Day 1: The Golden Triangle Tour with Khajuraho

The incredible India is truly an extravaganza of amazing attractions which make it a favored destination of both national and international tourists. No wonder India is a treasure-trove of fascinating attractions. There is so much to experience and explore in this destination. A few days back two of my friends Saito and Misikawa from Japan came to India for some business purpose. They came to India for the first time and were really excited. They had less time in hand but they wanted to explore some attractions of the country. So I suggested them to take the Golden Triangle Tour which is the most popular tours of the country, especially when it comes to foreigners. I along with my Japanese friends planned the Golden Triangle Tour. This tour encompasses three enchanting destinations of India: Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.

Qutub Minar: Delhi Tour

As my friends were already in Delhi for their business deal so we, after their official work got over, started exploring Delhi. It is the capital city of India which is a perfect example of the fine combination of traditional and modern. In the past it serves as a seat of power for several dynasties. The city is divided into two sections, Old Delhi and New Delhi, each part having its own distinct charm.

Our guide Dinesh took us to the arresting attractions. First we visited Qutub Minar, a magnificent structure built by Qutub-ud-din Aibek in 1206. It is famed as the tallest brick minaret in the world. It reflects a fine example of Indo-Islamic architecture. It is also a World Heritage Site. Then we visited Humayun's Tomb, India Gate, Jantar Mantar, Jama Masjid, Red Fort and Laxmi Narayan temple. My friends were delighted to see these historic monuments of Delhi. We did some shopping in Chandani Chowk market in old Delhi and feasted on a variety of stuffed paranthas( the specialty of Chandani Chowk) and Jalebi.

After an overnight stay at Marriot in Delhi, we headed towards Jaipur the next morning. To taste the royalty of the bygone era we stayed at a heritage hotel in Jaipur. Post breakfast we went to see the City Palace which was stunning. There we saw various belongings of the raja-maharajas. Saito said a visit to the palace was like a visit to the bygone era of raja-maharaja. Next we visited the Amber Fort, a majestic fort with several royal apartments. We covered the steep path to the fort on an elephant's back which was very royal and pleasurable. Then we visited the Jantar Mantar, an astronomical house with several stone devices which were once used to measure time and several astronomical events. Our last halt was Hawa Mahal or Palace of Winds, a wonderful structure which was especially built for the royal ladies to see the processions taking place in the streets without themselves being seen. There are more than 900 small windows in this palace which is quite amazing.

This marked the end of our first half journey. Now we were slated to cover two more fascinating destinations: Agra and Khajuraho.

Jaipur Monuments: Retaining The Age Old Rajputana Glory

Amber Fort, Jaipur-Rajasthan

A feeling of bravery and victory engulfs us as we talk about the Rajputs. The majestic forts and palaces of the Rajput Kings, and the stories of their wars have always fascinated me. After the first rain of the monsoon, the weather became quite pleasant and my six friends- Pooja, Monika, Shakeel, Tahir, Abhishek and Dara- asked me to visit Jaipur. Lucky is how I felt when all of a sudden I got an opportunity to visit my wonderland. We packed our bags and boarded the Ajmer Shatabdi train. In another four hours, we were in Jaipur- 'the cultural hub of Rajasthan'. After a heavy breakfast, we hired a guide and moved out to explore the city.

The stunning Amber Fort, built in white marble and red sandstone, was out first destination. Dara, being familiar to the place, told us that the construction of the Fort was started by Raja Man Singh I in 1592, but it was completed during the reign of Raja Jai Singh I. The crystal mirror image of the Fort in the Maotha Lake at its foreground, was the best part. Usually pronounced as Amer Fort, the structure has out of the world interiors that provide a soothing and warm ambiance. Dara then took us to the beautiful City Palace. Tahir had a dream to own a palace since his childhood, and he went crazy to see the grand structure of the City Palace. Built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, the palace covers a huge area that comprises of several gardens, courtyards and buildings. We paid short visits to the beautiful Chandra Mahal, Badal Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Mukut Mahal, Maharani's Palace and Shri Govind Dev Temple. The Maharani's Palace, made for royal queens, has now been converted into a museum, showcasing weapons dated back to 15th century. Besides, Diwan-I-Khas (a hall for private audience) and Diwan-I-Aam (a hall for public audience) are also open to the tourists.

We stopped for a quick bite at a restaurant, where Dara told us that the Jaigarh Fort and Nahargarh Fort are the antique forts quite close to Jaipur, which provide the spectacular views of the city. Our next destination was Jantar Mantar, the largest stone observatory of India built in 1724. Hats off to Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh who was so passionate for astronomy and numerology. There are several striking instruments like the Brihat Samrat yantra Sundial, which are purely made of stones or bricks, and were used to calculate the local and meridian pass time, the sun's declination, altitude, the declination of stars, planets and to determine eclipses.

Our last halt was the spell binding Hawa Mahal, the most easily recalled landmarks of Jaipur, built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799. This five storey building was built for the ladies of the royal household to watch everyday life in the market streets and processions in the city. Another stunning examples of Rajput architecture and artistry are the delicately honeycombed 953 sandstone windows (Jharokhas) of the Hawa Mahal. The day was quite tiring, but our fatigue vanished like a dream after reaching the ethnic village resort- 'Choki Dhani'. Located 18 km from the heart of the city, this place offers thatched cottages with all the modern facilities for its guests. We enjoyed the traditional Rahasthani dinner at the multi cuisine restaurant 'Bindola'. It was truly a remarkable trip to the monuments of Jaipur but I was still left with a lot to explore.