Yesterday we got back from seeing the sights of the Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, commonly referred to as the Golden Triangle. We had a good time, but I am very happy to be back, and even happier that we had 2 days to recover before starting classes again. Here are some of the highlights from the trip:
Delhi:
In Delhi we stayed at the very nice Park Hotel. On our second day there was full of site seeing. We went to Jama Masjid, which is a Mosque, then took a bicycle rickshaw ride through Old Delhi.
We had the afternoon free, which was mainly spent getting some lunch, and cooling off (there was a high of 112 degrees that day!). In the evening, we headed off to Swaminarayan Akshardam. That place was incredible. It was like an amusement park complete with boat ride (similar to Pirates of the Caribbean), and an amazingly gorgeous temple. This wasn't in our original agenda, but those of us who went were very happy that we did. There were no cameras or other electronic devices allowed in the complex, so the website pictures are the best way to get an idea of what it is.
The following day we were free to do what we pleased, and so some of the girls and I spent the morning checking out a local market. In the afternoon, several of us ventured off to see the Lotus Temple. The temple was interesting to see, but to me more interesting were the number of people lining up to get into it. After getting back from the Lotus Temple, it was again time to cool off, before heading to dinner at a hookah bar.
The following morning, we loaded into a bus for the 6 hour bus ride to Agra.
Agra:
Agra is home to the Taj Mahal. At 5:30am we jumped on board carriage type things, which were pulled by horses to take us to the Taj (vehicles aren't allowed very close). We were then walking into the Taj complex as the sun rose at 6am.
At 7:30 is was back to the hotel to cool off and eat breakfast. At 9:00am we were on the bus, headed to the Agra Fort.
Following the Fort stop, we headed to a marble factory, where they explained the process of making tables and other sorts of marble items that have gems inlaid in them. That part was interesting, but then came the sales pitch, trying to get us to buy countless marble items. Not really my cup of tea. Following that it was back to the hotel to rest up. In the afternoon, some of us went to the showroom of Kohinoor Jewelers, in which we were shown a families private art collection. The work was incredible, but again no photos were allowed. We then went upstairs to look at their jewelry collection, where there was a sales person following each of us around. The jewlery was beautiful, and not too expensive for what it was, but still well out of my price range.
The next morning we loaded back into the bus to head to Jaipur.
Jaipur:
After our afternoon arrival in Jaipur, we headed out to see the Birla Temple, and enjoy the aarti ceremony. The next morning we left the hotel at 7:30 to head to Amer Fort, where we rode elephants to get up to the Palace entrance of the fort.
Following the Fort Palace, we then headed off to City Palace. I saw City Palace last year and was not so intrigued by it, so I opted to ride the bus back to the hotel, while the majority of the group looked at the palace and then shopped in the surrounding market.
After a week of traveling, we headed to the Jaipur airport to fly back to Bangalore. We arrived back at Woodstock about 9:00pm on Friday night, completely exhausted. Thus, most of us have spent the weekend relaxing, and getting ready for the new set of classes that start tomorrow morning. Back to the grind, but back to a routine!
Delhi:
In Delhi we stayed at the very nice Park Hotel. On our second day there was full of site seeing. We went to Jama Masjid, which is a Mosque, then took a bicycle rickshaw ride through Old Delhi.
From there we finished up our morning with a trip to Qutub Minar.
We had the afternoon free, which was mainly spent getting some lunch, and cooling off (there was a high of 112 degrees that day!). In the evening, we headed off to Swaminarayan Akshardam. That place was incredible. It was like an amusement park complete with boat ride (similar to Pirates of the Caribbean), and an amazingly gorgeous temple. This wasn't in our original agenda, but those of us who went were very happy that we did. There were no cameras or other electronic devices allowed in the complex, so the website pictures are the best way to get an idea of what it is.
The following day we were free to do what we pleased, and so some of the girls and I spent the morning checking out a local market. In the afternoon, several of us ventured off to see the Lotus Temple. The temple was interesting to see, but to me more interesting were the number of people lining up to get into it. After getting back from the Lotus Temple, it was again time to cool off, before heading to dinner at a hookah bar.
The following morning, we loaded into a bus for the 6 hour bus ride to Agra.
Agra:
Agra is home to the Taj Mahal. At 5:30am we jumped on board carriage type things, which were pulled by horses to take us to the Taj (vehicles aren't allowed very close). We were then walking into the Taj complex as the sun rose at 6am.
Following the Fort stop, we headed to a marble factory, where they explained the process of making tables and other sorts of marble items that have gems inlaid in them. That part was interesting, but then came the sales pitch, trying to get us to buy countless marble items. Not really my cup of tea. Following that it was back to the hotel to rest up. In the afternoon, some of us went to the showroom of Kohinoor Jewelers, in which we were shown a families private art collection. The work was incredible, but again no photos were allowed. We then went upstairs to look at their jewelry collection, where there was a sales person following each of us around. The jewlery was beautiful, and not too expensive for what it was, but still well out of my price range.
The next morning we loaded back into the bus to head to Jaipur.
Jaipur:
After our afternoon arrival in Jaipur, we headed out to see the Birla Temple, and enjoy the aarti ceremony. The next morning we left the hotel at 7:30 to head to Amer Fort, where we rode elephants to get up to the Palace entrance of the fort.
Following the Fort Palace, we then headed off to City Palace. I saw City Palace last year and was not so intrigued by it, so I opted to ride the bus back to the hotel, while the majority of the group looked at the palace and then shopped in the surrounding market.
After a week of traveling, we headed to the Jaipur airport to fly back to Bangalore. We arrived back at Woodstock about 9:00pm on Friday night, completely exhausted. Thus, most of us have spent the weekend relaxing, and getting ready for the new set of classes that start tomorrow morning. Back to the grind, but back to a routine!
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