Our Trip around the Golden Triangle – India
Step back to a dark evening in November 2016 Jenny and John are sat in their lounge with the TV on in the background, both in their armchairs, both on their laptops. Jenny is engrossed in some work, when John looks across and asks, ‘What do you want to do on Valentines Day?’. Jenny was somewhat irritated at being interrupted and thought it a rather strange question in November, after all they usually go to either ‘Rules’ in Covent Garden or more locally to ‘Rushton Hall’ for a meal which they book a few weeks before. A rather flippant answer was thrown back at John. ‘I want to sit on the white bench in front of the Taj Mahal, just like Princess Di did’. It certainly wasn’t the answer John had expected and he followed it with the desired silence as Jenny continued to work.
Several weeks later John handed Jenny a Kuoni Holiday brochure on tours of India. Laughingly Jenny explained she was only joking but John said, ‘why not? lets do it’. Jenny contacted Kuoni explaining that they liked their 8-day Golden Triangle Tour, but they needed to do it over the school’s half term holiday and they really wanted it as a private tour. Jenny prefers travelling in the front of a car to a bus and John doesn’t like group tours where people’s preferences are different, and you spend ages hanging around waiting for others or hassled when your still taking photos. Kuoni were very accommodating and the ‘Private Tour’ with a driver and guide, 4* & 5* accommodation was booked for a price of £3828.00(2017 price)
Fast Forward to – Saturday 11th February 2017 saw us board a Virgin Atlantic direct flight to New Delhi. Arriving on Sunday 12th we probably had the biggest shock we’ve ever had at an airport, wow, wow, wow – it was scorching hot, with no air-conditioning and never before have we seen so many people crammed into one small space, the noise was deafening…there we were, armed with our ESTA’s ( which we had bought online in advance). It took just over 3 hours of standing in the queue and gradually edging forward before we were finally released into the arrival’s hall. From that moment onwards our dream holiday got better and better. Standing with a large sign with our name on was a man who introduced himself as ‘call me Bagu’. He ushered us to a smart large sedan car and introduced us to the driver ‘Jay’. We decided to skip the orientation tour as Bagu could see we were hot and sweaty and exhausted, so we went straight to our hotel The Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi. Our welcome evening meal was included in our package as were all our breakfasts.
The View from our hotel window…New Delhi skyline in the smog.
Monday 13th after our first Indian Breakfast – we stuck to chapati and fruit which we could peel – we were met by Bagu and Jay. Our morning consisted of a tour of the sights of Old & New Delhi. We visited the Raj Ghat- an open air memorial to Mahatma Gandi.
We visited the Jama Masjid Mosque, drove past the impressive Red Fort, and the government buildings and walked up to the Indian Gate.
Jay then drove us South for approximately 4 hours. The traffic was manic and fascinating, tri-shaws, tuk-tuks, elephants, lorries, motor bikes and numerous more modes of transport raced around on the over-crowded roads….we stopped for a snack lunch at a service station once out of the bustle of Delhi. We were of course heading for Agra in preparation for our ‘Valentine’s extravaganza’!! Before arriving, we stopped to visit the Itmad Ud Daula, often known as the ‘Baby Taj’. This was built between 1622 and 1628 and is the tomb of Mirza Ghiyas Beg and his wife Asmet Beghum. His son Nur–Jehan, who ruled the Mugal Empire between 1611 and 1627, built it to honour his Father. It is often described as a ‘giant jewel box’ because it is the first building to be built finished in white marble and is studied with Semi-Precious stones. It was one of the few quiet places we came across during our tour. Pretty gardens with Rhesus Macaque Monkeys enjoying themselves on the lawns, a truly regal and enchanting place.
It had been a busy day by the time we booked into our hotel the ITC Mughal where we had dinner included in our tour.
February 14th – Valentines Day. We were picked up early for our visit to the magnificent Taj Mahal, notably one of the finest pieces of architecture in the world, an exquisite monument to eternal love. The marble façade was in the process of being cleaned, so some scaffolding can be seen. It had suffered from years of air pollution and exhaust fumes causing its magnificence to become discoloured. Thankfully once cleaned this should not reoccurrence to the ban on motors in its vicinity. We took a horse drawn cart/carriage up to the entrance.
This made the day all the more special as this is Jennys preferred mode of transport, although it was not really designed for someone of Johns height!!
On arrival Baku organised for an official photographer to accompany us so that we could have lots of photos of the two of us together. This cost us US$50 and included 26 printed photos in an album and a cd with 50 plus photos on it.
It is impossible to describe our feelings on seeing this iconic world-famous sight. There is a true ambiance of peace, tranquillity and love.
It was built by Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, as a tomb for one of his ten wives, Mumtaz Mahal. Who died during childbirth (her 14th) in 1631. It occupies a site covering 42acres, the build took over 20 years to complete with a workforce numbering around 20,000. The building is topped by a 35-meter-high marble doom, most frequently photographed with the reflecting pool, fountains and sunken flower beds in the foreground. It is surely the worlds greatest monument of love.
We left the Taj Mahal and returned to Jay and the car, by an electric multi-seater airport/golf buggy- yet another mode of transport. We drove back to the hotel, via the Agra Fort, which houses fairytale palaces. After a much-needed quick rest, we headed to The Mehtab Bagh Park for sunset. This park offers sensational views of the changing colours of the back of the Taj Mahal as the light diminishes and night falls. A wonderful once in a lifetime day
Wednesday 15th February saw us heading west towards the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur. We made several sightseeing stops enroute. The first being the perfectly preserved and total deserted Mughal city of ‘Fatehpur Sikri’. It was built in 1570 as the capital of the Mughal Empire but it was abandoned just 15 years later due to the lack of water. The complex of monuments and temples are all uniform in architectural style and they include one of the largest mosques in India. Due to its outstanding architecture, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986
After our trip around this superb desolate city we continued on our journey. Bagu, who had about learnt our love of wildlife took us to Keoladeo National Park where he hired us two rick-shaws and off we went on safari. It was certainly a very different experience by comparison to our 4×4 safari jeeps in southern Africa. The birdlife was superb, and we saw several different types of Deer and a Jackal.
We felt as if we had had a real adventure. Time for lunch at the local Laxmi Vilas Hotel.. a very palatial, regal looking building both inside and outside.
After lunch we continued in pursuit of Jaipur, stopping at a very ancient ‘Step Well, which was full of ancient history…nice to see but we certainly wouldn’t have like to have walked down all those steps when the Well as low.
Finally, we arrive at Jaipur and book into the ITC Rajputana Hotel…feeling slightly exhausted from the excitement of the previous day and the sightseeing of the day we were both ready for feet up and snooze…. but no …….As if the day hadn’t been fantastic enough, we were treated to another surprise in the evening. Bagu told us to get ready to go out for supper and we went to a family’s home at Nokha House. We were introduced to the family and then we observed a cookery demonstration. This included the making of chapatis and dahl. There were about 10 of us, visitors, at the demonstration and it ended in a lovely home cooked meal with the host family. This was also included in our tour price. At last, we finally got back to the hotel and got into bed, full of wonderful food and exciting adventures.
Thursday 16th February – We had been offered a hot air Balloon ride, but neither of us are keen on heights and this really didn’t appeal to either of us. So we opted for a full day of sightseeing. We started off visiting the imposing Amber Fort which is set on top of a hilltop. Many choose to have an elephant ride up and down….however it doesn’t fit with UK health and safety regulations and Kuoni take you up and down by vehicle. If you do choose to elephant ride it is at your own expense and your own risk. We enjoyed watching it and wandering around the fort.
Our Sight Seeing included The Matoa Lake which we viewed from the Amber Fort and at lakeside.
Before we returned to Jaipur for a tour around the City Palace, a complex of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture, which houses both a museum and an art gallery. We took a trip around the Royal Observatory and Bagu explained how it all worked.
Followed by a ride on a rickshaw, one needs to pray for longlivety, through the market and to view the Hawa Mahal – Palace of the winds- which features a unique façade resembling the honeycomb of a beehive….what a day of amazing sights.
Friday 17th February –It was a long drive back to Delhi we saw amazing sights on and off the roads and it gave us time to chat to both Bagu and Jay.
We learnt a lot about their culture. The marriage season was about to begin and when we got back to the Taj Mahal hotel they were preparing their outside area for ceremonies. Our last evening meal was one of only two which were not included in our package.
Saturday 18th February –Jay and Bagu picked us up from the hotel and took us to the airport. We bade them a fond farewell. Departing from the airport was far less problematic than arriving and we quickly boarded our Virgin Atlantic Flight at 14.00 arriving at London Heathrow at 17.55.
What a fantastic adventure we had had. Thanks Kuoni.
2 J's World of Adventure 