Page 18 - Explore - Autumn/Winter 2019

GEMS OF

INDIA'S

GOLDEN

TRIANGLE

t’s a bit of a cliché to say that India is bursting green avenues. A guided walk around the views of the Taj from a rooftop infinity pool. An
with colour, sights, sounds and smells that area revealed the stunning Indo-Victorian early morning visit to this architectural monument
Iassail your senses, but it does, and the journey architecture of Edwin Lutyens, reflected in the treated us to picture-perfect light and much cooler
I recently took with World Journeys around the Parliament House and Connaught Place. A visit temperatures than the full heat of the day. Because
famous Golden Triangle route was everything to Gandhi Smriti where Gandhi lived for his last the grounds are so expansive, there is a lot more
and much more than I expected. 144 days was definitely a stop for history buffs, to see than just the building itself and for those
but the real highlight was a cooking class at who want the perfect shot there are professional
Delhi, India’s capital, was a complete surprise Bajaj Indian Homestay using a masala dabba photographers on hand.
and certainly a lot cleaner than I expected. spice box – even non-cookers would love it! At
Split into Old and New Delhi, the city offers a Kingdom of Dreams in the Sector 29 District, The nearby Agra Fort, built by Shah Jahan’s father
glimpse into both the country’s ancient history live Bollywood-style performances took centre the Emperor Jahangir, was an impressive display
and its modern way of life. A rickshaw ride is stage and a long food court with a range of of Mughal grandeur with magnificent gateways,
hands down the best way to experience the old regional cuisines was an absolute delight. bastions, and towers symbolising the power of the
narrow alleyways, with the hustle and bustle of Walking around the buildings here felt a bit like Emperor, with the Taj Mahal captured perfectly
thronged bazaars and tall, leaning houses lining being in Disneyland in India, and watching one of in the distance. The fort, used as the residence of
the intricate maze of streets as you pass by. the shows was a great experience. Mughal emperors in the 16th century, is still partly
Chandni Chowk, one of the oldest and busiest in use today by the Indian Army.
districts, proved to be the pulsing heart of An early morning visit to
Old Delhi, sprawling with markets and places Before heading to Jaipur, we made a stop in
of worship for all prominent Indian religions. the Taj Mahal treated us to Bharatpur to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site
Sampling local chai tea and pancake samosas picture-perfect light and of Keoladeo National Park. Formerly a hunting
was a highlight here, and a visit to Jama Masjid, reserve for the Maharajas, the sanctuary is now
built between 1644 and 1656 by the Mughal much cooler temperatures refuge to over 360 species of native and migratory
Emperor Sha Jahan of Taj Mahal fame, was an than the full heat of the day. birds from Europe, Sri Lanka, Siberia, Tibet and
absolute must with its tapering minarets and China. For those who aren’t so keen on bird-
extravagant marble domes. spotting, you can head straight to Jaipur or stay a
Next up was Agra, famous for the Taj Mahal. few nights at Ranthambore National Park in south-
New Delhi was a stark contrast with its wide I had the pleasure of staying at the Radisson Blu east Rajasthan – known for its Bengal tigers – for a
boulevards, colonial-era bungalows and leafy Agra Taj East Gate Hotel which had breathtaking wildlife safari between October and June.