Things To Do in Golden Triangle India

Considered one of the wonders of the world, Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj in memory of his dear wife Mumtaz. In the year 1653, Taj Mahal rose majestically on the banks of river Yamuna. If you want a picture perfect moment, be at the gates of Taj Mahal before sunrise. However, Taj Mahal presents itself with various shades of beauty at different times of the day and season making it a masterpiece in its own right. Entry ticket can be purchased online at https://asi.payumoney.com/ .

The Humayun’s Tomb is famously known for being the first-ever garden tomb in India. This is also where mughal architects introduced new styles in the structure, which include a garden in the tomb. Constructed in a sprawling 30 acres of land, Humayun’s Tomb involved using red sandstone at a massive scale. Humayun’s Tomb attained UNESCO”s world heritage site status in 1993. Humayun Tomb can be visited on all days between sunrise and sunset.

Jaipur is commonly referred to as the ‘Pink City’ but it is also called the ‘City of Palaces’ and ‘Land of Maharajas’ not without reason. Rulers of the bygone era built magnificent forts and palaces that speak volumes of the architectural brilliance they possessed. Some of the must visit forts and palaces in Jaipur are Amber Palace / Amer Fort, The Jaigarh Fort, The Hawa Mahal (Wind Palace), The Nahargarh Fort, The Jal Mahal (Water Palace), The City Palace & Museum.

The narrow streets of Old Delhi, almost handling a near-full capacity of people moving about either by walk or in vehicles, do not deter you from joining the crowd and exploring the city soaked in rich history. Exploring Old Delhi on a cycle rickshaw adds fun while giving you a comfortable experience. From monuments to bazaars and eateries, there are lots out there in Old Delhi to capture your attention. You would not want to miss them as you try to evade the traffic and move on if you choose to go on your own. Trust the cycle rickshaw driver to take you through the narrow lanes as you sit back and feel the vibes of this historical land that is as vibrant as it is historic.

Travelling to any destination will leave the tourist with a rich experience. But, how about having a royal experience, living like a king in the City of Maharajas? Jaipur, the City of Palaces, is also not short of palace turned hotels that offer you the amazing experience.  Some of the most famous heritage hotels in Jaipur include Rambagh Palace, Jai Mahal Palace, Chomu Palace, Raj Palace and Sujan Rajmahal Palace. Most of these heritage hotels offer interesting activities including cultural programs, camel rides and folk dances. And one cannot miss the heritage walks as well.

Built by the famous Mughal Emperor Akbar in the year 1569, Fatehpur Sikri was abandoned by the creator himself as he left the city in the year 1585 to warfront in present day Pakistan. On his return, the emperor chose to stay in Agra. Prolonged periods of drought and political situations led to complete abandonment of Fatehpur Sikri. Despite being a ghost city, Fatehpur Sikri retains its charm to a great extent. Declared Heritage site by UNESCO, Fatehpur Sikri is well-maintained and stands tall and proud as a symbol of exceptional architectural grandeur of Mughals.

Built of sandstone, India Gate, the arch-shaped monument is a war memorial built to commemorate the sacrifice of 70,000 Indian soldiers who fought for the British during the First World War. The war memorial is situated in an open square. Hence, you can pay a visit here anytime. Having been subjected to foreign invasions many a time, Delhi is not short of colonial buildings. Some of the most famous colonial buildings in Delhi other than India Gate include, The Rashtrapati Bhavan (President’s House), The Parliament House.

Shopping in Jaipur bazaars is an amazing experience. Here, you are absolutely spoilt for choice; Jaipur is famous for handmade items. Jaipur gems are world famous; you will be awe-struck just looking at the gemstone varieties here. Right from textiles to exquisite jewellery, hand block print and handloom textiles, bangles, shoes and artefects  to take as souvenirs, you have a whole lot of place to explore. Jaipur is also famous for blue pottery, leather goods, decorative items and perfumes just to mention a few.

A masterpiece not just in terms of construction but also in terms of astronomical brilliance is Jantar Mantar, the observatory in Jaipur built in the year 1734 by Rajput King Sawai Jai Singh II, who was also the founder of Jaipur.  King Jai Singh II had great love for astronomy that he wanted the  astronomical instruments created for the observatory to be much ahead of times and more accurate. The instruments were very large and made of stone and masonry. You can also see the world’s largest stone sundial in Jantar Mantar.

Elephant lovers! Here comes your territory called Dera Amer!! Visiting a sprawling 180 acres of wilderness, which is home to wild and domestic animals and getting to interact with rescued elephants is a lifetime experience.  Nature lovers would equally love this place if not more. Situated on Jaipur outskirts and surrounded by hills, Dera Amer is a paradise on earth. The aim of Dera Amer is nature and wildlife conservatism and sets the stage for healthy human-animal interaction and bonding. Dera Amer has six luxury tents with all facilities one could hope for. Experience the serenity with these soul-filling moments.

A crazy challenge food lovers face after returning to their homes from travel is trying to recreate the taste of a particular cuisine. Signing up for a private cooking session at a local home is definitely one of the most interesting things to do on your Golden Triangle tour.  Learn to create the authentic taste of local cuisine by taking up a coaching class in a local home. This would give you an insight into the culture of the land and food choices of the local people. Food connects people and learning to cook connects minds.

Even if you aren’t a movie goer, we would still recommend you to consider watching a Bollywood Movie at Rajmandir in Jaipur. So, what is special about this theatre? With a seating capacity of up to 1300 people, Rajmandir is not only one of the largest cinema theatres in India but is also one of the finest if not the finest theatre in India.  This aesthetically built theatre with stunning interior spells richness and magnificence all over. Follow the drama of a Bollywood story and the music and the dancing goes along without saying.

Viewing Taj Mahal at sunrise can be a mesmerising experience and visiting the monument at moonlight can be spellbinding too !  Taj Mahal is open for night viewers only for five days in a month and they are the nights of full moon, two days before and after full moon night. At a given time, only 50 persons are allowed inside and the visit duration can last only up to 30 minutes.  During Ramzan and on all Fridays Taj Mahal remains closed for public view. If a full moon day falls on a Friday, the monument can be viewed only on four nights in the said month. This link would be helpful to view moon-lit Taj Mahal.

When the pages of history are lost as years go by, certain things stand the test of time as a representation of the past and to narrate the stories of bygone era. Abhaneri stepwells are among such symbols of the past. The purpose of stepwells was to store water and let people access water even if the water levels were very low during times of scarcity. One of the most beautifully carved Abhaneri stepwells in Jaipur is Chand Baori with 3,500 steps. Considered to be amongst the oldest stepwells in Abhaneri, Chand Baori is an architectural marvel and a must visit destination. Timings: 8.00 am to 6.00 pm on all days.

The very essence of travelling is to seek than to just go by the book. When you are in Agra, don’t miss visiting lesser known tombs that are unique in their own way. Often, paths not taken may have hidden gems. The 400 year old Akbar’s tomb is situated in Sikandra. It was Emperor Akbar who planned the tomb and chose the site for his tomb while he was alive. Following his death, the tomb was built by Akbar’s son Jahangir. Set amidst vast gardens on all sides in a sprawling 119 acres of land, Akbar’s tomb is very intricately and exquisitely designed and a compelling tourist destination. 
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset