TRAVEL: Two years ago I travelled to India with Ben, to visit the Golden Triangle, so yes this post is way overdue! I am getting ready for another amazing trip, so I thought I would finally share a few great photos that I took from India. For me, vacations are about exploring the world, not sunbathing by the pool, very bad for your skin, and boring! The best part of this trip was the very beginning—meeting my IT team in Delhi, and finally putting a face to the name after six years of communicating via email. After visiting the Delhi office, Ben and I began our whirlwind trip, named by travellers as The Golden Triangle—we travelled from Delhi to Agra, across to Jaipur, and back to Delhi.
Qutub Minar in Delhi, India
In Delhi, we stayed at the Leela Kempinski Gurgaon Hotel, just outside of Delhi’s city centre, a great business hotel to start the trip. Over the first two days, we visited Qutub Minar the tallest minaret in India, Akshardham Temple, Humayun’s Tomb, the Red Fort and admired the Presidential Palace with sun-basking monkeys in the grounds.
Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi, India
A visit to Khan Market in Delhi for lunch and shopping.
In Agra, we stayed at the spectacular Oberoi Amarvilas, hotel, and our balcony view overlooked the Taj Mahal, only one word can describe that view—breathtaking. During our short visit to Agra, only two nights, we took a sunrise tour to the Taj Mahal (already smoking hot at 6:00 am), and we visited the Red Fort and Baby Taj—the predecessor and inspiration for the grand white mausoleum.
The Taj Mahal in Agra, India
Outside the Taj Mahal
Next up, we travelled cross-country to Rajasthan, which was about a five-hour car ride to stay at the ‘Pink City,’ Jaipur. Before we arrived our guide stopped at Fatehpur Sikri another hidden gem of historical importance discreetly residing between Agra and Jaipur.
Sunset at Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, India
Our final hotel was the most magnificent, Rambagh Palace, previously owned by the Maharaja Singh II the Palace is now a historical masterpiece of cultural significance of a bygone era. A short yet sweet visit, at this glorious location we visited the City Palace and took an elephant ride uphill to the Amber Fort. The final route back to Delhi, thanks to the suggestion of our honourable Sikh guide we visited Neemrana Fort Palace for lunch tucked away on a hillside. Phew!!
A cobra charmer in Jaipur outside Hawa Hahal – he carries a cell phone in his pocket. LOL.
BTW, we visited India during one of the hottest times of the year, mid-August, and since I know all about heat (this Brit has been living in Texas for the last ten years), let me tell you, DO NOT visit India during this month. Fire was the temperature of my inner soul for the entire trip. My one goal for the trip was to see a tiger…I did see camels, monkeys, elephants, cows and a cobra…but no tigers. Guess I will have to visit this exotic and beautiful country again.