Passage to India

What if we stopped saving our dream journey for “one day” and booked it now? Wander Woman Phoebe Smith hits pause on the grind and takes a micro‑retirement across North India by rail—soaking in Kolkata’s dawn ferry music, the riot of colour at the flower market, and the earthy taste of chai, before tracing slower paths to Bodh Gaya, Varanasi and Agra. The result is an immersion into India that her late mother always wanted but whose death age 50 meant she never got to experience. Also coming up: Author and travel writer Shafik Meghji on South America's links with Britain and the perfect trip for first time visitors Travel Hack: Survive your first night on an Indian Sleeper Train Top 10 North Indian dishes you have to try... now! Meet the acid attack survivors at Sheroes Hangout Cafe - who turn tragedy into triumph over coffee every day Gear chat: what to pack for a trip to India in winter and summer Ida Pfeiffer – the midlife pioneer who circled the globe on grit, curiosity, and a shoestring – is our Wander Woman of the Month. If this journey nudges your own “someday” list, make it sooner.

You can listen to Passage to India online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Passage to India is an episode from Wander Woman: A Travel Podcast by Phoebe Smith.

This episode is 57:32 long.

This episode was published on Feb 27, 2026.

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