We've just returned from Delhi and what should have been a cumbersome administrative chore, took a rather pleasant turn! As ever, we're always on the lookout for different places to stay in Delhi, so each time we stop of in the nation's capital, we endeavour to try something new (staving off the urge to return to old favourites) and expand our horizons. And so we checked in to The Manor, in the ever-so-slightly swanky Friends Colony. I'm not sure quite what we were expecting, especially after a six-hour drive from Jaipur... but as we drove in to the courtyard, we were in fact entering a whole other dimension. I'm still reeling. The exquisiteness of it all is almost too good to be true.

Although our work is never-ending, now is the time that when we can slow down just a tiny bit. Briefly. As the “tourist season” draws to a close, we've got a whole host of things lined up for the summer (including more tours!) but, essentially we'll also have a little bit of time to take stock and reflect on what has been a fantastic first season for Wire.

Traditionally, the monsoon months in India are July and August - refreshing rains sweep across the country, easing summer temperatures and reviving the landscape. September flourishes and everyone prepares for the influx of visitors, marked by the moderate temperatures from October through to March. In Rajasthan, a predominantly desert state the monsoon rains are much anticipated, the life source for agriculture on which its people depend. In the six years leading up to 2010, the annual monsoons had been something of a disappointment leading to scarce supplies and even more than usual revealing dried up river beds and empty lakes. Vast swathes of land revelaed themselves where once massive bodies of water had stood. And so with great trepidation, everyone waited for the 2010 monsoon.

Yes, there is so much to see in Rajasthan, so much to do, so many fantastic locations... and still, we decided to go a little further beyond. Equally amazing and giving our clients the essential highlights of North India, Delhi, Agra and Varanasi are fantastic additions to a Rajasthan itinerary. Given the distances and modes of transport, it's often a little tricky to piece everything together in a trip of less than two weeks – but our latest tour, THE NORTH manages to do exactly that with its up-tempo pace and our selection of some of the most luxurious stays in India.

Nothing less than a whirlwind romance topped of with an amourous holiday in Rajasthan, which included a proposal - celebrity couple Katy Perry and Russel Brand decided it was apt that they should bring a select group of friends and family back to India for their wedding celebrations.

It's official - I've added leopard spotting to my rather odd list of talents. Not so strange you might think - given that we're living in Rajasthan, the land where big cats surely just roam the streets. We all know that tiger numbers are alarmingly low in India - somewhere around the 1400 mark, which may sound a lot - but it isn't. We've heard stories of Sariska with its failing breeding programme, tourists disappointed with a lack of tiger on their tiger safari and perhaps most bizarrely, importing cheetahs from Syria to live in Jaisalmer. Of all places. But the humble leopard seems to have slipped off the radar, perhaps because it's so shy and retiring - or simply that their PR company isn't up to the job. Well, at Wire we've completely fallen in love with this underrated and under-represented species and have decided to do something about it. With a little help our course.

There's much chatter on the internet these days about affordable - picking up great discount deals and making the most of your travel budget. At Wire we decided to look at what we could do to create a collection of tours that retain the luxury - but that are a bit easier on the wallet. For us, the most important factor was not to sacrifice our high standards just in the name of price. But, we think we've managed to find a balance that still lives up to ours - and hopefully our clients' expectations.

So you decide to go to the supermarket in the city, it's drizzling a bit and you should be back in an hour or two. Before you've reached the end of the street the rain is pouring down and the wipers on the windscreen can hardly cope with the downpour. You consider turning back, but decided that by the time you've done a few kilometres on the highway everything will be fine.

For us, doing research and having fun often go together. And as we're constantly researching new destinations, sights and experiences, we get to have a lot of fun. Take our visit to Chak as an example...

Elephants have been a common sight in Rajasthan for hundreds years - they carried the Maharajahs to their palaces and forts, were used in warfare and also as working animals. Even today more than a hundred elephants still work on a daily basis in Jaipur, ferrying tourists up the steep climb to the Amber Fort. But with ever-increasing temperatures in the region, there has been some vocal criticism concerning the welfare of these gentle giants.

You see street dogs everywhere in India and don't pay them much mind - they come in all shapes and sizes. Sleeping under rickshaws, zig-zagging through traffic, scavenging for food in piles of rubbish. For the most part though they don't bother anyone and no-one seems to mind them, apart from giving them perhaps a slightly wide berth. They seem healthy enough...only the older ones look like they may have seen better days and even the ones with only three legs seem to hop along merrily, doing...well exactly what dogs do.

L'Occitane de Provence the French luxury skincare and beauty products retailer has taken its first steps in to the Indian market, signing deal with the top-end hotel chain Devi Resorts.

October 3rd 2010 sees the start of the long anticipated Commonwealth Games, being held in Delhi. For India it is a momentous occasion - the Games represent the largest sporting and cultural event ever held in the country. Around 6000 athletes from 71 participating nations will be flocking to India's capital for the 12 days of sports and ceremonial activities. The newly renovated Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium has been upgraded to seat 75,000 expected spectators from all over the globe.

Well, our findings from the Rajasthan Research Run are already being put to very good use - we've just finished working on the new LOVE tour! We thought long and hard about creating a tour that's designed for couples to enjoy all the amazing sights and sounds of Rajasthan, but also to be able to spend some quality time together, in some pretty romantic settings.

The thing about the Thar Desert is that it's hard to define it's boundaries, both visually and mentally. The word 'desert' implies huge dunes of sands stretching as far as the eye can see, like in the Sahara. But the Thar seems to be more of a moving feast, and a sporadic one at that.