Why I Travel: I’ve been to India 35 times, this spot is my No.1

India has unique brand of hospitality that keeps visitors coming back.

Dan Swart describes India as his second home. The managing director of Melbourne rug retailer Hali Rugs has travelled to the country nearly 35 times. “If I calculated all the time spent, it would roughly accumulate to about 18 months of my life in this incredible country,” says Dan. He first visited as a child. “My father, who founded Hali, took each of his four children to India when we turned 10 to open our eyes to the vast world around us,” he says.

After multiple backpacking trips, he fell in love with the generosity of the people. “I’m always greeted with affection and spoiled by my friends, who make our evenings together memorable,” he says. “Having people there that I trust absolutely and have known since I was a child gives me a real sense of comfort and warmth.”

FORT FRIENDS

In Jaipur, Rajasthan, one of our friends and suppliers surprised us with a private dining experience with his family atop the Amer Fort. The restaurant is only open a couple of times a month for VIP clients. It was a magical evening with lots of drinks, laughs and the most incredible food. I remember sitting outside by a fire with a whisky in hand and an incredible view of the entire city.

ROYAL TREATMENT

The Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur is my favourite hotel for Indian hospitality and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s a marble palace built in the 18th century, floating in the middle of Lake Pichola’s serene waters. The intricate craftsmanship and captivating views are absolutely breathtaking. We were treated like royalty.

The Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur is my favourite hotel for Indian hospitality.

HEART-WARMING FOOD

The Bukhara restaurant in New Delhi stands out for its unique touches. They serve authentic Peshawari cuisine and provide bibs to guests, which has resulted in numerous fun photographs of me, my father and our team wearing them. Going beyond serving food, they provide an experience of Indian culture, with dishes prepared in traditional clay ovens and served with warm hospitality.

SMALL TOWN FEELS

My favourite place in India is Dharamshala in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. This small town, which serves as the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, has a blend of Indian and Tibetan cultures. The Tibetan refugees here bring a distinct culture and vibe to the place, including handicrafts, cuisine and religious practices. The landscape, which is graced by snow-clad mountains surrounding you from every angle, makes me feel instantaneously relaxed.

Every time I visit India I take the spiritual sunrise boat ride on the Ganges River, the holiest site in the world for Hindus. Picture: iStock.

HIGHS AND LOWS

MEDICAL MISHAP

In 2019, I got out of the car in front of the hotel in Delhi and went to grab my bag from the boot. It was dark and my left foot fell in a hole in the road and I fractured my entire big toe joint. Travelling home was a nightmare and I spent three months in a moon boot.

STELLAR SUNRISE

Every time I visit India I take the spiritual sunrise boat ride on the Ganges River, the holiest site in the world for Hindus. At the crack of dawn, you find yourself amid numerous people on the ghats (steps on the banks) of the Ganges, all awaiting the day’s first light to pay homage to the river.

Originally published as Why I Travel: I’ve been to India 35 times, this spot is my No.1