Magnificent India in the luxury tented camps

I am in love with India for the many facets of this huge country, mistakenly identified only with Rajasthan, a wonderful region that cannot be missed. The purpose of this blog, however, is to tell about less popular places and unique ways to live them.

The luxury camps "The Ultimate Traveling Camp (TUTC)", member of Virtuoso, are an example of how you can visit India discovering human communities, naturalistic environments and cultural sites in the area outside the usual tourist circuits, in conditions of maximum comfort.

We start from Ladakh where the two Chamba Camps located at Thiksey and Diskit, the first operating from May 15th to October 10th, the second until September 30th. The Ladakh is a mountainous region enclosed by the mountain ranges of the Karakorum and the Himalayas that impresses with the beauty of nature and the peace that reigns there.

Here Muslims and Buddhists live together, and the mixture of different cultures is an element that adds charm.

Both Camps are characterized by tents luxuriously furnished with design and handmade items of fine local craftsmanship, and with lavish and very large bathrooms. Services are really at the top, with the availability of a butler and fine cuisine with elaboration of Indian and international dishes by renowned chefs. There is a plethora of fascinating cultural, active and mystical experiences on offer to have a beautiful stay.

Then we move to the State of Nagaland, in north-eastern India, inhabited by tribes, from which the entire area takes its name, still proud of their ancient traditions. It is a land permeated with strong mysticism, covered by thick forests with a rich fauna also composed of wild animals. The Nagas are made up of 16 tribes among which the brave and fearsome hunters stand out. Every year the Hornbill Festival is celebrated where you can admire their distinctive signs: elaborate costumes and ritual headgear with tiger fangs.

During the festival it is possible to learn the fascinating culture of the Dwarves by historians and local academics.

Kohima Camp, open from 29 November to 12 December, is located at an altitude of 1,650 m (5,445 ft) surrounded by wonderful mountains, and rests on a slight slope in a pristine, heavily wooded area. The camp consists of luxury tents inspired by the theme of safari combined with an ancient colonial charm. Furnishings and cuisine at the top even in this case.

For those who love to immerse themselves totally in nature, we recommend the Jaagir Lodge in Duddha. Here you can explore the many forest reserves of Dudhwa, Katarniaghat, Kishanpur and Pilibhit, on the border with Nepal, to see wild animals in their natural habitats: tigers, elephants, rhinos, crocodiles and some of the most incredible and magical birds.

The sumptuous Jaagir Lodge, which runs from November 15th to June 15th, is an ideal spot to take part in exciting safaris and enjoy guided nature trails. You can meet members of the ethnic tribe of Tharu, who describe themselves as "people of the forest" and have lots of experience: cycling through sugar cane farms, riding elephants or taking boat trips to see the gharials, the typical crocodiles of these areas. It is possible to cross very different natural environments: prairies, savannas, forests and swamps rich in clay. At Jaagir Lodge excellent food and the Safari Club offers a unique atmosphere to relax with a drink.

Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) is the destination to assist at the famous Kumbh Mela Indu Festival, where many pilgrims come from all over India for a purificatory bath in the river.  During this period, from 10th January to 6th March, 2019, it is open The Sangam Nivas Camp. Positioned at the highest point of the Kumbh Mela, the camp offers the perfect vantage point for guests to observe and soak in the atmosphere of the Kumbh. As all the other Tutc Camps the services and the culinary experience are unique. Guests may choose from a range of activities specially curated to enhance the Festival.

Finally, in Hampi you can immerse yourself in the glorious past of the ancient Vijayanagara empire, staying in the tranquility and discrete luxury of the tented Kishkinda Camp, open from April 15th to October 1st. Hampi is an archaeological site that has not yet been visited and has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the midst of the austere landscape of giant boulders rise the famous temples and architecture of this splendid capital from the fourteenth to the sixteenth century. A testament carved in stone that immortalizes the triumphs and the majesty of this singular dynasty, which was able to rule over peoples of different religious traditions. Hampi was the jewel in the crown of South India, admired and revered even by distant peoples.

The Kishkinda Camp offers luxuriously decorated tents with richly woven fabrics, silks and traditional local handcrafted furniture with a tribute to the era of glamorous travelers of the past, with leather-bound trunks, canopy beds, and tapestries in headboards. Dining in the company of an enchanting and unique landscape will truly remain an indelible memory.