India is a country which is both astonishing and seductive. The sun shone like a thousand splinters, highlighting the beauty of this incomparable journey.
A Thousand and One Nights in 15 days
It was impossible to resist the attractions of this amazing country, so far removed from our culture. Nothing was out of reach for this L’Imperial Classic rally, which took place for a second time in India. Over the course of 15 days, departing from Delhi, each day offered surprises and new discoveries. This was a different way of enjoying India, being immersed in
the local culture in the most far remote villages, and driving on roads more often used by camels or zebu all helped make this trip totally unforgettable. Each day was special, way off the tourist beaten track with a feast of dazzling sights to behold. Backed up by a feat of organisation, including the delivery of the cars and the logistics of lunches and dinners held in sites of exceptional interest organised by L’Imperial for the occasion.
One of India’s Crown Jewels, the Taj Mahal, was unveiled late one afternoon, followed by a dinner from a private terrace facing the palace at the Oberoi Hotel in Agra. The road to Jaipur took us through countryside and villages on roads lined with forests and lakes, where the multicoloured palette of the country was enhanced by the local women wearing their colourful saris as they walked to the fields. A highlight of this day was an elephant polo match. The following evening was a soiree truly worthy of A Thousand and One Nights. The Maharaja of Jaipur and his Maharana hosted the L’Imperial Classic guests for a private tour of the City Palace of Jaipur, and dinner in their private residence. This was followed by an amazing cavalry display in the Palace courtyard.
In nearby Bikaner, village inhabitants welcomed the party for an Indian lunch, held in a specially decorated fort. For the first time, we arranged a dinner in the desert, about 20km from Jaisalmer. The logistics were incredible – the furniture, the meal itself, even the dishwasher, were transported across the desert with the help of the village. With fire throwers, everyone present thought the evening a special, rekindling our belief in magic. Then onto Jodhpur, the Umaid Bhawan Palace was our venue for the overnight stay, and dinner in the Palace gardens. Udaipur was our last stop.
The participants, all dressed in white for dinner, were able to look out across the water from the terrace of the Lake Palace, located on an island. There could be no more magical way to finish these 15 days than watching the ultimate firework display, reflected in the waters of Lake Pichola.
Download the full record of the rally
La galerie photos est en cours de maintenance, ouverture prochainement.
This is the opportunity to reflect on a very unusual journey.
L’Impérial Classic is the only French company to offer vintage car rallies worldwide, combining not only speed but also the art of living and passion for cars.
These rallies, each centred on an exceptional destination, offer splendour, sophistication and true French style and elegance. These watchwords go hand in hand with the quality and originality of the hospitality on offer.
L’Impérial Classic could be nothing other than top of the range, and is today a major player in the vintage rally world. It combines receptions and private visits, fascinating spectacles in unique sites with tailor-made organisation, providing travel through sumptuous countries to explore culture and hitherto undiscovered sights.
L’Impérial Classic retains its fundamental principles, the guarantee of its success and its trademark : unique routes, precise preparation and « haute couture » style, trips which offer each participating team the chance to live their dream.
As a new decade dawns for l’Impérial Classic two outstanding new projects have been announced (the South Africa in 2016 and the end of the world : New Zealand in 2017).