Croydon County Trip to Sangam, India - 2009

Our trip to Sangam was absolutely wonderful!!! 

Our first challenge was getting to Heathrow airport on the Monday, as in south London we woke up to a foot of snow!!  None of us could get our cars out of the drive let alone travel to LHR as M25 was closed, no trains, no buses so we seemed doomed!  Frantic phone calls to each other and LHR BAA weren't helpful as all British Airways flights were cancelled both in and out, but Virgin Airlines (with whom we were booked), gave no indication that flight would or would not take off!

We decided to have a go at getting there and all left our houses at 1.30 pm hoping to make 6.45 p.m. check in and hope for the best.  I had ordered a minibus to take us from our church car park to LHR and the driver said that he would 'have a go' at driving through London as M25 closed.  Husbands, sons, neighbours, had to get sledges and wellies out to enable us to get our suitcases to the church hall as all our side roads were impassable.

Anyway, eventually our intrepid mini bus driver got us to Heathrow with a couple of hours to spare, so we sat around drinking hot choc and hoping our flight would actually go!   Several hours late, we were one of the lucky ones whose flight did get de-iced and did take-off.

Naturally we were very late getting to Mumbai, but Mr Bajaj's agent was waiting for us and took us to our Hotel Fariyas.  What a lovely welcome!!  Garlands, cold drinks and warm welcome awaited!!

We were collected the next day and given a half day tour of Mumbai - and then on to Sangam in Pune where again a warm welcome awaited!

Our stay at Sangam was just wonderful!!  We felt especially privileged to belong to such an 'exclusive'  club providing us with culture, excellent meals, comfortable rooms, private swimming pool, excellent companionship, excursions, home visit, Pune challenge, rickshaw rides and fun and friendship in a very safe and happy environment!  We were all sad to leave.

We never thought we could get two people with luggage into a rickshaw to go to an airport - but WE DID!!

We flew from Pune to Delhi and were again met and escorted to Indian Homestay - again greeted in traditional style.  We enjoyed an all day tour of Delhi, old town in the morning including a cycle rickshaw ride round the tiny streets of Chandni Chowk, and new town in the afternoon, with lunch at a Carpet supplier who gave us Samosas and tea! 

Next day we left early for the long ride to Jaipur arriving at Hotel Mansingh in the late afternoon, in time for a swim in their lovely pool, where we found we had been upgraded into the ''Towers'. 

Next day we had an all-day tour of Jaipur, including an elephant ride, Palace of Winds, City Palace, Jaising Observatory and arrived back to the Towers in time for a late afternoon swim!

On the way to Agra we visited Fatehpur Sikri World Heritage site and the bird sanctuary at Baratpur - arriving quite late in Agra at Hotel Clarks Shiraz.

Our early start next morning enabled us to be at the front of the queue at the Taj Mahal where the sun came up making photos quite spectacular and reflections just had to be seen to be believed!  We took turns in sitting on the 'Diana seat' for the classic shot!!  We went back to the Hotel for a welcome breakfast and then visited Agra Fort and a marble factory before the long drive back to Delhi.

Mr Bajaj laid on a lovely meal for us - our last one in India - although we were very late in arriving back at Homestay!!

Flight home was uneventful and actually took off and arrived on time!!!  Well almost!!!

Husbands and minibus awaited us and we all talked non-stop all the way home!!

I have been in contact with all the other ladies, and we have all needed the rest of this week to get our bodies back into UK time and catch up with sleep etc., so I know that we all made the most of our trip!

Christina Smith