India’s Golden Triangle
India Is Not For Everyone
Before you decide on your trip to the Golden Triangle you need to understand that India is a vast country full of stunning contrasts. From the majestic snowcapped Himalayas, rolling dunes of the desert, and lush jungles teeming with life, the entire subcontinent’s landscape dramatically changes with every hundred kilometers. But despite the ornate temples, rich history, and breathtaking natural beauty, some tourists will loathe every second they are in India.
The otherwise spellbinding splendor of India’s romantic beaches and lavash palaces is greatly lessened by the unrelenting hawkers and heaps of trash. At first, you will jump at the opportunity to befriend a local person. But towards the end of your trip, you will begin to question the motives of anyone who approaches you in the streets. Many hawkers and cheats will pester and even grab your arm in order to force you to spend some amount of money. This not even mentions the kinds of unwanted attention and harassment tourists (especially women) may face for simply being foreign.
India is a place that you will either absolutely fall in love with or hate traveling to with every fiber of your being. A good way to test yourself prior to booking your flights into India is to first visit Nepal or Sri Lanka. These countries are just as stunning and offer a more watered-down version of what you will experience in India. If you are smitten by either one of these countries, then you are sure to love India. If not, you may want to rethink your trip to the Golden Triangle.
If you are in Nepal, you can read about getting off the beaten path in Panauti here!
What Is The Golden Triangle?
Unlike the Golden Triangles you may have heard of in South East Asia. India’s Golden Triangle is a popular tourist route linking the capital New Delhi to Agra and Jaipur. This trail offers travelers a quick highlight tour of all the best historic landmarks Northern India has to offer. Also, with each city being between 4-6 hours away from each other, you can get a taste of India in a relatively short amount of time.
Although this part of Northern India has some of the richest history and most intricate architecture in the entire country, the area is a toilet. Being one of the most polluted regions on the planet, it’s not just air pollution but also garbages and feces on the streets. While it should be noted that India has been doubling their efforts to clean up their cities and they have made progress. There is still a ways to go.
While India’s Golden Triangle will help you check off some of the big bucket list destinations, they won’t show you India’s good side. States like Kerala or Himachal Pradesh preserve a more magical sense of India that you only see in Bollywood movies or in storybooks. It is unfortunate that many travelers apply what they see along the Golden Triangle to represent India as a whole.
Thinking about traveling to Pakistan? Read about how to cross the Wagah Border from India here!
Kicking Things off in Delhi
The Mughal architecture and towering monuments are not enough to redeem Delhi from being one of the most dreaded places for travelers in India. The pollution which shrouds the city hides it’s most impressive sites behind a thick cloud of hazardous gas. This is not to say that Delhi has no charm or beauty in its busy city streets. But it is impossible for travelers to even begin to recognize the charm of this concrete jungle while they are coughing up smoke.
The Red Fort, Lotus Temple, India Gate, and Qutb Minatret are just a few of the thousands of monuments and reminders of the bygone Raj of India. There is actually so much to explore and enjoy in Delhi that it could take you a month to check off even the most popular of sites in the capital. Unfortunately, you will be wanting to escape the suffocating atmosphere of Delhi as fast as you can. Making your way to the next stop on the Golden Triangle.
To Enjoy Delhi you will have to get off the beaten path. Read more on alternative things to do in Delhi here!
At The Foot of the Desert in Jaipur
Much like Delhi, Jaipur is a sprawling city on the edge of the Thar Desert in the state of Rajasthan. Unlike the capital, you will find that the air is not as much as a noose around your neck while you are out exploring the city. You will find many of the same annoyances, however. Ruthless touts and cheats will follow you through the chaotic streets of Jaipur, unwilling to take no for an answer. What is unfortunate is that there are many extremely hospitable people in India wanting to make you feel welcome in their country. It is this select few that will have you shooing off any stranger who approaches you in the streets.
Jaipur is known throughout the country as its nickname: The Pink City. Many of the buildings throughout the sprawling metropolis don this charming light pink coat of paint. In local culture pink represents hospitality, therefore all of Jaipur was painted this color to welcome its many tourists. While it may be difficult to appreciate the hues of the city from the ground, you will be offered breathtaking views of Jaipur from Nahargarh Fort.
Traveling to Amritsar? Read about the Sikh Golden Temple here!
The Amer Fort
After leaving the banks of the Mansagar Lake and the unique island palace of the Jal Mahal, you will find yourself continuing up the hillside to the iconic Amer Fort. With high walls snaking up the mountains, you will probably be torn between either heading straight into the towering Mughal Castle and following the long city walls to see what lays off of the beaten path.
Although a bit touristy on the road leading to the palace, the elephant rides and touts are usually kept outside of the walls of the fort. Within the interior of Amer, you will only have to battle the waves of tourists that come gushing through the gates. Even though the ornate Mughal murals and immaculately manicured gardens attract thousands of people a day, it does not take away from the experience of walking in the footsteps of the kings and queens of old.
Be sure to check out traditional Punjabi wrestling! You can read on where to find Kushti in Lahore here!
Dreading Agra
While making the pilgrimage to the Taj Mahal is sure to be the trip most tourists are looking forward to. You are bound to dread your stay in the surrounding city of Agra. Even more so than Delhi, hawkers and street children are ruthless in their treatment of travelers. If there is one experience that will damper your opinion on your trip to India, it will probably happen on the streets of Agra.
Other than the thickheaded touts, the area around the Taj Mahal has been turned into a swamp. The garbage has transformed the Yamuna River into a cesspool of muck and grime. If it wasn’t for the enchanting beauty of the Taj Mahal, the historic Agra Fort would be left unvisited. The waste and harassment in Agra would make anyone second guess traveling to the city altogether.
Wondering what a Hindu puja is like? Read about the birth of Lord Krishna here!
The highlight of the Golden Triangle
Fortunately for the people of Agra, they have been blessed with a blinding lavish mausoleum by the gods. Bringing in a whopping 8 million tourists a year, the marble dome and ivory white glare of the tomb redeems the city from all of its cheats and gut-wrenching landfills. While you still have to swim through a sea of people to get to the base of the Taj Mahal, you will be basking in the beauty of the monument every shove and push along the way.
For those looking to escape the crowds and take in the Taj Mahal from a more tranquil atmosphere, at the rear of the mausoleum lays a somewhat hidden garden. While everyone else is tackling there way through the gates to the Taj Mahal, you could be nonchalantly strolling along in the gardens of the Mehtab Bagh. If you are not willing to shell out the extra rupees, you can also approach the northern bank of the Yamuna River. Here you will have just as an impressive view of the Taj Mahal as anywhere else.
Wanting to travel to Multan Pakistan but worried about safety? Check out my Multan guide here!
Returning To India
India is a land of contrasts. It is a country of vast wealth and extreme poverty. Fragrant spices and foul odors. Smiling faces and vicious cheats. Along the Golden Triangle, you will find the worst extreme of these elements in India. But despite the grime and harassment, you may already be planning your trip back to the sub-continent before you even board the plane.
It is not the romantic Taj Mahal or dunes of the Thar Desert that will have you dreaming of returning to India, but it is those moments that you could never plan. Stumbling across a colorful puja at a temple. Full of colors, music, and dancing while Hindus are singing their praise to their gods. The processions that bring culture and life to the otherwise dismal urban streets. And the conversations and friendships made when you find yourself at your lowest point while traveling. You can arrange your itinerary as much as you want along the Golden Triangle, but it is those moments planned by god that will make you fall in love with India.
