Client Testimonial: "It was all I dreamt it would be and more"

We always appreciate our client feedback, and here is another satisfied traveler who spent three weeks in Mumbai, Cochin, Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur:

I cannot express my thanks enough to you and to everyone in India who indeed made my getaway a trip of a lifetime. From the moment I landed til the moment I left, I was so very well cared for. Your associates in India were terrific. I don't have a single complaint.

As to guides, they were all terrific. As to special events, the cooking classes were grand, particularly in the class taught in the home in Kerala. And I have to say as silly as it was, I loved riding on Pinky the elephant and sighting a tiger in Ranthambore. The accommodations were great - it was a really interesting mix of styles, which made it fun. The Jai Mahal on Christmas was delightful, the Nahargarh in Ranthambore and Brunton Boatyard were pretty spectacular, and the Haveli in Udaipur was was so different and so wonderful in its own hospitable way.

And of course, there was you, who made the planning almost as much fun as the trip. I am endlessly grateful for your ideas, your professionalism and for executing such a multi-faceted trip without a single hitch. I am appreciative to one and all. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you. It was all I dreamt it would be and more.

Margo U.
Beverly Hills, CA

Thank you, Margo. We love what we do and are so happy to hear about your fantastic Indian experience!

Share your testimonial! Travel@sodhatravel.com

Keeping Travel Affordable

Last week, we received the following email from a prospective client:

"After doing some research, I found that the price you quoted for my customized package averaged 30% less than the other agencies. May I ask, how do you keep your costs low?"

Absolutely, ask away. We encourage our clients to view travel proposals from other companies and see the value for the money.

There are three fundamental elements in keeping our costs low:

1. Advertising: Sodha Travel does not advertise in high-budget forums, sites, or publications. To us, the best form of advertising is client referrals. By keeping marketing costs low, there is no need to charge our clients more.

2. Overhead: We keep our office costs low. This includes our "green" philosophy of emailing as many documents as possible to eliminate printing costs. We also continually research and negotiate all office expenses, including phone/internet, credit card vendors, and office supplies.

3. Our Name: We are not an internationally branded name like many of the other travel companies. This allows us the flexibility to negotiate costs directly with our overseas operators. As they say, "You pay for the brand." Furthermore, we use the same local operators as many of the highly publicized companies. Fabulous Service + Less Money = Happy Clients!

Who is Ganesha?

We often receive questions from our clients about Ganesha: Just who is this elephant-headed deity and what is its significance?

Ganesha, also known as Ganesh and Ganapati, is one of the most recognized and widely worshipped deities in Hinduism. Although the image is commonly found throughout India, Nepal and other areas of South Asia, many people worldwide have a particular fondness for Ganesha, regardless of religious affiliation.

Most recognized by his elephant head, Ganesha is revered as the Remover of Obstacles and God of Luck and Good Fortune. Therefore, he is honored at the beginning of rituals and ceremonies and worshipped on many religious and secular occasions. Ancient texts state that Ganesha was born with a human head to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. When Ganesha came between his father and mother during a dispute, Shiva beheaded his son. Shiva then replaced his head with that if an elephant. There are numerous variations to this story, though the above is commonly narrated.


In India, images of Ganesha are everywhere. One of our clients recently returned with over 200 pictures of the deity! She was captivated by its placement in the homes and hillsides throughout the country. Please send your own travel images to travel@sodhatravel.com

India Visa Updates!

Due to the abuse and misuse of the tourist visa, there have been recent changes to the amount of allowable entries into India. There should now be a gap of at least two months between two separate visits to India. A tourist visa is granted to foreigners who do not have a residence or occupation in India and whose sole objective in visiting the country is recreation, tourism, or visiting family and friends. No other activity is permissible and the visa cannot be extended. Also note: the two-month gap is only applicable to tourist visas and not business, employment, student, medical, or other visa categories.

For tourist visa holders who wish to visit India within two months of their last visit, a letter is requires that shows 1)the urgency of the visit, as it pertains to recreation and 2)the visit is not due to business, research, employment, etc. Regardless of the visa duration, a foreigner may only stay in India for a maximum of 180 days (6 months) on each visit.

For detailed information regarding the changes, please visit Travisa Outsourcing or contact our office directly.