Cultivating Community over Holi in India

Touch down in the nation’s capital, and we’ll be right by to grab ya. Jet lag won’t feel so bad once you’re plate-to-mouth with delicious north Indian delicacies at our favorite family restaurant and sweet house in South Delhi. 

For those arriving before evening, we’ll dive into expectations and some pointers that’ll help you transition into your adventure in this incredible country of culture and tradition. 

Take the afternoon and evening to rest and refresh. Our yummy dinner will be another new discovery for your taste buds as we head to the other side of India, chowing down on dosas and idli.

Our morning starts off with a walking tour of South Delhi, exploring the social innovation and projects that are helping bring sustainability to the fashion and travel industries while empowering vulnerable women and children. Connect with the founders and beneficiaries of powerful organizations making a real impact in Delhi, while shopping fashion, accessories, and gifts that give back.

Following lunch, we’ll spend the afternoon at our favorite South Delhi market with dozens of art, fashion, and food stalls highlighting the craftsmanship and yummy eats hailing from every state in India, giving you the opportunity to immerse in the country’s diversity.

Rise and shine with the sun as we head into Old Delhi for an early bicycling tour through the streets of Old Delhi. Take in the sights of architecture dating back thousands of years, the scent of incense and spices, and listen in on the call to prayer and morning mandir rituals. We’ll stop along the way to warm up with hot chai and snacks, and feel the history within the walls of each narrow alley we pass through. 

For lunch, we’ll be headed to Sri Bangla Sahib Gurudwara to connect with the Sikh community over lunch and to give our hand in service by providing water to dedicated Sikh pilgrims (some who have travelled thousands of miles to be there!).

The late afternoon is free for you to explore central Delhi. Walk the Connaught Place circle, or head to the Gandhi museum to learn more about the country’s rich history in search of freedom.

No morning starts without chai and parantha. We’ll grab ours a little early before heading out to Agra, a city rich with Mughal history and home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites including the Taj Mahal. 

Agra is also home to an inspiring social enterprise, Sheros, a cafe and restaurant that empowers acid attack victims in Uttar Pradesh through providing economic and social opportunities in a safe space. We’ll eat delicious homemade-styled lunch here and listen to the stories of the women who have survived such heinous crimes.

Following lunch, we’ll walk Agra Fort, a majestic fort home to diverse and traditional Asian architecture. Look out from the top of the fort for stunning views of Yamuna River, the major waterline of India, and catch a preview of the Taj Mahal.

Ah, the Taj! Nothing beats this sparkling wonder of the world at sunrise. Our guided tour will give us an in-depth lesson on the history of the mausoleum and how it became such a pillar of India’s Mughal history.

With inspired eyes and rumbling tummies, we’ll grab some yummy dhaba snacks before hitting the road and cruising to Jaipur, home of the pink city. Following lunch, we’ll be visiting a fashion project that is training and employing vulnerable women to become tailors. They are leading the “fashion revolution” in Jaipur to bring more ethically and handmade (and organic!) products to the market. Try your hand at block printing, or get a custom outfit made for returning home.

The afternoon is yours to roam and reflect on such a bustling few days. We’ll re-group back at the hotel for dinner and a group activity on their glorious rooftop.

In preparation for holi, we’ll explore the pink city and see what colorful festivities are happening, but not before hitting up Amer Fort, Hawa Mahal, and Jal Mahal. These 3 “must sees” in Jaipur will give you a thorough introduction to the royalty Rajasthan has housed for hundreds of generations, and still to today!

For lunch, we’ll grab something a little different at our favorite cafe in the city, also home to the first location of India’s first handblock export fashion brand. The brand’s farm is located just outside the city and employs over 800 people who are making organic cotton and slow fashion a mainstream choice for Indians and Westerners who travel here.

Spend the afternoon getting into the holi spirit before we grab dinner on the other side of the city, giving you an entire 360 of what Jaipur has to offer.

Another yummy breakfast and on to our final stop of the tour: Bikaner. The city is home to many royal and traditional Rajasthani palaces, temples, and architecture, but most exciting, it’s infamous sweets known across the world, and India’s first zero waste guesthouse! We’ll check into Hara House and eat a hearty lunch before heading out to explore Junagarh Fort and browse the colorful city market. 

Around 4pm once the temples have reopened for the day, we’ll walk the old city as the sun begins to set. We’ll explore the city’s oldest temple, Seth Bhandasar Jain Temple, and the Laxmi Temple to join the city in prayers for a glorious holi. We’ll then make our way through the old city market, and end at Rampuria Havelis, traditional mansions from when Rao Bikaji founded the city. The havelis are known as the “pride of Bikaner” according to Aldus Huxley.

In the evening, we’ll join in on the holi pyre with the rest of the community to sing and dance for Holika Dahan, a ritual symbolising the victory of good over evil. 

Happy holi, a celebration of spring and a fruitful season to come! Following breakfast, get ready for a color and water gun attack from the local kids in the neighbourhood patiently waiting to sneak up and turn your shirt from white to green, pink, and yellow! 

Freshen up and grab a bite before we head out to the village for an afternoon exploring the nearby wildlife sanctuary before hitching a ride with local farmers via camel cart to visit our desert camp. We’ll be spending the night there to reflect on such a holi day, eat traditional Rajasthani foods cooked over an open fire, enjoy traditional Rajasthani Kabelia song and dance, and sleep under a vibrant blanket of stars.

Wake up slow and enjoy a quiet breakfast in the desert before heading back to the busy city. Enjoy the early afternoon and get ready for a truly memorable (and silly!) experience because we’re headed to Karni Mata Temple in Deshnok, a temple home to over 20,000 rats. Karni Mata is a Hindu goddess, and an avatar of goddess Durga, Shiva's wife. Onsite, learn why rats are seen as such holi animals under her protection, and what happens if you spot a white rat. 

After our last delicious organic meal at Hara House, we’ll say goodbye to the team and head back to Delhi via train. Your train experience includes 3AC sleeper coach and feels kind of like a cozy sleepover from back in the day.

On our last day together, we’ll sit to reflect on the storyline of our trip while taking in as many last minute street delicacies and sweets as possible. In the evening, we’ll take a tour of Hauz Khas village, Delhi’s village in the city, home to diverse cuisine, shopping, arts and culture. We’ll grab dinner in the village (and possibly a few drinks!) to celebrate our adventure and enjoy a beautiful goodbye to our new community.

Much more than a traditional tour operator, Global Family Travels’ mission is to “Learn, Serve and Immerse” through community-based travel programs.  In partnership with non-profit organizations and schools, we offer family-friendly and sustainable travel experiences in support of education, gender equality, access to clean water, preservation of local cultures, conservation and economic growth, all of which foster cross-cultural understanding and global citizens.  

Our trips include a unique mix of cultural and educational activities, homestays and participation in local service projects aimed at improving the lives of people in the communities we visit.    
 
Expect to expand your family circle when you embark on a Global Family Travels trip!  Visit our website for more information: Global Family Travels

Hara World is an experiential education and impact travel organization that empowers, educates and connects diverse young people through environmental justice programs.

We own and operate Hara House, India's first zero waste guesthouse. The social enterprise uses 20% of profits to invest in community development projects, such as our community hub providing youth access to social and environmental justice education and resources. The house is run by youth and students living in the city of Bikaner.