Passage to India

GETTING THERE

It’s a 13-hour flight with Emirates from Cape Town to Indira Gandhi International in Delhi (with an additional connection time in Delhi).

Return flights are about R9,000. See emirates.com/za.

The 4.5-hour train trip from Delhi to Jaipur costs about R200 one way. See cleartrip.com

WHERE TO STAY

We stayed at Suryaa Villa, which boasts a restaurant with a varied menu of delicious Rajasthani and global cuisine, a swimming pool, an Ayurvedic spa, wide verandahs to lounge on and enjoy the serene inner courtyard and very attentive staff. About R900 per double per night with breakfast. See suryaavilla.com

DINING AND DRINKING

Don’t miss out on the Sicilian-inspired, West-meets-East Caffé Palladio, which recreates the exotic loveliness of director Luchino Visconti’s masterpiece Il Gattopardo in the heart of Jaipur. bar-palladio.com/caffe ● L S.