The three most popular cities in the North of India- Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, form the golden triangle (on the map it’s roughly shaped as a triangle). This is the home of the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and the Amber Fort, all seriously impressive buildings, it’s no wonder there are so many tours exploring the golden triangle. The big cities are full of life and culture- a great way to kick start your Indian adventure. So, what are you waiting for? Lets explore India’s Golden Triangle…
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India’s Golden Triangle Stop 1: Delhi
Most likely, you will arrive into New Delhi, the capital city- a modern and bustling city from which it is easy to explore the surrounding areas. It was a little daunting arriving at 10pm and walking out of the airport where there was apparently not another woman in sight. A pre booked airport transfer put me at ease and the day next I set about exploring Delhi. The huge line of homeless people, sleeping along the road outside the government buildings, that I had seen the previous evening, had suddenly vanished. I think about how the difference between the rich and poor is so striking and apparent here.
The India gateMy first day I spend by myself, with my tour group starting the next day, so I decide to hire a driver to get around the city. First stop is the India gate, standing at 42 metres and is a memorial for Indian and British soldiers killed during World War 1.
I then head to Qutb Minar, which is actually a cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site and reaches 73 metres in height. The detail and architecture are beautiful so it’s worth a visit to this popular Delhi attraction. I did get a lot of stares here and people wanting to take pictures with me but didn’t feel too unsafe, knowing my taxi driver was waiting for me over the road. I would have preferred to enjoy it with no interruptions but that’s just part of travelling in India I suppose!
So that was all I had time for in Delhi but if you are staying longer then I would also recommend seeing the Red Fort and the Old Delhi spice markets– two great places, especially for photographers.
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Stop 2: Agra
After joining my GAdventures tour group, I head on the morning train from Delhi to the city of Agra, home to the Agra Fort and the spectacular Taj Mahal. The first stop is the Agra Fort, a 16th-century Mughal monument, complete with views of the Taj Mahal in the distance.
The deep colour of the walls comes from the red sandstone and the building is full with intricate carvings, walls and doors, making it such an interesting place to get lost and explore. Make sure to check out all the details in the carvings.
Next stop is the famous Taj Mahal and it does not disappoint! Sometimes attractions are not what you imagined them to be, but this is not one of those, it really is the most impressive building I’ve seen. The detail is incredible and the love story behind it even more inspiring.
Emperor Shah Jahan, completely devastated by his wife’s death, commissioned the Taj Mahal as a gift of eternal love, keeping her memory alive. Walking around the monument, after hearing this story, I can feel the love and attention to detail gone into this and the experience is somewhat moving.
Fun Fact: Our guide told us the building is symmetrical all the way around and that there is an optical illusion where the writing at the top of the monument is double that of the bottom but looks the same when standing at ground level.
Stop 3: Jaipur
Next stop: Jaipur- a huge nose dive into the hustle and bustle of Indian city life. Jaipur is bursting at the seams with atmosphere; from car horns and people shouting to animals running wild, endless colourful saris worn by local women and the strong aromas spilling out from the markets and street stalls.
“Welcome to Jaipur!” our tour guide says as flower garlands are put around our necks. I suddenly feel incredibly uplifted and a wave of energy surges through my body as we explore the streets of this lively city.
Next up in Jaipur is the Amber Fort, another one of India’s top attractions (you may have noticed there are many forts- It can get confusing!). The Amber Fort is built from white marble plus yellow and pink sandstone and is incredibly beautiful.
Wandering through the courtyard and gardens, this pretty complex quickly becomes one of my favourites. The colours of the walls are light, creating a calm radiance as the sun weaves it’s way through the windows and pillars, illuminating the paintings, carvings and mosaics as they sparkle.
There are so many interesting things to photograph at the Amber fort- carved out patterned windows to painted doors, intricate carvings in the walls and ceilings and pretty mosaics- not to mention the gorgeous surrounds.
Whilst in Jaipur I also have the chance to watch a Bollywood movie at the theatre. This is an interesting experience! The movie goes on for around 4 hours with a break in the middle (it’s not in English but not too difficult to pick up). Every time one of the popular cast member’s is shown in a ‘sexy’ kinda way, the crowd stands up, cheering, waving and clapping. Kinda odd but so fun!
So that was it for India’s golden triangle- there’s so much to do in these popular Indian cities- take time to explore the streets, markets and local restaurant too! Hope you enjoyed this post and as always please save to Pinterest for later reading and share to friends too! ๐
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