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.

The 17 different sports that will be played range from swimming to archery, netball and weightlifting. Athletics and tennis also will also be among some of the top attractions.

The Commonwealth itself proudly reflects a mixture of faiths, races, languages and cultures amongst the 1.8 billion or of its people. This equates to roughly a third of the world's population! The slogan for the Delhi games is "Come out and play" - a message to the world, but also more locally to the Indian population. It's described as an invitation to every person "across all divides" (of which India has many) to participate and enter in to the true spirit of the Games.

But whilst Delhi is the major focus for the international media, India as a whole is reaching out to the thousands of visitors to the games. The 100 day national tour of the Queen's Baton Relay (similar to the Olympic torch) will be visiting each of the countries 28 state capitals and seven union territories, all of whom will be expecting an influx of tourists following the games. The timing of the games themselves coincides with the start of lower temperatures across the country and with it the beginning of high season for tourists.

Rajasthan, as one of Delhi's closest neighbours and the number one tourist destination in India will no doubt see more additional visitors than most. Just 100 kms south(west) of Delhi and you cross the border in to Rajasthan, with the capital Jaipur about another 175 kms further down the highway. With its vast number of historical landmarks - palaces, forts, temples, as well as highly varied landscapes and cultural activities, it's not hard to see why Rajasthan is already extremely popular with foreigners visiting India. And for luxury travellers, the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur has just been voted the world's number one hotel (2010) by Condé Nast. And alongside such classics as the Deogarh Mahal and the Lake Palace in Udaipur, a wave of new design hotels like Raas in Jodhpur, The Serai in Jaisalmer and the Devi Ratn in Jaipur are set to make Rajasthan even more tempting as a holiday destination.

Preparations for the Games continue, including the recent opening of Terminal 3 at Indira Gandhi International Airport, and as the world turns a little more of its attention towards India, it's set to be a busy time ahead for all concerned. We're busy putting together new tours that highlight all that is spectacular, breathtaking and indulgent about Rajasthan, and very much look forward to sharing our insights with those who decide to venture a little deeper in to India.

For more information about the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, visit the official site.