India by Rail - Escorted Holidays

With an astounding 32 UNESCO World Heritage sites across India, those hoping to feast their eyes upon fascinating cultural landmarks will not be disappointed. Discover the intriguing ancient site of Fatehpur Sikri. This ambitious fortified city, which ironically translates to 'the City of Victory', was built in the 16th century with the intention of it being the capital of the Mughal Empire, but was abandoned just over ten years later due to water scarcity. Today, Fatehpur Sikri is a hauntingly beautiful landmark which offers its visitors a captivating glimpse into a grand, bygone era.

India's affectionately nicknamed 'toy trains' haul their locomotives along narrow gauge lines, providing remarkably scenic and authentic journeys through the subcontinent's lush mountainous regions.

Delight in a nostalgic steam toy train journey from the enchanting hill station of Coonoor to Mettupalayam, in the Nilgiri foothills. Sit back and soak up the awe-inspiring panoramas as the train trundles through the region's bucolic hills, affording panoramic views of picturesque tea plantations, cloud-topped green valleys and rushing waterfalls.

As a wonderfully multicultural destination, there are over 20 languages spoken in India, though the most common is Standard Hindi. English is usually a second language here, and a local tour guide will often be on hand to help bridge any language barriers.

The time zone observed throughout India is Indian Standard Time (IST), which is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of GMT. A direct flight from London to Delhi is around 8.5 hours. UK tourists will require a passport with at least six months validity, as well as a tourist visa in order to enter India.