India Itinerary Pt.2

The Itinerary

If you missed part one of our India trip, we kept it very family-focused: visiting relatives, reconnecting with our roots, and exploring our parents’ old neighbourhoods. You can read it here.

After Udaipur, the adventure didn’t slow down one bit. ✨

Jaipur → Rambagh Palace

Landing in Jaipur felt like stepping into sunlight itself golden and dry and full of color. We chose Taj Rambagh Palace for our stay, which looked straight out of a storybook honestly. Once bags were dropped off, we wandered through the most beautiful courtyards and gardens, such an amazing property!! We kept dinner simple and got some early sleep. 😴 

📍 Location Tip: Ask for a heritage walk around Rambagh. The staff share the sweetest royal family stories that give you a peek into Jaipur’s past.

Exploring the Pink City

We started early to beat the crowds at Amber Fort. We stopped by a few locations all worth checking out: Jal Mahal,City Palace and Jantar Mantar. One of the highlights this trip (for me personally) was Bapu Bazaar. The best place for street shopping, this is a must! It’s draped with beautiful colors and the busy-ness/ chaos adds so much beauty to the place. You can probably imagine what a bazaar looks like, but times it by 5 and that’s what this is! They have everything… like everything bangles, towels, scarves, saris, henna, candles, pottery, food it’s endless! 😂 At sunset we did one last location and watched the most beautiful skies from Nahargarh Fort.

A looong day, good thing though becuase the kids were asleep before we even reached the hotel. 😂 

Hands-On craft day

This one stays close to my heart. 💛 We spent the afternoon learning Rajasthan’s traditional crafts block printing, pottery, and weaving. Each offered a look into the region’s rich artistry. Block printing, done with hand-carved wooden stamps, has shaped Jaipur’s textiles for centuries with its signature elephants and paisleys. Pottery showed the skill behind shaping everyday pieces by hand, while weaving revealed just how detailed and precise these age-old techniques are. It’s amazing how these crafts still thrive, carrying the same traditions through generations.

❤️ Family Favorite: We booked through a local artisan co-op Blue Pottery Studio and had such a great time. Not only are the artists patient with kids, but you take home something handmade to remember the day.

New Year’s Eve and Tiger Safari 🐯 

Ranthambore was extra special because it was the one place neither Veeral nor I had ever been. The region is known for its national parks, once a royal hunting ground, now one of the best places in India to spot Bengal tigers. We booked a half-day safari through @ranthambhorepark and while no tiger sightings this time (Kai’s running commentary may have had something to do with that 😜), the experience was still amazing. The landscape felt ancient, full of banyan trees and wildlife everywhere!

We stayed at @sixsensesfortbarwara and it might just be my favorite stay of the trip. The property is a restored 14th-century fort turned wellness retreat, where history meets calm in the most seamless way. The kids rode camels at sunset, winding through the desert while we sipped the best masala chai made by the kindest woman on staff. We needed this lil break for some RnR.

That night, the hotel hosted a✨stunning✨ NYE dinner with live music, fireworks, and traditional Rajasthani decor. It set the perfect tone for our little family goals session everyone picked a word for 2025 (mine was intention), and we ended the night snuggled up, grateful and ready for a new year together. ❤️ 

🌿 Wellness Moment: The Six Senses spa uses all-natural ayurvedic oils, and their signature Barwara Bliss massage is exactly what you need after a few days of travel. Deeply relaxing!

Delhi bound

The road to Delhi was long but surprisingly peaceful. With snacks, audiobooks, and a few rounds of “are we there yet,” we rolled into the capital just in time for dinner and early bedtime. We stayed at The Oberoi and was our little slice of heaven, what a wonderful property!

The Taj Mahal experience ✨ 

There are few places that live up to the hype… Taj Mahal is that!! Standing there with V and the kids, watching the marble shift colors at sunset… honestly surreal. A quick guide on our tour. 👇️ 

• When to go: I’ve heard sunrise is ideal for fewer crowds, but in Dec–Jan the fog can be really heavy, so have to be mindful about weather

• Guides & photos: Have your guide booked ahead (we used @greavestravel) and hire a local photographer who knows the spots. Ours shot, edited, and transferred pics on the spot in 20 minutes!

• Tickets: Buy online in advance and opt for the mausoleum entry (comes with shoe covers and worth it).

• What to bring: Keep it light bags mean longer security checks. Just tissues, sanitizer, and your phone in a fanny pack, thats all you need. Parents, trust me… someone will need a bathroom at the least convenient time 😅.

• Dress & timing: Dress comfortably and allow 60–90 minutes for the tour. It’s closed Fridays, so plan accordingly!

Old Delhi Energy

Next morning we dove straight into Chandni Chowk and ouffff sizzling parathas, syrupy jalebi, you already know we’re enjoying a good meal here. But a note, it is suuuper busy, it’s one of the biggest hubs in the city! Then our guide took us to Red Fort, then wrapped the day shopping handmade treasures at Dilli Haat. We took lots of tiny souvenirs for our friends back home.

Food Tip: The paratha shops at Paranthe Wali Gali are iconic but go early, and ask for the paneer ones (trust me!).

Things to Try when planning

• In Jaipur: Block-printing and pottery, rooftop lunch near City Palace, sunset at Nahargarh Fort.

• In Barwara: Wellness day at Six Senses spa, short village walk, candlelit dinner on the ramparts.

• In Delhi: Morning stroll through Lodhi Gardens, food tasting at Chandni Chowk, and one splurge night at The Oberoi.

• For Families: Keep travel days light, pack snacks, and plan one “hands-on” activity per city it makes the trip feel more like play than sightseeing.

A Little Reflection 💭 

This trip reminded me why family travel matters so much. It’s not about checking places off a list it’s about watching your kids see the world with fresh eyes, learning to slow down between destinations. India gave us a reminder to hold space for our roots and appreciate the history we come from.

One of the most meaningful parts of our trip was visiting @magic.bus an NGO that empowers children and young adults in underserved communities through education, life skills, and mentorship. Their “Childhood to Livelihood” approach helps break the cycle of poverty by giving kids the tools and confidence to dream bigger and shape their own futures.

Sitting through two of their classes, we watched young students solve problems together and class activities designed to build teamwork. We even jumped in for a game of charades!

Travel isn’t just about the places we see it’s about the people we meet and the values/ lessons we carry home. ❤️ 

Special Note For October 💌 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I wanted to take a moment to share someones story.

My friend Nasreen went through breast cancer a few years ago and came out stronger than ever! Today she’s healthy, thriving, and using her platform to spread awareness!

I wanted to highlight her story. She recently opened up in a People mag feature, which you can read here! An inspiring reminder of resilience, motherhood, and the importance of regular checkups. 🩺 

She’s always been such a force, but seeing her turn something so difficult into purpose has been incredibly inspiring. To every woman reading this, let’s keep showing up for ourselves and for each other. Book that screening, check in on your loved ones, and keep these conversations going. ❤️