day sightseeing, we return to our hotel for dinner this evening.

Leaving Agra after breakfast this morning, we board a comfortable Volvo coach as we travel to the perfectly preserved red sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri. Constructed under the orders of Mughal emperor Akbar the Great in the 16th century it acted as India's political capital for just 14 years before it was abandoned due to lack of water.

Remarkably, this deserted city remains almost exactly as it was more than 400 years ago, giving us an insight into the opulent lifestyle of the Mughal Empire. On a guided tour, we are transported back to the time of royal courts and can imagine golden tapestries draping the walls as we visit the emperor's private chambers and the Palace of Jodha Bai, named after Akbar's wife. The complex of monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style, includes one of the largest mosques in India, the impressive Jama Masjid. Outside here stands the astounding Buland Darwaza, or Door of Victory, built to commemorate Akbar's victory over Gujarat.

Continuing our journey into Rajasthan, we stop at the opulent Laxmi Palace Vilas which was built in the 1850s as a home for a prince of the Kingdom of Bharatpur. In these regal surroundings, we enjoy a traditional lunch before travelling on to Ranthambore, where we check in to our hotel for two nights, sitting down for dinner together this evening.

After a relaxed morning to unwind at our welcoming hotel, we begin a highlight of our adventure. A naturalist joins us at our hotel to deliver a talk on the local wildlife before we enjoy lunch and head out to see it for ourselves in Ranthambore National Park. In modern open-topped safari vehicles called 'canters', we embark on a game drive into India's most fascinating national park. Declared a Project Tiger Reserve in 1973, it is a favourite among wildlife photographers and tourists as it can be possible to see a mighty Bengal tiger in the wild. These regal animals are elusive, but we will be keeping our eyes peeled in the hope of seeing a majestic beast basking in the sun or sauntering through the wilderness.

While Bengal tigers are the main attraction, Ranthambore National Park is also home to a whole host of incredible species. With leopards, hyenas, caracals, crocodiles, mongooses, cobras, pythons and jackals prowling the landscape, our safari should prove memorable. We return to the hotel where we can discuss the afternoon's viewing over dinner this evening, ready for an early morning tomorrow.

This morning we return to the open-topped 'canters' as we set out on an early morning safari, increasing our chances of seeing the native wildlife, such as sloth bears, macaques, wild boar and leopards. Guided through this evocative wilderness by local experts who understand the animals better than anyone, we hopefully have a chance of seeing an elusive Bengal tiger.

After breakfast back at our hotel, there is time to relax before lunch. We leave the gorgeous surroundings of Ranthambore National Park this afternoon and make the journey by comfortable coach to beautiful Jaipur. Enroute, there is time to discuss this morning's wildlife sightings or unwind as rural Rajasthan passes by our windows. On arrival in Jaipur this evening, we check in to our modern 5-Star hotel on the edge of the city for two nights, where we also have dinner this evening.

As the citizens of Jaipur prepared for the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1876, the local ruler - Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II - decided to paint the city in shades of resplendent pink, the colour of hospitality. The prince, who later became King Edward VII, named Jaipur the 'Pink City' and the name has remained ever since. One year later, the Queen of Jaipur declared herself a fan of pink so the maharaja passed a law stating all future buildings should be that colour.

Our sightseeing tour begins with a visit to the UNESCO-listed Jantar Mantar, an early 18th-century astronomical observatory, before we view the City Palace, a gorgeous 17th-century palace blending decorative Mughal and Rajput architecture and home to the current maharaja. One of Jaipur's most renowned sights is the Hawa Mahal, the Palace of the Winds. The eastern façade of this pink and yellow sandstone structure is incredibly ornate. Five storeys of intricate lattice work dotted with 953 small windows lend a honeycomb effect. This now decorate feature, built in 1799, allowed cool air to flow into the palace making the interior a much more pleasant place to live during the hot summers.

After our tour, we experience Jaipur in a unique way as we ride in pink tuk tuks, operated entirely by women. This enjoyable mode of transport is part of a social enterprise project to provide the city's women with the opportunity for their own livelihoods. The rest of the day is free to spend at leisure and you can either unwind at our hotel or explore Jaipur's excellent shopping options.

After breakfast this morning, we travel by Jeep to the remarkable Amber Fort. A majestic and imposing structure of yellow sandstone, Amber Fort is believed to have been built for the Rajput maharajas around 1600 on the site of a 10th-century fortress. The serene UNESCO-listed palace first appears almost as a mirage on top of Aravalli Hill overlooking Maota Lake. We have the chance to explore the ornate rooms of the palace complex and its enchanting Jaleb Chowk courtyard. With intricately decorated walls, ornamental Charbagh gardens and rugged views of surrounding mountains, it's easy to be utterly spellbound by this majestic reminder of India and Rajasthan's glorious history.

This afternoon we close the sides of the Golden Triangle as we are transferred by coach back to Delhi. Returning to our 5-Star hotel, we gather this evening for our final dinner together to look back on our exquisite Indian adventure.

We check out of our Delhi hotel for the final time this morning and transfer to the airport for our flight back home. On our way, we can recall the wonderful sights we have witnessed. From the colonial architecture and cooler air of the Himalayan hill station of Shimla to the astonishing Mughal mausoleum of the Taj Mahal and Jaipur's ancient Amber Fort, northern India has exhibited a fascinating cross section of the region's history. Bustling Delhi and Jaipur, where tuk tuks and humans rule, contrast starkly with the wildlife-dominated Ranthambore National Park, creating a vibrant picture of the astonishing variety of India.

On arrival in the UK, we say farewell to our fellow travellers and Tour Manager with whom we have shared these unforgettable experiences and the many memories that will remain with us.