The Golden Triangle
The Golden triangle takes in Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, three cities steeped in history and incredible architecture. British history is woven amongst Indian colour and culture. Your guide will bring to life the religions, the leaders, the wars and the colours of India.
On day one we flew overnight into Delh, so that we had a day at leisure to acclimatise. A hotel with a pool and ideally an outside terrace for lunch is a must after a long flight.
The next day our whistle stop tour of Delhi started with a visit to Jama Masjid mosque capable of holding 25000 devotees. We then hopped onto a bicycle tuk-tuk for a hair-raising tour of the back streets of the old town. Each street had a different speciality, with rows of shops selling ribbons and trims, whilst others sold herbs and spices. We visited a memorial to Mahatma Ghandi, peaceful and thought provoking. India Gate is a war memorial for the Indian soldiers who fought in WW1, and another example of how our British lives are so interlinked with this vibrant country.
On day three we were in Jaipur for the Amber Fort which was built in 1592 and is surrounded by 14km of walls (which we didn’t walk as it was 45degrees!) When Raja Man Singh had had enough of this fort, he moved into the city of Jaipur and built a new palace - parts of which are still in use by the current family. The most crazy and amazing part of the day was a trip to the Jantar Mantar observatory which has the most accurate sundial in the world. It can tell the time accurately to within two seconds: I really couldn’t comprehend how skilled the people had been to build this observatory. Jaipur also offered some shopping opportunities at a cooperative which produced block printed textiles and silky-smooth rugs.
On day four we broke up the drive from Jaipur to Agra stopping off at Fatehpur Sikri which was built by Emperor Akbar as a thank you to the holy man who helped him (and his wife) conceive a son. It really was a spectacular building so typical of the splendour of the Mughal Empire at the height of its power
On our final day we had an early start, as the only way to see the Taj Mahal is at sunrise when it is at its most mystical, and also at its quietest. I can’t dwell on how magical it was, ticking dreams of a bucket list is too personal. I don’t think that I’ve ever quoted Bill Clinton before, but here goes “`There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who have seen the Taj Mahal and love it, and those who have not seen the Taj and love it.”
My view of the hotels we stayed in: Shangri La – Great pool, lovely rooms, extremely comfy beds and super service. A club room with lounge access is very useful for early arrivals or late departures.
Trident Jaipur – Super service, good food, lovely pool to relax after sightseeing. Felt like a good 4*
Trident Agra – The same as its Jaipur sister super service, good food, and lovely pool. Good 4*
Travel
We had a lovely private driver, and a private guide for each city. With the driving involved between the cities, I can’t imagine doing it on a coach with 30 other people. Our driver and our guides adapted to the pace that we set.
