It is not too late to book a holiday to Rajasthan this Spring. We have collaborated with our key hotel partners, Oberoi and Taj Palaces to bring you some unbelievable savings for a memorable last minute getaway. So what are the benefits of travelling in March?
Weather
March and April are stunning months to visit Rajasthan, with the weather getting much warmer and a wind that typically arrives from the northwest. The average monthly temperature is around 27.C with over 11 hours of daylight hours. What a welcome change to the long winter we are soon to emerge from.
Ease of the E-Visa
Changes made by the Embassy on 15 August 2015 saw the introduction of an E visa application for UK Nationals. This facility is in addition to the existing visa services.
The introduction of the e-Tourist Visa is to facilitate tourists who plan a trip to India at short notice. The visa has a maximum validity of 30 days from the date of arrival in India with single entry facility only. You can apply online a minimum of 4 days in advance of the date of arrival making India a real contender for last minute holidays. The fee is also substantially lower at US$60.
Visit the Taj Mahal before the dome restoration project begins
Cleaning the monument is time-consuming and challenging. To remove discolouration, workers suspended on scaffolding are caking Fuller’s earth — a mud paste that absorbs dirt, grease and animal excrement, and that is commonly used to treat skin impurities — on the entire monument. The mud is then washed off, leaving a pristine surface. Restoration work on the dome was due to start early 2017, but in true Indian bureaucracy, it is yet to begin so go now and marvel at the truly impressive Taj Mahal. It never fails to impress. The Oberoi Amarvilas is the place to stay.
Rajasthani Festivals
If you find yourself in Rajasthan during March you are in luck as there are plenty of festivals. Gangaur Festival is the most important, celebrated over two days, starting March 20th. Colourful processions of bejewelled images of goddess Gauri wind their way all over cities and villages accompanied by local bands. The Mewar Festival follows, welcoming the arrival of Spring. Held at Gangaur Ghat on the banks of Lake Pichola in Udaipur it is a fantastic opportunity to see a range of traditional instruments being played.
Of course, Holi is celebrated across India too, on the eve of March 1st. On the evening of Holi, people light bonfires in a ritual called holika dahan. Why not join in the celebration of the Mewar royal family in Udaipur where there will be a magnificent palace procession from the City Palace to Manek Chowk. Or visit Hotel Diggi Palace in Jaipur for the well-organised festival of colours.
Stay in Leading Hotels of the World. Luxury doesn’t have to cost the earth
See the very best of the region through the four well-known cities of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur. We have collaborated with our key hotel partners, Oberoi and Taj Palaces in Rajasthan to offer an exclusive rate for holidays commencing in India no later than the 31st March 2018.
Taj Palaces: Now wonderful heritage hotels the Taj Palaces were originally built as residences for the royal families of Rajasthan, of which some are still in situ. They are undoubtedly some of the grandest choices of accommodation found in Rajasthan.
Oberoi Vilas: Experience world-class palatial living at the award-winning Oberoi hotels. These distinctive hotels boast some of the finest iconic residences in Rajasthan. Enjoy Rajput hospitality at its best. Visit the newly refurbished Oberoi New Delhi, reopening after a two-year closure. Stay at the iconic Amarvilas with the enviable view of the Taj Mahal from every room, stay within the beautiful greenery of the Raj Vilas whilst in Jaipur and the lakefront setting of Udai Vilas, a traditional Mewari palace planted along the shore of Lake Pichola.
Ranging from VIP meet and greet at Delhi airport, a bottle of bubbly on arrival, upgraded room categories, a spa voucher each to indulge at any one of the hotel spas, and a complimentary Indian speciality meal whilst in Rajasthan.
