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India and Nepal
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India and Nepal

India Outbound has put together our six week itinerary, taking us through Northern India and Nepal. Read more
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    Bichhya Tahsil
    MdtravelsIndia and NepalTraveler

    First Tiger Sighting

    Oct 27–28 in India ☁️ 29 °C

    We've been very fortunate with our wildlife encounters over the years, having seen lions, leopards, jaguars and cheetahs in the wild. Yesterday, at Bandhavgarh National Park, we finally added tigers to the list and ended up having three sightings!Read more

  • MdtravelsIndia and NepalTraveler
    Boarding the Vande Bharat Express for our journey from Agra to Varanasi.
    Boarding the Vande Bharat Express for our journey from Agra to Varanasi.Colourful wooden boats anchored along the banks of the Ganges.Evening view from our hotel, Ganges View.Evening boat rides are very popular on the Ganges.People boarding boats and vendors selling their goods.People enjoying an evening boat ride.Two men washing while tourists take an evening boat ride.Lights begin to illuminate Varanasi's historic waterfront.Munshi Ghat illuminated in the early evening.An illuminated gateway along the ghats of Varanasi.Pilgrims bathing in the sacred waters of the Ganges, an important Hindu ritual.Sunrise reflecting across the Ganges from our hotel.Thick layers of mud and silt left along the banks following the recent monsoon floods.Workers using hoses to wash away the thick mud deposited on the ghats and steps.Pilgrims bathing in the sacred waters of the Ganges.A rickshaw carrying passengers alongside a street vendor pushing his food cart.Exploring the narrow streets lined with shops selling prayer beads, religious items, everyday goods.A Sadhu (Hindu holy man) with ceremonial garlands.A vendor selling colourful garlands of marigolds and other flowers.A street vendor preparing breakfast - freshly fried puris.A tangled mass of electrical and communication cables above the narrow streets.Preparing free food for the pilgrams who come to Varanasi.A Sadhu combing his long grey beard.Statue of the Hindu goddess Durga, decorated with flower garlands and offerings.Street vendor selling a selection of spices, herbs and other ingredients.A Sadhu checking his mobile phone.A cyclist and cow sharing the narrow lane.A Sadhu resting on the steps beside the Ganges.Goats relaxing on the steps of one of Varanasi's ghats.Two men washing themselves on the steps.A Hindu priest performing rituals during the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony.A priest pauses in prayer during the ceremony.Incense smoke fills the air as a priest performs part of the ceremony.A priest waves a large multi-tiered oil lamp.Manikarnika Ghat, where Hindu funeral pyres burn throughout the day and night.Washing the body in the Ganges before cremation is part of a Hindu purification ritual.After washing, the body is carried to a funeral pyre.All colourful ceremonial wraps and decorations are removed from the body before cremation.Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath, where Buddha is traditionally believed to have delivered his first sermon.Ancient statue of a standing Bodhisattva, dating from the Kushan period.

    Varanasi

    Oct 19–21 in India ☀️ 32 °C

    Varanasi is a fascinating and raw city, rich in history, culture, religion and traditions. With a population of over four million, there is always something happening. We explored the narrow lanes of the old city, witnessed the colourful Ganga Aarti ceremony and watched everyday life unfold along the river Ganges, where people bathe, wash clothes, pray and perform cremation rituals. A religious festival was also taking place during our visit, adding to the colour and activity.
    For Murray, the biggest change was the amount of rubbish, particularly plastic, scattered throughout the city. In 1978, plastic waste was virtually nonexistent, and many more men wore traditional Indian clothing. Despite these changes, Varanasi remains an extraordinary city, where ancient traditions continue to be part of everyday life.    Read more

  • MdtravelsIndia and NepalTraveler
    Taj Mahal through the southern gate.
    Taj Mahal through the southern gate.Taj Mahal before the crowds arrived.Taj Mahal's magnificent white marble architecture.Side view of the Taj Mahal.Taj Mahal MosqueSunrise over the Taj Mahal Mosque.Sun framed by the pavilion.Taj Mahal reflected in the water.Crowds arrived on a misty morning at Taj Mahal.Agra Fort entranceAgra FortDiwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience)Parrot nesting in fort in a hole where a cannon ball hit.Taj Mahal viewed from Agra Fort.Taj Mahal from across the Yamuna River, with a cow wandering through.

    Agra

    Oct 17–19 in India ☀️ 31 °C

    In 1978, Murray travelled from Kathmandu to London on a three month camping trip on the back of an ex-army Bedford truck with 20 fellow travellers and two drivers. After travelling through crowded roads and bustling towns, seeing the Taj Mahal was an unforgettable experience. Nearly 50 years later, it is still just as impressive and magical. This time, after a very comfortable night's sleep at our hotel, we visited the Taj Mahal at sunrise. We also explored Agra Fort, with its massive red sandstone walls, grand courtyards and beautiful architecture. We ended the day watching the sunset over the Taj Mahal from across the river on the north side.Read more

  • MdtravelsIndia and NepalTraveler

    Jaipur

    Oct 17–19 in India ⛅ 30 °C

    Known as the Pink City, Jaipur is famous for its distinctive terracotta coloured buildings, magnificent palaces and historic forts. We visited the impressive Amber Fort and explored the bustling streets and colourful markets of the old city, where traditional crafts and everyday life provided plenty of interesting sights.Read more

  • MdtravelsIndia and NepalTraveler
    Hawa Mahal has 953 intricately decorated windows that allowed royal women to observe street life.
    Hawa Mahal has 953 intricately decorated windows that allowed royal women to observe street life.The distinctive terracotta coloured buildings of the old city, known as the Pink City.One of the nine historic gateways into Jaipur’s old city.A rhesus macaque resting on a ledge in the old city.Craftsman hand weaving a traditional patterned carpet on a wooden loom - four months to complete.Husband and wife working together making traditional Indian bangles in their shop.Gentlemen making decorative tassels and trimmings by hand.2Bustling flower market with vendors selling marigolds and roses for various occasions.A woman cutting up marigold flowers.2A woman threading marigolds into traditional flower garlands.2Vendors selling fresh produce and shoppers making their way through the crowded stalls.Women balancing large bundles of fresh vegetables on their heads.More women balancing impressive loads of vegetables with ease.Snake charmer playing a pungi beside a cobra emerging from its basket.Amber Fort overlooking Maota Lake.

    Jaipur

    Oct 17–19 in India ⛅ 30 °C

    Known as the Pink City, Jaipur is famous for its distinctive terracotta coloured buildings, magnificent palaces and historic forts. We visited the impressive Amber Fort and explored the bustling streets and colourful markets of the old city, where traditional crafts and everyday life provided plenty of interesting sights.Read more

  • MdtravelsIndia and NepalTraveler
    2Traditional Rajasthani figures greet visitors on either side of a doorway.
    2Traditional Rajasthani figures greet visitors on either side of a doorway.Jodhpur's Old City with its distinctive blue painted houses.Mehrangarh Fort towers above Jodhpur.Colourful rooftops and blue painted houses.Mehrangarh Fort's wooden door, reinforced with iron spikes to protect against war elephant attacks.Palace room inside Mehrangarh Fort with gold detailing, stained glass windows and an ornate ceiling.Traditional Rajasthani musician playing a bowed string instrument.Built in 1899, Jaswant Thada is a marble memorial honouring Maharaja Jaswant Singh II.Traditional blue painted houses line the winding lanes.Even the walls are decorated with plants growing in recycled containers.A roadside ironing stall.Rajasthani man in traditional dress smoking a hookah.A street musician performing alongside his family.Bustling market streets are lined with shops selling textiles, clothing and household goods.Women shopping for colourful fabrics in one of Jodhpur's busy textile shops.Locals shopping for fresh fruit and vegetables at a busy street market.

    Jodhpur

    Oct 13–15 in India ☀️ 37 °C

    Jodhpur is a fascinating mix of history, architecture, colour and culture. Known as the Blue City, it is famous for its indigo painted houses in the Old City. Towering above the city is Mehrangarh Fort, one of the largest forts in India. The Clock Tower is another well known landmark, surrounded by the bustling Sardar Market, which was full of colour and activity, with shops selling everything from fabrics and clothing to fresh produce.Read more

  • MdtravelsIndia and NepalTraveler
    A farmer and his cattle on their way home.
    A farmer and his cattle on their way home.Leopard emerges from a pile of rocks just before sunset.Jackal enjoying the last rays of sunshine.Twilight over Jawai.Special sighting just before sunrise — a leopard cub.All eyes on the rocks as vehicles wait for another appearance by the leopard and her cub.Enjoying a beautiful sunriseSloth bears are primarily insect eaters, feeding on termites and ants.Dressed in traditional white clothing and a bright red turban, a shepherd watches over his goats.Nilgai or blue bull, is India's largest antelope.Kambeshwar Mahadev Temple where we spotted a group of Hanuman langurs. The Boys' Club catching up on the latest gossip.Front row seats for everyone and keeping an eye on the morning visitors.Not quite the wildlife we were searching for, but this two day old baby goat was just as charming!Another golden hour in Jawai.

    Bera Safari Lodge

    Oct 11–13 in India ☀️ 35 °C

    During our two night stay at Bera Safari Lodge in the Jawai region of Rajasthan, we were fortunate to have four sightings each of leopards and sloth bears, all from a distance. The leopard population in this region has increased over the years. Interestingly, there are no fences or boundaries separating the leopards from local communities, with people and wildlife sharing the same habitat. The colourful, rugged granite hills are also home to jackals and hanuman langurs.Read more

  • MdtravelsIndia and NepalTraveler
    View from our hotel - Jagat Niwas Palace
    View from our hotel - Jagat Niwas PalaceThe steps by the lake are a favourite place to relax and socialise.Lady carefully threading marigolds into traditional garland.Jagdish TempleJagdish TempleJagdish TempleDonkeys carrying their loads while owner chats on her mobile.City Palace GatesCity PalaceView from City PalaceCity Palace on Sunset CruiseLights and reflections across Lake Pichola.A potter and his wares.Old city from Lake Pichola.Cable carView from cable carTaj Lake Palace HotelCows have as much right to the road as everyone else!Sahelion-ki-Barbi gardensIndian grey langurNight view of Jagat Niwas PalaceNight dancer at Jagat Niwas PalaceFoyer of Jagat Niwas PalaceVibrant saris and beautifully decorated terracotta pots.Washing clothes by hand on the steps of Lake Pichola.

    Udaipur

    Oct 9–11 in India ☀️ 34 °C

    Udaipur is famous for its beautiful lakes and is an interesting mix of history, culture, colour and everyday life.

    We visited the City Palace, Jagdish Temple and Saheliyon-ki-Bari (Garden of the Maidens), and enjoyed the beautiful views across Lake Pichola, especially at night when the illuminated buildings reflected on the water.

    We also spent time exploring the Old City and watching everyday life unfold, from the bustling lanes to locals washing clothes, relaxing and socialising on the steps leading down to the lake.    Read more

  • Trip start
    October 7, 2026