Incredible India Travel | Social Impact & Culture Tours

Ever planned a trip to India only to be greeted by monsoon floods or sweltering 110°F heat? Trust me, timing is everything when visiting this vast subcontinent. I’ve made this mistake so you don’t have to. After multiple visits across seasons, I can finally answer the eternal question: when is the best time to visit India? This guide breaks down the perfect months for each region – from the snow-c...

White Mughals is a half day tour in Hyderabad set in the 18th century. It is about the love story of an Englishman and a Hyderabadi noblewoman. The romance between James Achilles Kirkpatrick a high ranking official of the East India Company and Khair-un-Nissa a noblewoman provides the backdrop as we walk past remarkable monuments that provide a context for life in Hyderabad 200 years ago. The Whit...

Bodh Gaya tour is to one of the holiest of Buddhist sites and is famous for the Bodhi tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. It was the heart of a thriving Buddhist civilization, attracting scholars and pilgrims from various parts of the world. A highlight of this visit is the world heritage site of Mahabodhi temple. The experience includes visits to the Buddhist monasteries of Srila...

An incredible journey back to the Old Stone Age to marvel at Bhimbetka cave paintings made 30,000 years ago. Explore rock shelters that were home to our ancestors millennia ago! The rich flora and fauna surrounding these, indeed, make Bhimbetka a gift to us from our earliest ancestors. At Bhojpur, visit a temple dedicated to a 11th century ruler who was farsighted and a patron of art, literature,...

Chola trail to the Golden Triangle of South India takes us a 1000 years back in time to explore 3 world heritage sites and capitals of the mighty Chola Empire. This is a journey of rediscovery of Cholas, the major maritime power controlling vast parts of South East Asia in the 10-12th centuries. We will relive the glory days of life under the Chola Empire at the world heritage sites of Brihadeswar...

World Heritage Site of Hampi in southern India was one of the richest cities in the world in the 15th century. It  is the world’s largest open air museum. Relive the golden era of the Vijaynagara empire by exploring the Royal enclosures, Queen’s bath, Elephant stables, Palaces., magnificent temples like Virupaksha and Vijaya Vittala with its legendary musical pillars. Hampi can ve visited over 2 d...

This episode takes you to a 11th century temple at Modhera  in Gujarat, which is designed to get lit-up by the first rays of the sun on the summer solstice every year. Our next destination will be Raani ki vaav, a world heritage site and the grandest step-well in Gujarat built by a Queen in the memory of her husband. It is sheer poetry in stone. More interestingly the world of women and water conv...

Listen to the story of making of Chennai at Georgetown and how the first English settlement has transformed into a bustling trading city. Retrace the evolution of George Town from a trading post for British East India Company in the 17th century to its emergence as Chennai's foremost market today. Visit Fort St George, the first English fort in India. Explore streets selling everything under the S...

Hosts Tim and Debbie take us to the 8th century world heritage site of Mahabalipura in South India,  famous for spectacular rock cut architecture. The experience comprises spell binding Pancha Rathas or Chariots carved in stone, Asia’s largest bas-relief structure at Arjuna’s Penance, a gravity defying boulder and the magnificent Shore Temple, which was one of the 7 Pagodas as mentioned by Marco P...

In this episode hosts Tim and Debbie discover the ancient city of Ujjain, which used to be the Prime Meridian of India and the central point for the calculation of Indian time. They discuss about why the city was considered due to its central role in astronomical calculations and its cultural significance. They also refer the Surya Siddhanta, an ancient Sanskrit treatise composed between the 4th a...

The hosts discuss about Ajanta Caves, the first world heritage site of India. Ajanta Caves are a magnificent set of 30 rock cut Buddhist caves. Famous for Buddhist Paintings and Sculpture, the cultural influence of Ajanta during the 1st and 2nd century BC not only extended all over India but also to far flung areas like Java in modern Indonesia. The hosts strongly feel that Ajanta Caves definitely...

Ellora Caves episode is a discussion about why the Kailasanath temple here is arguably the world's greatest work of art.  Built to resemble Mount Kailash, the heavenly abode of Lord Shiva, it is the largest single monolithic excavation in the world. Built in the 8th century, Kaliasa is twice the size of Parthenon and was built by 7,000 labourers over 150 years. Listeners will also get recommendati...

This episode in the Incredible India series explores Mayong, an Indian village famous for black magic & sorcery. The other interesting location being discussed is the Pobitora wild life sanctuary to spot the rare Indian Rhino. The details of how someone can book this is  provided at the end of the episode

The Great Betrayal episode is a discussion between 2 hosts about why Murshidabad is a compelling destination to explore India. They discuss and relive the history of Murshidabad where Mir Jaffar betrayed the Nawab of Bengal and The East India Company gained control of Bengal and eventually all of India. We will visit the site of the famous Battle of Plassey, Katra Masjid, the house of Siraj-ud-dau...

The Kamasutra episode is about the hosts talking about Khajuraho world heritage site in central India and why should someone consider it, while visiting India. Travellers will be teleported to the 10th century to discover magnificent temples and erotic sculptures from the Kamasutra etched in stone. This medieval temple complex with 22 temples is a world heritage site and is an unforgettable journe...

The Gothic & Art Deco episode is a discussion about the best way to experience Mumbai. The hosts talk about taking an architecture walk where we can listen to the story of evolution of a small fishing village into a global trading metropolis. We will walk past magnificent buildings built in Gothic & Art Deco style over the last 2 centuries which are now a world heritage site. The walk is o...

This episode of the Incredible India Travel series discusses about why the Taj Mahal is considered the world's most romantic! It also suggests the best way to experience it via a full day guided tour from Delhi which also includes a visit to Agra Fort. It talks about unravelling some mysteries like the one around the Kohinoor diamond, chains of justice of Jahangir and the visit of Sherlock Holmes...

The Mysore episode of the Incredible India Travel series discusses about how Mysore is one of the most desirable places to visit in India. It has magnificent palaces, markets, temples and amazing food. The most convenient way to explore Mysore is by taking  a day trip from Bangalore. 5 Senses Tours offers a full day private tour from Bangalore which is an immersive cultural experience. The tour is...