9-11 March 2024
Today, we fly from Kolkata to the Bagdogra International Airport in West Bengal, some 350 miles north. A 55-minute flight replaces a 13-hour drive. Our “adventure begins with a scenic drive to Darjeeling” which is always tour-speak for “you will be on a bus for a long time. Be prepared.”
(more…)7-8 March 2024
We fly from a pleasantly mild Delhi via Air India into a warmer Kolkata, capital of West Bengal. I need my t-shirts for a couple more days. Neither my niece nor I enjoy hot or humid temperatures so weather complaints may arise. It is hard to pack for two seasons. What to do with sweaters and coats in Delhi or Kolkata?
(more…)5 March 2024
It is a very early morning as we begin our drive southeast to Jaipur. Our driver, Suraj, drives on the left side, a holdover from the British colonial period. We depart Delhi, pass the International Airport, and eventually enter the NE4, the Delhi to Mumbai Highway.
This new eight-lane highway will be the longest expressway in India and projected to reduce driving times by half. For Indians, this construction accomplishment by the current government is a destination in itself.
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