India is an itch that you’ll just have to scratch

YOU can judge a country and its people by its attitude to beards... and whether it frees – or fears – the fur.

Russian tsar Peter The Great shaved his courtsmen personally and taxed his people... a serf would pay two kopeks a year (and a kopek didn’t go very far in those days)!

And communist Enver Hoxha also made beards illegal in Albania from after the War to 1990.

I’m also minded this week to mention that my barber charged me €29 for a hair and beard cut (it was getting itchy) as the beard is now so popular with hipsters.

Indians, of course, love facial furniture and I was particularly impressed as I worked my way through the six-course banquet at Pickle in Camden Street in Dublin, by the gentlemen in the poster who combed his beard in a centre parting. I dare say my hairdresser would have charged a surcharge!

The Travel Corporation had invited us to Pickle to display its brands including Insight Vacations, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Luxury Gold and Red Carnation Hotels, all of which regular readers of this column will know.

Luxury Gold offers Essence of India, among other jewels.

This eight-day tour with departure dates September-April, €2,295pps, has got it all and you’ll have your own concierge. In a nutshell, there’s:

÷Delhi: A rickshaw ride through the busy streets.

÷ Agra: Inside the red sandstone fortress, witness the fairytale palaces, halls and mosques. And visit the majestic Taj Mahal, bathed by the first rays of dawn.

÷ Ranthambore: Venture inside this former royal hunting ground and enjoy three-game safaris.

÷ Jaipur: Enjoy the shimmering mirrored walls and ceilings, the airy rooms that housed royalty.

To book or for more information, contact Luxury Gold at 1800 98 98 98/luxurygoldvacations.com.