AN INDIAN FEAST for all the senses

Rich in history and culture, India’s Golden Triangle is, as David Wickers finds out, the perfect destination for an exquisite experience you’ll never forget

With its glorious abundance of palaces, temples, mosques and monuments, coupled with exotic scenery ranging from mountains and deserts to tropical jungles, India offers a rather unique holiday experience.

Since the country is so titanic in scale, stretching the equivalent of Sweden to Sicily, Moscow to Madrid, it makes sense to focus on a single region. You can also make the experience so much more relaxing by going on a tour.

Rajasthan is the perfect ‘India for beginners’. Its hotels, including many of the former opulent palaces of maharajas, are among the country’s best. The colours are also incredible – your camera will almost go into pixel meltdown.

The classic itinerary is the so-called Golden Triangle, linking Delhi with the walled Pink City of Jaipur and Agra, home to the magnificent Taj Mahal in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.

Delhi will be your gateway. The country’s capital really is a ‘two in one’ city. The old town is a hive of narrow alleyways, teeming with craftsmen and other traders, leading from its main artery, Chandni Chowk. It contrasts with the distinctive, tree-lined avenues of New Delhi, including the Rajpath, designed by Lutyens to be India’s Champs-élysées. Other highlights include the 17th-century Red Fort and Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in Asia.

The second stop on the Golden Triangle is Agra and the Taj Mahal. This exquisite, white marble wonder is a monument to love, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his wife. It’s best seen at sunset, or by the light of a full moon.

Jaipur, the third corner of the triangle, is the most beautiful city in India.

In 1876, it was painted salmon pink to commemorate a visit by Prince Albert, who later became King Edward VII and Emperor of India. Among its architectural showpieces is the Palace of Winds, with its intricately carved honeycomb facade; the City Palace Museum; and the 18th-century Royal Observatory of Jaipur, housing a range of bizarre structures for measuring time (including the world’s largest sundial, accurate to within two seconds). Nearby is the Amber Palace, a massive citadel with a Hall of Mirrors, built of marble and embellished with hundreds of gems.

You can turn your triangle into a square by visiting Ranthambore National Park, the haunt of elusive tigers, leopards and other wildlife. En route, whether by road or train, be sure to stop at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fatehpur Sikri, a deserted city of empty sandstone palaces and courtyards. • Cosmos offers a nine-day Golden Triangle and the Tigers of Ranthambore tour, from £911pp, including some meals, excluding flights; visit cosmos.co.uk.

Whether it’s the endless video meetings, reluctant home schooling or separation from family and friends, this year has been a tough one and chances are you’re ready for a break. The good news? With sensible preparation and smart choices, you can take that trip abroad.

Before deciding where to go, you’ll need to check the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website for destinations where the UK Government permits non-essential travel (otherwise your travel insurance won’t be valid) and where there’s no current requirement to quarantine when you arrive or after you return.

If you still feel unsure whether to commit, a package holiday can be a good choice. The TUI Holiday Promise, for example, allows you to amend your booking free of charge if your destination announces quarantine measures before you go, and also includes Covid cover in the cost of all trips planned for travel on or before 31 December 2020. This lets you change your booking if you contract Covid-19 before your holiday, and includes medical assistance, access to a 24-hour emergency hotline and app, and the costs of an extended stay or new return flight if you fall ill while you’re away. With this extra reassurance, you can travel with confidence again.