When the idea of India comes up for a trip, it's hard to keep the excitement in. At the same time some questions come up. Where to stay? How to get there? What to do? Is it safe? The answers could only be found out by actually just going for it! From the US, it's not as easy to travel to India as I had hoped. First, you need to apply for a Visa and it takes a while to get your Passport back. I read some stories online about Passports being held hostage for months...mine got done in two weeks. There are no straight flights to New Delhi so the trip ends up being long. I flew Emirates with a stopover in Dubai. I actually stayed there overnight due to the really long layover (almost 24 hours) that I didn't want to spend at the airport. The most famous route in India, especially around the New Delhi area, is the Golden Triangle. It includes New Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. I guess the triangle part is self-explanatory.
New Delhi
I arrived to New Delhi in the evening and it was all very confusing. The musky smell immediately hits you as you step out of the airplane. It follows you everywhere while
being in the city. It's one of the most vivid memories I have of India. Our driver dropped us off at our hotel of choice, Leela Palace, which had an intense security clearance at the entrance. The hotel is very central and close to all the sightseeing we got to do later. They had a beautiful pool on the rooftop with a view of the whole city. Let's not forget the fancy restaurants like Le Cirque. It's nice to have options, especially when you are eating the same food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I stayed at one of the Club rooms, which had a great happy hour and constantly served snacks in the lounge. Always a bonus.
The next day, the hotel gave us their seven series BMW (a bit out there for the occasion) and we were off to the races with our driver and tour guide. Be prepared for long days of sightseeing, millions of people, animals on the street, no roads, and a lot of cool pictures!
What to see in New Delhi: Humayun's Tomb, India Gate, Red Fort, Jama Masjid,
Parliament House, Lotus Temple, and Lodhi Gardens.
Leela Palace © 2015 Anna Poplevina
Agra
After about a 5 hour drive the following day, we ended up in Agra, the home to the one of the wonder's of the world, Taj Mahal. We have stayed at the famous ITC Mughal, known for its world class spa and the lavish gardens the hotel sits on. This is an older hotel and feels like you are at a retreat in ancient India. The pools and the gardens go on for what feels like miles. They even have ATV grounds. The spa was one of the nicest I have ever seen in the world. It was located in the middle of the hotel with lush greenery surroundings. Let's also not forget the gym and outdoor yoga studio! It's also a must to try one of the best restaurants in India, Peshawri, which is a sister restaurant to Bukhara in New Delhi.
ITC Mughal © 2015 Anna Poplevina
We asked the hotel to find us a last minute guide and we were en route to Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort. There are no words to describe the beauty of the Taj. It was magnificent. I made it to the Agra Fort right before closing that day. The story of the Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal Emperor of India, jailed in this beautiful prison in clear site of the Taj was just heartbreaking. A must see if you are visiting Agra.
Taj Mahal © 2015 Anna Poplevina
Jaipur
The next day we were on our way for another 5 hours to our last triangle stop and
destination: Jaipur (located in the Indian state of Rajasthan).
I stayed at the new, and first, Fairmont in India. It's not in the center of the city, but was very serene and had one of the best services and rooms. The bathtubs are to die for! There is a
full-service spa on the property that is expected to be done by the end of the year. The first night we had dinner at the famous Rambagh Palace. It's hard to explain the size of this hotel. It's very grand and royal. They had two main Indian restaurants and a Polo Bar with mixed items, which is what we went for. It was casual, great for a drink and you didn't need reservations!
Fairmont © 2015 Anna Poplevina
We spent the next day walking around Jaipur, riding elephants, and of course taking
pictures of the monkeys! The guide told us not to get close, they tend to be aggressive.
What to see in Jaipur: Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Elephant Village, and Monkey Temple.
Jaipur © 2015 Anna Poplevina
After yet another long drive, we arrived at night to New Delhi. The biggest issue that we ran into in India is that it's impossible to get reservations for anything unless you book way in advance. In every hotel the restaurants, the spas, the drivers, tour guides were all "fully booked". I couldn't believe that a five star hotel in New Delhi told me that they had no guides available, which of course made me laugh at the irony of that thought. I believe there's around 18 million people living in Delhi in 2016. Eventually some do give in and help you out, but the most important advice is to book everything in advance!
Taj Mahal © 2015 Anna Poplevina