Be the star of your own Bollywood movie

Sometimes the hype around a film becomes so much that expectations are ridiculously high and when you get round to viewing it you are disappointed. Not so with Slumdog Millionaire, which more than deserved it’s Best Picture Oscar. The plot is set around the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and with the DVD on general release you get into the swing this year and travel to some of India's most enchanting cities in the colourful state of Rajasthan.

Start in Delhi and travel to where the film is mainly set, exotic Mumbai. Along the way in the walled desert city of Jaisalmer you’ll have ample time to explore the traffic free streets (almost unique in India) and take a camel safari into the desert. There’s also time to relax in the laid-back oasis town of Pushkar and visit the fantastic Meherangarh Fort in Jodhpur, one of the most impressive in India.

Now a prestigious heritage hotel and the setting for many blockbusters a number of rooms were renovated in order to turn the fort into a heritage hotel. The rooms now have modern bathrooms but for the rest they retain an old world charm with classic furniture and colourful local fabrics. There are also white-washed terraces, cool private sit-outs and fabulous views from the upper windows and terraces. The Indian rupee offers competitive value against the sterling this year so head to Bollywood and visit Fort Khejala.

Rajasthan Explorer

Accommodation across this fascinating country includes the Bollywood Fort, a night in a luxury tented camp and a range of more simple hotels. The escorted “Rajasthan Explorer” tour starts from £830 per person including 15 nights accommodation (12 nights simple hotel, two nights heritage hotel, one night tented camp), land transport by coach, train and camel safari, and a local payment of INR 8,000. The price also includes the services of an Imaginative Traveller tour leader and local guides. Flights are available from £399 per person.

For more information and reservations, visit imaginative-traveller.com.