Courier November 2009 : Page 75
typically greeted by a young man or woman in elegant traditional cloth- ing, who daubed aarti-tikka, a red powder, on our foreheads with a wish for good health and prosperity. Then, a long garland of brilliantly colored flowers—often marigold, but also jas- mine, tuberose and carnations—was placed around our necks. The next step into the hotel brought tranquil Indian music, one time performed by a musician play- ing the santoor—a stringed instru- ment played with mallets—on the curving stairs that lead to fountains. This was accompanied by servers offering cool towels and silver trays of fruit drinks—watermelon, mango, lemon, orange or sweet lime juice. Outside and inside the hotel, we were engulfed by brilliant colors and exotic fragrances from white jasmine; red roses; white, coral and hot-pink bougainvillea; white frangipani; purple jacaranda; purple and pink orchids; and yellow lilies. Pools and bowls of floating rose petals or lotus blossoms were everywhere. Add these to the glorious colors and designs of women’s saris, men’s clothing and turbans, cashmeres, pashminas, finely hand-woven carpets, delicate miniature paintings, enamel work and hand-cut jewels, including India’s famous “star rubies.” This spectrum of colors was a feast for the eyes. Our rooms had fresh flowers, as- sorted fruit and chocolates, bathrobes and slippers, and luxurious furnish- ings and art. The hotel spas were filled with soft music, lighted can- dles, flowers, fragrant waterfalls and streams, subdued lighting, aromatic oils, and chairs and tissue boxes with inlaid camel bone. We sometimes were awakened in the morning by cooing doves, chirping green para- keets, a squawking peacock (70 of them at one hotel at 4:30 a.m.!) or an imam’s call to prayer through a loud speaker from a minaret. We dined at buffets and sit-down, plated dinners, both at the hotels and at other palace hotels and unique restaurants that hosted us. One high- light we had was an opportunity to meet the chef at the Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur, where we feasted on his delectable and unforgettable dishes. Staff members at all the properties were warm and friendly, and pro- vided impeccable service. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS Highlights of our trip included a visit to BAPS Swaminarayan Akshard- ham, which is the largest Hindu temple in the world; playing el- ephant polo in the dark on intricately painted elephants; an exciting cycle rickshaw ride through the narrow avenues of Old Delhi; visits to the many UNESCO World Heritage sites; our conversation and presentation by a BBC analyst and Indian expert, who interpreted current interna- tional events in the context of Indian history and culture; and a traditional dance performance. Another memorable experience, of course, was our visit to the Taj Mahal at sunset. The Taj Mahal—called the “teardrop on the cheek of time”—is considered to be the finest example of Mughal architecture, and there are many fascinating stories of its creation, which involved 20,000 la- borers and took more than 22 years. The white marble (dragged from 250 miles away by elephant on oxcart) with inlaid, multi-colored semi-pre- cious stones; white frangipani; white ibis; massive green lawns and a pond lined with trees created an ethereal vision and ambiance. A surprising number of the impres- sive mosques, monuments, palaces, temples and forts relate to India being overtaken by the Mughals, Turks, Persians and others, and, ultimately, the British. The art and architecture reflect an ancient and multi-faceted heritage. A Hindu for- tress, Mughal tomb, Islamic mina- ret, mosque and a Baha’i temple all contribute to the cultural richness of the cities and countryside. The City Palace Museum and Lake Oberoi, with the distant mountains, give Udaipur a lovely, mystical aura. In spite of India’s many strengths and splendors, and the fact that it has become the “back office of the world” in terms of technology exper- tise and industry, India has one of the highest socioeconomic dispari- ties among people in the world. Still, people everywhere are friendly, warm and kind, waving and smiling. They are especially affectionate and tender with children. Through our experi- ences of seeing people in the best and worst economic straits, we learned more about the human condition, economics, world affairs and spiri- tuality. We returned home inspired, with lingering and reinforced spiritu- ality. India truly is a magical land to remember and to which we shall return. C Wendy Andberg is co-founder and vice president of Performance Tours, which is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. www.NTAonline.com 75 PERFORMANCE TOURS
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