Scott Dunn: ANYTHING ELSE IS JUST A HOLIDAY

There are so many different culinary options in Delhi, from the rustic and authentic to the gourmet. We continually review our restaurant list and can advise the latest places to try. For guests wanting to head to bars, we also have friends in Delhi keeping us up to date with the new hot places to head to. We can also get guests into some of Delhi's most exclusive private members clubs.

You will begin with a tour of the Red Fort (Lal Qila), built between 1638 and 1648 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Its walls extend for 2km. You will wander through the site starting with the Lahore Gate before arriving at the Diwan-I-Am (the Hall of Public Audiences). The Diwan-I-Khas (Hall of Public Audiences) was a more intimate room made of white marble. Other areas include the Royal Baths & Pearl Mosque. The Red Fort offers an excellent insight into the grandeur and pomp of the Mughal Emperors – something that you will see in great abundance on any tour of India. You will then leave the Red Fort and transfer by rickshaw through Chandni Chowk, Delhi’s main market area. You will pass through narrow lanes full of bustling shoppers. The smell of spices will prevail as you pass an array of different sights and sounds. You will then arrive at the Jama Masjid, the largest Mosque in India which was constructed in 1658. It will now be time for lunch, and your guide will advise a suitable venue.The afternoon’s tour now turns to New Delhi, the area that British constructed between 1911 and 1931 as their new Imperial capital. Designed by Edwin Lutyens, the city is known for its wide streets and impressive Government buildings. The wide Rajpath contains the India Gate, a memorial to the 90,000 Indian army servicemen who died in World War 1. At the other end you will see the main Parliament Buildings including the Presidents House – interestingly enough it was said that during the Raj the British employed 50 boys to permanently chase away the birds. Your tour concludes at Humayun’s tomb which was built in the 16th century and an excellent example of early Mughal architecture and design.

Some trains take up to 60 hours to head from Northern to Southern India, and some are fast intercity expresses. You will see ‘Chi –Wallahs’ at work offering mugs of tea for about 5 rupees in small clay cups - they are perfectly safe to drink and are so full of sugar you will instantly wake up! Travelling by train offers better views than driving; partly as train tracks are generally always on raised terraces to avoid being flooded in the monsoon. Thus means you see a great deal of the country as you pass through.

The Shatabdi Express trains are most luxurious and offer ample legroom and comfortable airline seating, serving breakfast on board with tea. These trains generally run between the major cities (an excellent one is the Delhi to Agra train that departs at 0615). Ideally, you want to be in Executive Class. On less popular routes, there are Janshatabdi trains, offering 'Chair Class' a slightly more rustic version of the Executive Class, but still offering airline seating. These generally have smaller windows.

On longer train journeys, all trains operate a sleeper style service where the bottom bunk becomes a seat in the daytime. We only really suggest 1st or 2nd Class AC on these services, and only when Shatabdi trains do not operate the route.

We generally do not suggest overnight train journeys as these are usually far more uncomfortable than the glamorous images of Indian train travel sometimes portrays. It is however a necessity when travelling to some parts of India such as the Himalaya around Kumaon.

For those wanting the luxury trains, then the Maharajas Express (running in Northern India), the Palace on Wheels (Rajasthan) and the Golden Chariot (Southern India) are all excellent ways to spend a week travelling huge distances overnight and waking up to something new each day.