Village Tour India

So you think you've seen everything? 

In our opinion, one has not seen real India until they have not seen an Indian village & lived with the local folks. As more and more youth start looking for job, they start moving towards cities. However, still a large number of population live in villages. The villages of India are its soul. Discover how off the record village life is unlike anything you've ever seen. Breathe fresh air and live in local home. Watch women doing their daily chores in a manner you've never seen.

Mud House

local craftsmen

Women working in the field

The villages are socially knit together. Every evening the villagers assemble in the village "Chopal" with their 'hukkas' and chatting and talking goes on till late the night. Most of the people who live in villages are farmers, other works as potters, carpenters, blacksmith. Bull's are used for farming and other activity in field. Women work planting the rice paddy, while the men work pulling bullock carts, tilling new soil etc. 

Bar-be-que Corn

Horse cart - local transport

Though tours are fully customizable, yet we have a standard itinerary below:

Day 01: Delhi – Village (180 km/04 hours)

Arrive at Delhi International Airport. Meet & greet at airport & transfer to village. Reach the hub by late afternoon, check-in your hotel & take some rest. In the evening, get ready for a welcome dinner party having Indian bar-be-que food.

Day 02: Village

Early morning, you will be given a short lesson on yoga by a trained yoga instructor. (optional)

Take a morning stroll to see how millions of Indians spend their early hours either by worshipping God, meditation, yoga or some other activities. After breakfast, you will go to village to see the village life. You will have a chance to talk to the locals, see how village courts work, get a ride on bullock cart, visit a farm land, get some hand on cooking in traditional way, teaching to underprivileged children & much more. Overnight home stay.

Day 03: Village

After breakfast, you will be hosted by a trained cook to get some hands on Indian dishes. The 3 hour class will end up with a good Punjabi lunch. Post lunch, you will be transferred to market to dress up in Indian attire (Pajama Kurta for gentlemen & Saree/Suit for ladies) and ladies may also get some heena tattoos on their hands. 

In the evening, you will be taken on a 3-4 hour food tour in the city. It will be a guided tour describing the different food styles, flavors, spices & some hidden ingredients of an Indian kitchen. You will be interacting with local shop keepers & people.

OR

You may choose to attend an Indian wedding ceremony to see the various Hindu rituals, colorful dresses and vibrant atmosphere. The array of traditional food which includes mouth watering snacks, tasty & diverse main course and not to be missed desserts, will answer all your questions on Indian food.

Delicious north Indian food

Day 04: Village-Delhi

After breakfast, check-out from your hotel & you will be transferred back to Delhi for onward journey.

These warm & hospitable people are eagerly waiting to welcome you into their social sphere. 

Please visit us at: www.virsatravels.com

You may also like to read: Golden Triangle India - A brief

Golden Triangle India - A Brief

If you are planning a short tour to India, then continue reading this article...

Golden Triangle India - probably the first & most common word you hear either from Google or a travel agent when you are planning a trip to India. The reasons may be numerous - as it starts & ends at capital 'New Delhi', better infrastructure, cultural & historical diversity or a wholesome short tour within your budget.

Golden Triangle - The term

Golden Triangle is the tour which covers three major destination of Incredible India viz. New Delhi - the capital, Agra - the city of Taj Mahal & Jaipur - the royal city of Rajputs. All of them are within a radius of 250 KM to each other & form a triangle when mapped. 

How it works?

A standard tour is of 4 nights & 5 days & is operated like this:        

Day 1: Delhi

Arrive at Delhi International Airport (Indira Gandhi International Airport) & transfer to your hotel. After check-in proceed for full day tour of Old & New Delhi. Old Delhi includes visit of Jama Masjid, Rajghat & drive past Red Fort. Tour ofNew Delhi includes visit of Qutub Minar, Humayun’s tomb & drive past India Gate, President’s House and Secretariat buildings.  

Day 2: Delhi – Agra

In the morning, either drive or board an express train to Agra. On arrival, check in your hotel & visit Agra Fort followed by a sunset visit to the Taj Mahal – the seventh wonder of world, built by Shah Jahan as a memorial to his wife Mumtaz Mahal. In the evening, you may visit local marble factories just to have a glimpse of how the beautiful work is being done.  

Day 3: Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Jaipur

Early morning, drive to Jaipur en route visit Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri was built in red sandstone in honour of Saint Salim Chisti. After visit continue drive to Jaipur. On arrival, check in your hotel. In the evening, you may go to Chokhi Dhani, the ethnic resort which represents Rajasthani food & Culture.

Day 4: Jaipur

In the morning, proceed for full day sightseeing of Jaipur city including an Elephant farm, Observatory, City Palace, Wind Palace, Lake Palace & Amber Fort.

Day 5: Jaipur – Delhi

After breakfast, you may visit the local bazaar & famous jeweler market for some souvenirs. Afternoon drive back to Delhi. Arrive in Delhi by evening and transfer to International airport for your flight back home.

Best Season		October - March
Min. no. of days		04 Days
Max. no. of days		06 Days
Estimated cost(The above cost is just an indication per person cost on double sharing & may change time to time, depending on variables)	Tour Type	INR	USD	EUR
	Standard	13,000-15000	215-250	175-200
	Deluxe	19000-23000	315-385	255-305
	Luxury	30000-40000	500-670	400-535

You may write us at contact@virsatravels.com for free consultation & also visit www.virsatravels.com. 

Read article: First time India, these tips may help you...

The best animated & most amazing Manali tour promotion ad. Please watch & share.

First time India? These tips may help you…

Is this your first visit to this beautiful land - India? The country itself is so diverse that people who are going to visit, have hundreds of queries & doubts running through their minds. To answer some of your basic queries we have compiled some general tips, which will help you in having a wonderful trip:

1)            “Namaste” is the national greeting of India.

2)            You should respect every religion, ritual & culture here.

3)            Cheap is not always good. You may be scammed.

4)            Be suspicious of people especially at railway stations, who claim themselves as the Govt. officials. They ask you for the tickets & then say that your train has been cancelled. Always ask for their ID & talk to people in the office within station premises.(Rail station scams are most common scams in India)

5)            Ladies should cover their head, legs & arms while entering places of religious/spiritual interest.

6)            Always look around, whenever you cross a road. We Indians may come from anywhere. J

7)            Avoid mingling up with strangers while traveling in trains.

8)            Don’t put your gadgets on charging while sleeping.

9)            Never carry any leather item while visiting any religious place. Items like wallet, belt, shoes & tobacco are prohibited.

10)        In case of distress or emergency, woman can contact women helpline at 1091.

11)        Don’t smoke in public areas. You may be fined up to INR 20,000 ($ 334).

12)        Emergency numbers – 100(Police) & 102(Ambulance).

13)        The average driving speed is 50 km/hr. Some westerners presume that they can cover 200 kms in 2 hours. That is not the case here.

14)        Southern part maintains moderate temperature through out the year. Upper Himalayan regions are always cold. The central, western & northern part faces variation in seasons. Though October-March is best time to visit India.

15)        Electricity standards are 230 V & 50 Hz AC.

16)        Avoid spicy Indian food for the first few days. You may ask for “Daal Chawal” at restaurants. It is simple, cheap, easy to digest & available through out the country.

17)        Always use a prepaid taxi or a taxi for which the fare is already negotiated.

Things worth try:

1)        Travel in Indian trains, a lifetime experience.

2)        Visit to a Gurudwara (Sikh temple).

3)        To get a glimpse of real India, visit a small village & stay with a local family.

4)        Attend a Indian wedding.

5)        Eat atleast once at a road side Dhaba.

6)        Get a Heena tattoo on your hand.

7)        Dress up in a Saree.

8)        Try your hands on pottery, cooking or some other art.

Our India is a beautiful country with warm & hospitable people. Every man here is not a rapist & every Indian is not going to sell you something. We respect our guests like God. That is why we have a saying "Atithi Devo Bhava" (Guest is God). 

Be little cautious & you will have endless sweet memories. J

Shimla – The Mother Nature

My journey to Shimla started 3 years back, when I rejected an offer letter from a reputed software company in Hyderabad & got admission in masters in Himachal Pradesh University, nestled among the lush green deodar & pine forests of Shimla.

Although I got fascinated by the beauty of the place at the first sight but the city also looked alien to me as I belong to a Punjabi family & people there seemed very calm & culture too is bit different. Ohh… how can I forget to mention that Shimla is also home to some very beautiful girls and that gave me another reason to stay at this beautiful place. ;)

Pic Courtesy: Mr. Hiramani 

After six months I had many friends, as Himachalis are very friendly, polite & down to earth people. We spent almost every day on the shadowed roads, eating butter bun & tea, watching white mist rising up from the pine forest & toy train passing through it. I used to get up early to the chirping of birds & whispering of wind through the deodar trees and evenings were spent in the small wooden shops which serve hot pakoras with chai. A sheer pleasure was watching sunset from the hill top & listening to my favorite classical music.

After 2 years, when we passed out from the university, the city didn't let me leave her. I can never forget this beautiful land, the love of people & colorful culture. I owe something to this land & will try to pay it by helping in sustainable tourism activities.

I advice all the travelers to Shimla, that don’t abuse my beautiful land like “there is nothing in Shimla” or something like that. Don’t visit it like a traveler who just litters here & there and destroy the beauty of a place. But visit like a son visiting his Mother Nature. It will ponder you with all her love & blessings. Try to reach the heart of this place; it has lot more to offer.

Hope you all will help me in caring our Mother Nature. :)