Insider Tips for a Goa Trip

Traveling to the exotic Indian coastal state of Goa? No doubt you’ve heard a lot of opinions and suggestions regarding this famous but very far-flung resort destination, which, in spite of being the Indian tourism capital, still remains largely unexplored by Americans. To help you get the most from a Goa trip, Seema Prakash, the India product manager for noted tour operator and India experts Cox & King did a Q&A about the destination, its origins, and its place within an India trip itinerary.

Trip: How is Goa different from other destinations in India?

Seema: Having been under Portuguese rule, there is a lot of Portuguese influence mixed with the Konkan/coastal regions of India. Climatically, Goa is a lot like Bombay as it has a hot and humid climate for most of the year.

Trip:  What is it particularly known for?

Seema: The focus of tourism is generally in the coastal areas (beaches), though visits to Old Goa, Basilica of Bom Jesus also occur in many tours.

Q&A with a Bangalore Expert

With 66 hotel locations in India, including some of the country’s landmark properties, Taj Hotels & Resorts is synonymous with luxury—not just traditional, but also evolving with the landscape. True to form, the hotel chain just announced the worldwide launch of a new brand, Vivanta by Taj, which will bring some young, cosmopolitan “design hotel” sensibilities to a country that’s energized and on an upward swing. Here, Taj executive Jodi Dell LeBlanc chats about the new hotel brand—the prototype of which debuted in Bangalore in 2008—and how it suits the pace of this up-and-coming city.

Trip: What do people come to Bangalore for?

Jodi: Bangalore is the IT capital of the country, housing numerous IT companies in the city, and becoming the second-largest IT hub in South East Asia. The corporate movement has considerably increased post-recession, and in the past ten years the city has grown in every area, be it new hotels opening, real estate businesses, research centers. The tourist locations in and around the city are visited by the locals as well as the domestic and international traveler: Tipu Sultan's Palace, the Bull Temple, ISKON Temple to name a few.

Trip: How does Taj's offering fit into this?

Jodi: Each of our brands has been created to appeal to a distinct psychographic segment.  We have multiple hotel brands operating in Bangalore.

India on the Maharajah’s Express

The first luxury rail in India to be able to cross state borders, Maharajah’s Express, departing out of Delhi, is a throwback to the glamour of the British Empire, with formal dinner dress and sumptuous surroundings. The deluxe cabins were announced to be the most spacious in their category when the train was unveiled to the public in early 2010. There are two dining cars, one serving a western meal, one a classic Indian. Both are multi-course. There’s also a bar carriage that’s perfect for post-dinner cocktailing, as well as the observation coach, which is clubbier, with gaming tables. The entire setup caters to the cruise passenger mentality, where guests can sightsee in several different destinations without having to worry about packing and unpacking, hopping on short flights, or messing with transit. From the moment the Maharajah’s Express representative meets guests in their hotel lobby and escorts them to a private boarding platform in Safardjung Railway Station, it’s an expertly orchestrated experience. Sometimes, there will even be a guest speaker on board to give evening lectures.

Day Trips from Delhi

Not surprisingly, people have often referred to Delhi as “chaotic”—how could it not be with 12 million people in the city and 22 million in the urban area? It’s also a very tech-forward, shopping mall-friendly city where natural features and historic attractions seem to struggle to stay alive. If you want to appreciate some of the individual charms of the region, you may want to day-trip to some of these more famous destinations.

Taj Mahal
This legendary monument is only one of many sights at Agra, which was the capital in the 1500s. The Red Fort is another, similarly as magnificent and with probably more history. The Taj Mahal, however, is world-renowned for its massive white-marbled grace and beautiful gardens. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, as determined in a 2007 worldwide poll.