truth.travel is a new website set up by Condé Nast Traveler to help people plan and research their holidays. The site also provides a unique way for anyone to ask travel specialists questions about holidays and hotels anywhere in the world. Bertie and Victoria Dyer, founders of India Beat have their own page which includes an article on why Condé Nast Traveler recommend them, personal insights into travelling in India and client comments. To check out the page click here.

Opening in October 2010 the Serai at Toria is already looking great! India Beat went along to the site which is just 30 minutes away from Khajuraho’s famous temples. The hotel is set high on the banks of the river Toria and overlooks Panna National Park. The emphasis here is on working with local expertise and materials, the rooms are all constructed from adobe, that’s mud to you and me, but the interiors are anything but mud hut! Spacious and light with beautiful soaring ceilings. Thatched roofs and naturalistic landscaping gave us the feeling that the hotel had always been there and when completed will have a really positive impact on the local community. India Beat can’t wait to go back to see the finished hotel. For reservations and more information contact India Beat.

Samode Safari Lodge will be opening in October 2010 so India Beat went to have a look at the hottest new place to stay in Bandhavgarh National Park. The setting is perfect, not only is it stunning but the hotel is right next to the park’s new gate which is virtually unused by other hotels. This means the park is significantly quieter and the chances of seeing a tiger without the crowds is infinitely better. Created by the Samode brothers whose hotels in Rajasthan India Beat are big fans of, there are 12 luxurious cottages and a lovely swimming pool. They are also getting involved with the local community and working out environmentally sustainable practices to reduce the hotels impact on this remote area of Madhya Pradesh. For further enquiries and bookings contact India Beat.

Khajuraho is home to some of the finest temples anywhere in the world, India Beat went to check out their incredible sculptural beauty. Famous for their erotic carvings, several of the temples date back to the 8th Century and actually depict an extraordinary variety of scenes from everyday life and the life of the Hindu gods they were built to glorify. To learn more about the temples click here. To organise a trip to Khajuraho contact India Beat.

Now this is how to camp! Taj’s collaboration with &Beyond known as Banjaar Tola, which literally translates as river settlement, is spectacular. Two camps of nine tents each overlook Kanha National Park and are set in over 100 acres of rugged landscape. Kanha is probably the best place in the world to see tigers and really appreciate their natural habitat. The area of the park that is adjacent to Banjaar Tola is also India Beat’s favorite part of the park as it’s really quiet so you are more likely to have a one on one experience with the tigers. The tents are wonderfully luxurious and both camps have pools, an essential element if visiting in the warmer months of March, April and May when tiger sightings are best. To enquire about Banjaar Tola and wildlife holidays in Madhya Pradesh contact India Beat.

India Beat have just spent a wonderful week in Madhya Pradesh because April is the best time to see tigers. We spent a fabulous few nights at Kanha National Park and then headed north to Mahua Kothi in Bandhavgarh before ending the trip at Khajuraho’s erotic temples. We had been many times before but really wanted to see how much difference the weather made to tiger sightings. The theory goes that as it gets hotter and there is less water in the park the undergrowth thins and the tigers become more predictable. The reality was even more spectacular, we saw 4 tigers on one drive alone! They included this magnificent male tiger who we watched for half an hour as he hunted spotted deer. To find out more about Madhya Pradesh contact India Beat.

India Beat was in Jodhpur last week to check out Raas, while we were in town we stopped by one of our favourite hotels, the Umaid Bhawan Palace. They have opened a delicious new tandoori restaurant on the roof and we went at sunset to try it out. Taking the lift to the top leads to a small staircase that twists its way on to the roof, it feels like you are going on a behind-the-scenes before you emerge on to what has to be one of the most stunning settings anywhere. Views over the Blue City of Jodhpur are incredible, small romantic candlelit tables face out towards the setting sun. Cocktails were perfect, followed by tandoori lamb, malai chicken and paneer tikka, all cooked to perfection. To book contact India Beat.

Happy Holi! This year India Beat played Holi at Diggi Palace, delicious food, plenty of cold beer and crazy colours were the order of the day. To learn more about Holi click here or to book a holiday to join in the fun next year email India Beat.

Emerging out of the Thar Desert in western Rajasthan Mihirgarh is the first mud fort to be built anywhere for hundreds of years. 9 huge and incredibly luxurious suites, several with private infinity pools  are quite simply the best place to stay and experience the beauty of rural Rajasthan. The surrounding Bishnoi tribal villages are absolutely fascinating and India Beat loved the camel ride across the dunes before a picnic under a huge banyan tree. Whilst there is plenty to do and see in the area, few places can match up to the wonderful views from Mihir Garh’s pool. To book contact India Beat.

Wow! What a view! As we stepped through the gates of Raas, Jodhpur’s hottest new hotel our breath was taken away by the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort towering above us. Raas has an incredible location right in the heart of the old city, the stunning heritage palace has been transformed in to a slick chic boutique hotel. India Beat spent the night and loved the seriously comfortable beds and luxurious bathrooms, dinner on the terrace was a delicious treat, don’t miss out on the apple jalebis! To book contact India Beat.