Day3: Golden Triangle Tour With Khajuraho

After exploring the Mughal city Agra and its world famous Taj Mahal we reached the heritage village Khajuraho.

Khajuraho Tour

This internationally renowned town is famous for its erotic sculptures carved out of stones on the outer walls of the temples. We reached there in the early morning and were booked in 'The Lalit Temple View Khajuraho' hotel, one of the most famous five-star hotels of this culturally rich town. Our hotel was located only at a distance of 200 m from the Khajuraho temples. Khajuraho is a World Heritage Site which is a must-visit destination of incredible India.


After refreshing ourselves and gorging on delicious breakfast we headed to the temples of Khajuraho. This is a small village full of greenery so we decided to walk down to the temples enjoying the pleasant weather and the beauty of lush greenery. Our guide Shankar told us that these Hindu and Jain temples were constructed between 9th to 11th century. There are several legends attached to these temples and the erotic sculptures carved on them. Initially there were 85 temples in total but now over the centuries only 20 have been restored. All the existing temples have been divided into 3 groups: Eastern group of temples, Western group of temples and Southern group of temples.

We saw all the three groups of temples and were really amazed at their architectural beauty. The Western group of temples are the most fascinating among all. The temples are located amidst lush green gardens which adds more charm to them. Here the sculptures reflect eroticism draped in beauty. After witnessing the arresting beauty of the sculptures and enjoying listening to the stories behind them we went to the nearby Raneh waterfall which is located only 20 km from Khajuraho town. It is a breathtaking waterfall famous for its 5 km long, 100 ft deep canyon of crystalline granite in varying shades of color ranging from red and grey to pink. It started raining when we reached the waterfall which made it look simply wondrous.

In the evening we reached Shilpgram, a government run cultural center located in the heart of Khajurao. The shop inside its complex sells varieties of tribal handicrafts which are extremely beautiful. After buying some wonderful handicrafts we went inside the auditorium of Shilpgram to enjoy folk dances of different states. My Japanese friends were elated and after seeing the various dance forms said 'what a wonderful culture India has'. The dance performances were awesome. This marked the end of our Golden Triangle Tour with Khajuraho. My Japanese friends said that they are taking back home some golden memories of India which they will remember for long.

Day 2: Golden Triangle Tour: Agra

Tajmahal - Golden Triangle Tour India

After basking in the royalty and luxury of Jaipur we moved to Agra, our next destination. No wonder we all know about Agra, the glorious city famous for Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world. This is the most famous attraction of India which has earned this incredible country international fame. Agra tour is an important part of the Golden Triangle Tour. Playing a great role in India Tourism, Agra is visited by scores of tourists throughout the year.

Agra, the city of the Mughals, was ruled by several great Mughal rulers in the past. They left behind the heritage in the form of outstanding monuments. In Agra, we were booked in Hotel Taj View, which is one of the finest five star hotels in India. It is located only 1 km from the Taj Mahal and from our rooms we could see the Taj Mahal. After relishing delicious breakfast we went to see the Taj Mahal. At the very first sight of the Taj Mahal from close quarter my Japanese friends said “wow! What an architectural wonder”.

I told my friends about the history of Taj Mahal. It was built in 1632 by the famous Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. And it took around 22 years and more than 20, 000 labors to construct this architectural marvel in white marble. The architectural design of this monument is based on the principle of the interlocking arabesque concept, where each element stands on its own and perfectly integrates with the main structure. It uses the principles of self-replicating geometry and a symmetry of architectural elements. The wonderful minarets are around 150 feet each. Everything about Taj Mahal is truly fascinating. It is truly an epitome of human creativity.

The entire monument is adorned with intricate pietra dura inlay work of floral designs and calligraphy which makes it awe-inspiring. At one point of time the interiors were studded with precious and semi-precious stones. The architectural style of Taj Mahal encompasses Mughal, Persian, Central Asian, and Islamic styles. This mausoleum is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. My friends were delighted to know the history of Taj Mahal. They said that it was a great experience for them and they will remember it for long.

As we were pressed for time so after some shopping in the colorful bazaars of Agra we headed for Khajuraho, our last destination.

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.