 Aerial view of Kolkata and Howrah in West Bengal Few Indian cities have such a distinctive sense of history as Kolkata. Once the capital of British India, Calcutta grew into a major centre of trade, administration, education and culture, leaving behind an extraordinary collection of colonial-era buildings and institutions.
But Kolkata is much more than a reminder of the British period. It is a city with a strong cultural identity of its own, shaped by Bengali literature, art, music, food and intellectual life. Its railway heritage adds another layer to the story, connecting the city with the wider transformation of India during the 19th and 20th centuries. For travellers on the Indian Magic Tour, Kolkata offers a fascinating counterpoint to Delhi: another historic city, but with an entirely different character and story to tell.
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 New Delhi - India Gate at sunrise A day in Delhi can feel like a journey through several centuries of Indian history. From the Mughal grandeur of Humayun's Tomb to the monumental avenues of New Delhi and the locomotives of the National Rail Museum, the city brings together remarkably different chapters of India's past.
For travellers on the Indian Magic Tour, Delhi provides an ideal introduction to the country. Its historic landmarks reveal the story of successive empires and changing capitals, while its railway heritage offers a glimpse into the network that helped connect the many different regions of India.  For centuries, the Malabar Coast has been one of the great meeting places of the Indian Ocean world. Arab merchants came in search of pepper, Chinese traders arrived by sea, and European explorers eventually followed, drawn by the extraordinary value of the spices grown in the lush lands behind the coast.
Today, the Malabar Coast is still a fascinating place to travel. Palm-fringed beaches, historic ports, bustling markets, Portuguese and Dutch influences, fragrant food and Kerala's famous backwaters all form part of a landscape shaped by centuries of trade and cultural exchange. And there is perhaps no better way to experience it than by train.  India’s railway stations are rarely just places to catch a train. Some are grand architectural landmarks; others are tiny hill stations surrounded by mountains, forests or tea gardens. And on some of India’s most spectacular railways, simply arriving at the station can be an experience in itself.
 Konkan Express by Subumecher, CC BY-SA 4.0 India’s railway network is famous for its trains, but some of its most remarkable achievements are the structures those trains travel across. From towering steel arches in the Himalayas to graceful masonry viaducts threading through mountain valleys, Indian railway bridges tell the story of more than 170 years of engineering, ambition and determination.
India has a reputation for being a country where you can experience almost every climate imaginable, often within the same holiday. One day you could be exploring misty Himalayan hill stations in a fleece, and a few days later find yourself cruising through Kerala's tropical backwaters in lightweight cotton.
For first-time visitors, deciding what to pack can feel surprisingly daunting. The good news is that you don't need a different suitcase for every destination. A little planning, versatile clothing and an understanding of the regions you'll be visiting will ensure you're comfortable throughout your journey. At Darjeeling Tours, our escorted holidays cover everything from Himalayan railways and Rajasthan's desert cities to South India's tropical coast and the high-altitude landscapes of Ladakh. Here's our guide to packing for every season and region. |
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