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Jay Kajaria

I am an avid traveler, wildlife enthusiast, excellent photographer and have been to more than 30 national parks, 20 nature hotsposts and numerous heritage destinations in India and sub-continent. I am passionate about designing memorable experiences from my esteemed guests. Apart from the standard highlights, my focus is always on offering something special and unique to my guests. My deep understanding of various destinations enable me plan memorable trips for guests to the most stunning parts of India and sub-continent

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I specialise in creating culture, wildlife, adventure and off-the-beaten path experiences for my guests. "

How did you get involved in travel?

"After completion of MBA in supply chain from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies Mumbai, a top b-school in India, I worked for the world’s largest consulting firm. During this time, we analysed the travel sector for one of our clients and came to know big lacuna in Inbound Travel segment. We observed that India received very small number of international travellers annually. We realized this was because of three things - a) Negative perception of India being an under-developed country. b) Lack of a reputed travel company offering high quality tailor-made services. c) Lack of travel specialists who are knowledgeable and genuinely passionate about India. Later, I decided to start by journey in travel domain."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"Being a wildlife enthusiast, my most memorable experiences are in jungles of India. Coming face-to-face with a tiger during a trekking tour is one of most memorable experiences I have ever had. The tiger was just a few meters away from us and it was a bit scary but thrilling experience to see it from such close quarters.

The other experience that I remember was staying with a local family in rural Rajasthan - It was one of my life changing experiences. They did not have lot of belongings but were extremely happy with whatever they had and spending time with them, cooking and eating food with them was truly enriching. "

Jay is part of the following groups: Maldives Travel Agents, India Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Jay

Jay interacted well with Erika to plan an iti...
India | Oct 11 - Nov 2, 2024

L
Lisa M.
Australia | Reviewed on Nov 04, 2024
Jay interacted well with Erika to plan an itinerary that suited our requests. He also offered his advice with regard to what we should include. He was quick to respond to our msgs and emails and acted efficiently. On a separate note, Jay arranged and booked a separate trip for Wayne and I to visit Varanasi - an essential must do for any travelers who are considering visiting India. The staff from Bestoke Travels who coordinated our visits to each city were outstanding. They assisted... Read more

Jay interacted well with Erika to plan an itinerary that suited our requests. He also offered his advice with regard to what we should include. He was quick to respond to our msgs and emails and acted efficiently. On a separate note, Jay arranged and booked a separate trip for Wayne and I to visit Varanasi - an essential must do for any travelers who are considering visiting India.

The staff from Bestoke Travels who coordinated our visits to each city were outstanding. They assisted with local knowledge and provided personal interpretations when asked. They were punctual, friendly and knowledgable.

Most local guides were knowledgeable and provided an abundance of information. We were lucky to secure two "freelance" guides who I am guessing would be more expensive however they were great. In particular, our guide in Varansi and in Jaipur.

We were booked on two safari tours in Rathambore. The guide on the first tour (a.m.) appeared to be unfamiliar with the environment and lacked a basic understanding of English and appeared to lack experience. This feedback was given to our hotel concierge (as the local guide did not respond to our calls) and the afternoon safari was more "user-friendly". Both the driver and guide were exceptional.

Our driver (for the most part), Moni was amazing. We think he is the safest driver in India. In particular, driving us from Delhi to Agra to Ranthambore to Jaipur to Mumbai. Moni is an asset to your company. Highly recommend.

We chose to end our trip in Goa for some relaxation before returning home. The location of our hotel was south Goa at Candolim Beach. We stumbled across where the action was slightly north at Calangute and Baga Beaches two days after arriving. Sadly, our local guide did not advise us of this (nor the hotel staff).
Whilst the accommodation at Seashells was clean, and provided for our needs, perhaps for future guests you could consider accommodation at Calangute or Baga areas.

Hotel Reviews
The Suryaa
Delhi
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
ITC Mughal
Agra

We chose to eat at the hotel one night and the restaurant was ordinary. The service was lovely but it appeared the restaurant may have been lease out as the staff were not in align with hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Mixed, a facade of the hotel impressed us but the rooms are dated.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Ranthambore Regency
Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan

This hotel is a great location if guests are visiting the national park to view wildlife and tiger.

Authenticity & Character
Great open space and pool however the midgies and mosquitos were next level.
Location
It is the furthest away hotel from the national park but may be the most luxurious - not sure.
Staff
The restaurant staff were so attentive and helpful. In fact, at sometimes we thought the staff were too close as they were hovering around our table.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Alsisar Haveli
Jaipur

This hotel is lovely. Very unique. Initially we were given a twin room even though the booking was for a couple. Luckily, we were able to be moved to a queen bedroom prior to a bus group arriving. Our room was on the 3rd floor which can only be accessed by stairs - no elevators in this hotel so for any guests with mobility issues, you will need to make sure you are accommodated accordingly. Wifi on the third floor is not available. The pool was being refilled as we arrived. The massage therapist provided a lovely relaxing massage.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
The reception staff were complacent - we asked for information re laundry services and restaurant recommendation and they were non committal. Furthermore, we tried to change larger notes to small notes (to support tipping) and smaller notes were not available. You would expect there should be smaller notes available given the tourists using the hotel.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Trident Nariman Point
Mumbai

This was the pick of the venues for the holiday. Given it was 5 star, they derserve the rating.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Seashell Villas and Luxury Suites Candolim Beach Goa
Goa

The mosquitoes/midgies at this hotel were terrible. Maybe because they have an abundance of greenery around the pool spaces but perhaps, they could consider some pest control as it was difficult for any guests to enjoy the surroundings. Each morning, the owner, owner's son and owner's stepson would visit the restaurant and introduce themselves to the guests at breakfast. They were over the top and appeared to big note themselves. This was confronting. Its OK for "them" to introduce themselves but then not reappear the next day and then reappear on the same day adding more information which did not add to our experience. In fact, in some interactions, it could be categorised as inappropriate. In our case, given we had breakfast included for 4 mornings, we all kept our heads down when "they" hovered and in one case one of our parties moved away prior to "him" approaching.

Authenticity & Character
Location
We stumbled across a more active are just north so for future visits you should consider Cangulute.
Staff
Mixed views. The day to day staff were amazing and so attentive but the owner and co were inappropriate.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day Sightseeing of New and Old Delhi
Full Day Sightseeing of New and Old Delhi
New Delhi

Too much in one day. It is difficult to take in and absorb the information given.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Early Morning Taj Mahal Visit
Early Morning Taj Mahal Visit
Agra
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Agra Fort and Mughal Heritage walk
Agra Fort and Mughal Heritage walk
Agra
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Yoga session facing Taj Mahal
Agra
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Agra - Ranthambore via Fatehpur Sikri  (296 km- 5 to 6 hours by car)
Agra - Ranthambore via Fatehpur Sikri (296 km- 5 to 6 hours by car)
India
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Morning Safari in Ranthambore National Park
Morning Safari in Ranthambore National Park
Ranthambore

The guide appeared apprehensive and unsure. This impacted the driver.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Afternoon Safari at Ranthambore National park
Afternoon Safari at Ranthambore National park
Ranthambore

It makes such a difference when you have an experienced guide who can work as a team with the driver. Our guide used previous experience to guide his direction with us.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ranthambore village tour
Ranthambore

The guide has an unwell child at home so seemed aloof.

Quality of Experience
The guide to be more organised of what his intent is for the day.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver was great but guide needs assistance.
Transport
Local specialist: Jay Kajaria

20 days in Northern India, a trip of a lifetime.
India | Sep 30 - Oct 19, 2024

Karen
Karen B.
Australia | Reviewed on Oct 22, 2024
From the moment we contacted Jay and discussed what we wanted from the trip we felt comfortable. Would the weather be favourable and what would the cost for different levels of accommodation be? His responses were quick and detailed with the pros and cons.
All of our guides throughout the trip were local to the cities/areas we were visiting, therefore their knowledge was passionate and very informative. Assisting us with ATM's, best angles for photos, correct etiquette in temples and...
Read more

From the moment we contacted Jay and discussed what we wanted from the trip we felt comfortable. Would the weather be favourable and what would the cost for different levels of accommodation be? His responses were quick and detailed with the pros and cons.
All of our guides throughout the trip were local to the cities/areas we were visiting, therefore their knowledge was passionate and very informative. Assisting us with ATM's, best angles for photos, correct etiquette in temples and purchasing entry tickets on our behalf.
Choice of accommodation was amazing! We were blown away with the level of service from the moment we arrived, front desk, restaurant and cleaning staff.
Our driver for the majority of our trip was Mr Powan Dixit. He took great care of us. Ensuring we were informed of pickup times, checking we had all our belongings at all times, plenty of water each day and taking us to the local supermarket and laundry pickup on our way home. We had lots of laughs and good fun with Mr Powan Dixit.
Our driver in Varanasi, Mr Nedridge (spelling probably not right), went out of his way to help us with laundry and posting our postcards while we were sight seeing. Again we were taken good care of.
The company representatives in each city/area met us on arrival at the airports and accommodation ensuring a seamless check in and that we were happy with our room. They traveled with us airport departures, guiding us to the correct entrance and helping with entry tickets where necessary at the outside security area.
We would highly recommend KimKim and Bespoke India Holidays.

Hotel Reviews
Rohet Garh
Rohat

A great place to stay, plenty of areas to relax and enjoy the hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Welcomhotel By ITC Hotels, Dwarka
New Delhi

Great place to stay

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rivatas by Ideal
Varanasi

We enjoyed our stay, felt at home

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Coral Tree Homestay

Small homestay, sharing a meal with the other guests gave everyone a chance to chat about what they did that day and where they had come from and going to. Very enjoyable time. Walking distance to the Taj Mahal.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Ranthambore Regency
Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan

Very comfortable and spacious hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Four Points by Sheraton Jaipur, City Square
Jaipur

Comfortable and clean hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ranbanka Palace
Jodhpur

We enjoyed our stay very much.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Rang Mahal
Jaisalmer

What a wonderful place to stay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Lakend
Udaipur

A great hotel with a beautiful position on the lake. Large areas to relax, have a meal and a drink.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Jay Kajaria

Jay has created the best India trip...
India | Oct 4 - Oct 11, 2024

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Erika B.
Australia | Reviewed on Oct 12, 2024

Jay has been fantastic booking our Infia trip . We are a group of 4 and he managed to satisfy all of our differing requests

Local specialist: Jay Kajaria

India
India | Apr 18 - Apr 29, 2024

Lupe
Lupe W.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on May 01, 2024

I had an amazing time in India! I appreciated everything about our trip!
I learned about India’s rich history, religions and culture. Love, love the food and guides. I especially want to mention our driver Ram. He was always punctual, attentive and courteous. I always felt safe with him. Thank you Ram. 🙂🙏🏽

Local specialist: Jay Kajaria

Fantastic few days in Pondicherry.
India | Mar 7 - Mar 12, 2024

A
Alastair A.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Mar 14, 2024

Logan our driver was great and our guide in Pondicherry was very knowledgeable. This was a fantastic trip with lovely hotels. We didn't need a representative to meet us at the airport hotel. We could have sorted this out ourselves and actually it made us think that there might have been a problem.

Local specialist: Jay Kajaria

Amazing Golden Triangle Trip!
India | Feb 10 - Feb 18, 2024

J
Jesse S.
Coney Island, NY | Reviewed on Feb 21, 2024
Bespoke India Holidays and specifically Jay were great to work with. During the planning process they had great communication both via email and phone to discuss our trip and achieve our budget. All tour guides and experiences were great, especially the food tour, night tour, and bike tour in Jaipur. The hotels they selected were amazing especially the SUJÁN Sher Bagh in Ranthambhore. When there was a mishap with one of the tour companies (out of their control) they more than made up for it... Read more

Bespoke India Holidays and specifically Jay were great to work with. During the planning process they had great communication both via email and phone to discuss our trip and achieve our budget. All tour guides and experiences were great, especially the food tour, night tour, and bike tour in Jaipur. The hotels they selected were amazing especially the SUJÁN Sher Bagh in Ranthambhore. When there was a mishap with one of the tour companies (out of their control) they more than made up for it by offering two private tours (vs. shared). One of the best parts of our trip was Mr. Kumar who took us around India for our 10 days. They also arrange people at each hotel and airport to help make the check in process seamless.

Two notes of improvement. The Samode Haveli, while gorgeous, felt a little dated and you are awoken each morning at 5:30am by prayers. Also there are swarms of little bugs by the pool making it unenjoyable. To be clear, this wasn’t their initial selection however based on the photos we choose this hotel over the Marriott. The other thing is I wish they were clearer with was the start/end times of the tours as that would make any activities you want to plan on our own (massages, dinner reservations), easier to plan from the beginning.

Overall it was an amazing trip thanks to Bespoke India Holidays and I highly recommend them!

Hotel Reviews
Taj Hotel & Convention Centre, Agra
Agra
Samode Haveli
Jaipur
SUJÁN Sher Bagh, Ranthambhore
Activity Reviews
Jaipur Food and Market Tour
Jaipur Food and Market Tour
Jaipur
Cycle tour in Jaipur
Jaipur
Walking Tour – Temples & Havelis of Old Jaipur
Jaipur
Local specialist: Jay Kajaria

A Second Wonderful Trip of India Through Bespoke India Holidays
India | Jan 21 - Feb 1, 2024

Michael
Michael C.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Feb 18, 2024
This was the second trip that I worked with Jay Kajaria with Bespoke India Holidays to plan. The first trip was to Delhi and various areas around Rajasthan. It went so well and I was so pleased that I booked a trip to North Eastern India. And this was also a remarkable trip. Simply tell Bespoke what you are interested in and where you would like to go and they will take it from there. You are assisted every step of the way, from being picked up from the airport and later being dropped at... Read more

This was the second trip that I worked with Jay Kajaria with Bespoke India Holidays to plan. The first trip was to Delhi and various areas around Rajasthan. It went so well and I was so pleased that I booked a trip to North Eastern India. And this was also a remarkable trip. Simply tell Bespoke what you are interested in and where you would like to go and they will take it from there. You are assisted every step of the way, from being picked up from the airport and later being dropped at the airport and being assisted in checking in for your flight from India.

Many of the famous tourist areas of India were covered by the first trip and now I wanted something different -- and this is Northeastern India. It is a land of unusual tribes, different topography and different animals. Make sure you go to Kaziranga National Park -- and also take the elephant safari in the morning.

Also impressive were the lodgings in which I was booked and my guide and driver were top notch.

I am so pleased with this trip (and the prior one) that I am already looking talking about and looking forward to working with Jay on a third trip.

Thank you Bespoke India Holidays (and Jay and my guide "Dee-poo" and driver "Harem."

Local specialist: Jay Kajaria

Whirlwind northern India adventure
India | Jan 23 - Jan 27, 2024

N
Nigel K.
Australia | Reviewed on Jan 28, 2024
We requested a whirlwind adventure, we only had a couple of days but Jay, of Bespoke India Holidays, managed to pack into those few days all we asked for and more. A day in Agra with tour guide Yogesh covered the important sites and was very informative and entertaining; the playboy emperor, the lovestruck emperor, the evil son and so much more. The following day Yogesh provided the low down on India's second capitol - Fathpur Sikri before he headed back to Agra and our driver - Raj, took... Read more

We requested a whirlwind adventure, we only had a couple of days but Jay, of Bespoke India Holidays, managed to pack into those few days all we asked for and more. A day in Agra with tour guide Yogesh covered the important sites and was very informative and entertaining; the playboy emperor, the lovestruck emperor, the evil son and so much more. The following day Yogesh provided the low down on India's second capitol - Fathpur Sikri before he headed back to Agra and our driver - Raj, took us on to our next destination - Ranthambhore. A lot of driving over the five days but Raj was very good, considerate to our westernanity, one of us secure enough to actually sleep whilst he drove; the car was immaculately clean, comfortable and water and sweets were provided. Accommodation in Ranthambhore was six-star, two safaris into the national park resulted in two tiger sightings - luck I know but wow.

Hotel Reviews
Aamaghati Wildlife Resort, Ranthambore
Ranthambore

Green, spacious, clean, open, fresh, a little oasis in the hustle and bustle of Indian life. Location; Out of town so quiet but it meant that if you wanted to visit the village you had to book a ride or take a long walk. Authenticity & Character; This is a resort 'authenticity' is not relevant. And nor really is 'character'. Aamaghati Wildlife Resort is a resort and compares above western resorts that I have stayed at. The presence of local musicians to welcome guests and provide background to High Tea added character to the experience. Staff; There were sufficient staff that assistance was always available if required. The staff were, almost, overly keen to be of help, all those we encountered were respectful, well mannered and well presented, all spoke good english. Cleanliness and Comfort; The grounds were spotless, the public areas were spotless, the rooms were spotless. The room we had (T4) was huge and well laid out.

Authenticity & Character
Nothing can improve authenticity, Aamaghati is a resort, it is a very good resort but resorts are not 'authentic' Indian accommodation.
Location
Nothing could be improved as you can't exactly pick the resort up and drop it off closer to the town. We were only there for a day and only for the safari, the location was perfect for our requirements. If we'd been there longer then the isolation from the village may have been a point of concern. I do not know (I did not notice) if you offer a taxi service between resort and village which would overcome the isolation.
Staff
All of the staff we encountered were very helpful to the point of bordering on being too helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Spotless inside and out
Clark Shiraz
Agra

We were in town for a day of sightseeing, we had a driver who dropped us off and picked us up. The hotel was clean, the room was clean, spacious and comfortable. The restaurant that we used had a great range of great tasting foods available.

Authenticity & Character
This was a hotel, it was an authentic hotel but not authentic Indian accommodation. The hotel had an abundance of services and facilities.
Location
We were there for a day and had a driver who picked us up and dropped us off at the hotel so location was not an issue. Had we no driver and had we been there for more than just a day's sightseeing the distance to the centre of Agra may have been a concern.
Staff
All very helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
The room, the public areas and the grounds were all very clean.
Activity Reviews
Agra - Sightseeing and Mughal Heritage Walk
Agra - Sightseeing and Mughal Heritage Walk
Agra

Agra Fort was an impressive structure and, courtesy of our guide, had an interesting, colourful and rich history. The size and scope of the buildings was hard for our 20th century minds to fully grasp. Taj Mahal. What can you say, even in the fog the building had a presence that you could literally feel. The detail work of the decorations, the design of the structure rivals any christian structure I have seen. Mughal Heritage Walk was probably a bit too much for our western sensibilities, it was certainly a bit of an eye opener to us to see village life up that close and personal. To be honest, we were a bit uncomfortable - rich westerners walking around a place where there was not that wealth.

Quality of Experience
It goes without saying, a visit to the Taj Mahal is Amazing
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our driver for the whole tour - Raj, was great, a good driver (he didn't hit anyone) and very considerate. Our guide - Yogesh, was awesome, knowledgeable, entertaining, perceptive.
Transport
We had a private car with driver, the driver was good and the car was comfortable and clean.
Agra - Ranthambore via Fatehpur Sikri  (296 km- 5 to 6 hours by car)
Agra - Ranthambore via Fatehpur Sikri (296 km- 5 to 6 hours by car)
India

It's a long drive, the break at Fatehpur Sikri made it a little more bearable. The break at the level crossing did not - we had a twenty minute delay getting out of Agra while we waited for a train. Fatehpur Sikri is an interesting site and well worth the detour if you are in the area. The architecture is typical and impressive, the story behind is interesting and to link the structure to the story is great. A drive is a drive is a drive, there were sufficient interesting sights along the way to keep the mind from boredom.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Again, Yogesh was informative, knowledgeable and entertaining. Raj was a very good driver.
Transport
Raj drove a very comfortable car that was immaculately clean.
Morning and Afternoon Safaris in Ranthambore National Park
Morning and Afternoon Safaris in Ranthambore National Park
Ranthambore

We were lucky, two trips into the park - morning and afternoon, two tiger sightings. If we hadn't seen a tiger the rating would be a bit less but still up there. There were other things to see and the park itself was scenic.

Quality of Experience
We saw tigers, what more can you say
Guides, Drivers and Staff
We were told a 6:30-7:00am pickup, the driver arrived at 7:30am. The driver we had didn't highlight or really point out the other animals we encountered and he certainly didn't give us the opportunity to photograph any of them, he seemed to be single mindedly intent on spotting a tiger, and to his credit he found us one. A close up and personal sighting, one that no other group got to see. We were told a 1:30-2:00pm pickup, the driver turned up after 2:30pm. This driver was a bit more informative about the other animals sighted and was also a bit more sensitive to our being tourists and interested in more than just the animals. And he got us a tiger.
Transport
We had jeep tours, two two-and-a-half person benches across the back of an open jeep. Comfortable for two (afternoon), bit tight for three (morning) persons. The roads in the park are, as you'd expect, rough.
Local specialist: Jay Kajaria

Our travels were disrupted by the war in Isra...
India | Oct 20 - Nov 7, 2023

M
Mark C.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Nov 08, 2023

Our travels were disrupted by the war in Israel. Jay put the trip together in about 4 days. Our first trip to India was amazing. Every transfer was easy. Radhe was our driver for 2 weeks. He is the best. I personally would be afraid to drive in India and I drive everywhere. Our last night in India after 19 days was a cooking class in Udiapur with Rakshita. It was the perfect ending as we learned about the food we had eaten but to visit with Rakshita and Dakshu was the best ending. We highly recommend Jay and his team.

Local specialist: Jay Kajaria

Golden Triangle 7 day private tour
India | Oct 9 - Oct 15, 2023

Susan
Susan T.
Newburgh, NY | Reviewed on Oct 16, 2023

Everything went according to the plan and communication with Jay at Bespoke was always reassuring. Our driver, Mahipal Singh, looked after us very well making sure we had all we needed along the way. When we arrived at our first hotel, he was very helpful and drove back to return my lost item. I always felt safe with his driving and felt he made sure we were always safe.
Our guides were well selected and respectful of our time as we are not interested in buying stuff.
All was flawless!

Local specialist: Jay Kajaria