Destination Honeymoon: India

The Indian subcontinent lends itself to fantastic vacations — full of romance color, energy, great food, wonderful history, and yes, sometimes a few surprises! Because of this, we know you need an expert partner in planning a tour of the region. So, we reached out to the expert we use: Parul Sinha of Sacred Dot Tours.

“Good tourism partners take care of you from the time you land to the time you leave,” says Parul. “Inclusive packages can help you take care of every detail: drivers, tips, cocktails, candlelit dinners, and dance performances. All you have to do is show up and enjoy yourself.”

Sugar and Spice

Honeymoon destination packages can be found in both North and South India. The North India route includes stops in Delhi, Agra, Alwar, Jaipur and Udaipur. The royal residences and lakefront accommodations are majestic and steeped in history. Southern Indian tours take you on riparian odysseys through Mumbai, Kochi, Munnar, Kumarakom and Mualam.

Full of history, romance, intrigue, mirch and masala, sample the many flavors of the vast Subcontinent. Begin the North India tour in Delhi, take a walk in the old lanes of Chandni Chowk and connect with the glittering glamour of times past. Later, drive past the magnificent Red Fort, a marvel in red sandstone, built on the banks of River Yamuna by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Experience dinner at the Spice Route in The Imperial Hotel.

Heralded as one of the top restaurants in the world, The Spice Route — serving Southeast Asian cuisine, has been designed to reflect the journey of spices from the Malabar Coast in Kerala through Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia to Thailand and Vietnam. And that’s just for openers.

The Royal Treatment

Let yourself be transported to live the way of kings at the Lake Palace in Udaipur. The Taj Lake Palace, located in the middle of Lake Pichola, is a dream of white marble and mosaic, glistening in the moonlight. Conceived in romance, the palace was built in 1746 by Maharana Jagat Singh Ji II — 62nd successor to the royal dynasty of Mewar, descendants of the Sun God. The city of Udaipur was founded in 1568, by Maharaja Udai Singh. From the late 16th century, peace brought about an era of renaissance in the arts and encouraged the building of beautiful palaces around the lake, which culminated in the City Palace, one of the largest palace complexes in the world. The lake itself is a romantic setting, surrounding the gleaming white

You will also want to visit The Lake Palace, which served as a refuge of the rebel Mughal Prince, Shah Jehan, known for creating the Taj Mahal in Agra.

For a more southerly Indian route, your route begins in cosmopolitan Mumbai and quickly takes you to the rivers, spice plantations and animal sanctuaries of Kerala.

Experience the Victorian history of Brunton Boatyard during the day and enjoy a Kathakali dance performance in the evening. A traditional dance form of Kerala, the distinctive Kathakali is performed only by men. Experience palaces, synagogues, churches and basilicas that mark the rich cultural mélange of Cochin in southern India. From there, travel to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, best known as a unique opportunity to view wild animals in their natural surroundings: wild elephants, deer, wild boar, tortoises and exotic water birds. From there, it’s on to the Spice Village to experience timeless ecological living. The Village produces vanilla, black pepper, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg and mace, surrounded by coconut palms, bananas and jackfruit. Stay on a houseboat to see what river living is about and experience firsthand how people have adapted to their unique environment at the Coconut Lagoon. End your journey in the exotic tropical beauty and relaxing hospitality of the Taj Green Cove in Kumarakom before heading back to Mumbai.

Designed for You

Planning a honeymoon to a place that may be familiar but is still a couple of oceans away can be challenging — luckily there are travel agents who can ensure a smooth landing.

A good travel agency can handle budgets from the simple to the sublime. “Whether you have only a week or a month, an agent can craft the vacation specifically for you,” Parul says.

Travel photos courtesy of Eastbound. You can visit them at Sacred Dot Tours.