India

After watching many fascinating documentaries about India, I planned my visit to the “Golden Triangle” with great enthusiasm. My first stop was Delhi , then on to the pink city, Jaipur, finishing in Agra to see the beautifully crafted Taj Mahal. At the time of my travels, the pound was very strong against the Indian Rupee, so I could afford to stay in relative luxury. Unfortunately, being a lone woman traveller from the UK, also made me an easy target for the opportunistic and somewhat unscrupulous, however, I could not help but admire these very clever and crafty people. For an example, a taxi from the airport to my hotel ended up costing five times the price first quoted, when the driver dropped me off at a 4 star hotel. Then, I also got dropped off at a family bazaar instead of the shopping mall I requested, where I paid about three times the average price for some summer silk Kaftans, and lastly, a photo opportunity at Agra Fort ended up costing 5 times as much, when 5 more men jumped in and posed as the photo got snapped, and then each of them demanded a “tip” hahaha! It is important to note that, even though I felt slightly intimidated, I didn’t once feel that my life was in danger, and overall, the trip was really amazing.  I even survived a tuk tuk ride, though I must say once again, this is not for the faint hearted! Another shining example of the resilience of this nation, is that some live in absolute chaos and squalor, but emerge early morning, with neatly pressed white shirts, after literally having a wash out of a bucket on the sidewalk. Its inspiring to say the least! If ever you do decide to visit the Golden Triangle, make sure to book private tour guides, as this will make your experience truly unforgettable. And my last tip would be to stay off the roads as much as possible, as nobody in India abides by the road rules. Places I visited include: In Delhi – Qutb Minar; Lotus Temple; India Gate; Parliament House. In Agra: Taj Mahal (tomb built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in 1630 to enshrine his wife); Jahangir Palace; Agra Fort in the capital of Rajasthan until 1728, Ganesh pol gate at Amber Fort. In Jaipur – Bihari Ji Temple  at the Amer Stepwell; Jal Mahal, a palace floating on Man Sagar Lake; Maharaja’s City Palace; Jantar Mantar, an observatory built by Rajput King Sawai Jai Singh and The Hawa Mahal which was built in 1799 AD (for woman to see the street parades, but they could not be seen). Lastly, worth noting, is that KFC in India has no plain chicken options, all are spicy! 😀

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