Lewis and Clark Tours

India has a way of overwhelming first-time visitors. The colours, the crowds, the contradictions — it all arrives at once. But when you travel with a carefully planned route rather than improvised curiosity, the country rewards you in ways that stay long after the jet lag fades. The extended Golden Triangle — Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur — has long been the default starting point for foreign visitors. For good reason. These three cities pack in Mughal grandeur, Rajput palaces, and living street culture within manageable distances. But stop there, and you miss what many experienced India travellers consider the country's two most extraordinary destinations: the medieval temples of Khajuraho and the ancient ghats of Varanasi. Adding those two stops transforms a standard sightseeing circuit into something that genuinely changes your understanding of Indian civilisation. This article maps out that extended journey in detail — practically, honestly, and with the kind of specificity that make...