India is incredible for so many reasons. Some of them are fascinating historical monuments and others are the vast differences in their culture. It is a unique place, so different from anywhere else we have been. After doing some research prior to traveling to India we decided to book a trip with a private tour company rather than navigating on our own. We were so glad we did as India is very intense. We were greeted at the airport by our driver, Rakesh. He was a blessing and a kind comfort to us during our entire trip. We stayed in New Delhi in a mostly residential area. There were very few shops on the surrounding streets and the concerns about sanitation and food preparation we chose to eat at the hotel.
In the evening we went on a search for water. Yes, I realize that sounds strange but in India the tap water is VERY contaminated. There is also a high likelihood that local shopkeepers have refilled plastic bottles, resealed them and then tried to sell them to unsuspecting tourists. There are only a few brands of water recommended for westerners, Aquafina, Bisleri, Kinsley and Bailey. Our first purchase was a bust because we realized after we got back to the hotel that the seals didn’t break properly and had likely been tampered with. So we purchased some of the high priced water for the hotel to get us started.
Our sightseeing in Delhi was packed with historical sites and religious places. While we saw a lot, we didn’t even scratch the surface of what there is to see. Here are the highlights:
Rajghat, Gandhi’s tomb and memorial. Gandhi was a great leader for India during the turn of the 20th century. He spent his life promoting peace and encouraging people to use nonviolent ways to stand up for what they believe in. He was assassinated in 1948 by a Hindu radical that was upset about Gandhi’s sympathy for the Muslim population that was moved to the territory currently known as Pakistan. He is now considered the Father of the Nation and his teachings are valued around the world.
Jama Masjid Mosque. Prior to the British victory in 1857, the country/territories were ruled for hundreds of years by Muslim kings. Those kings built many Muslim sites to show their power and greatness. One of them is in Delhi and it remains one of the largest Mosques in India. The Mosque was constructed under the command of Mughal Emperor Shah Javan, the same ruler who built the Taj Mahal. It was built 1653 to 1656 AD. The courtyard can hold up to 25,000 worshipers at a time.
The India Gate is a war memorial that was built to remember the 70,000 Indian soldiers that lost their lives in the First World War. It was built in the same architecture style as many others around the world, most famously the Arc of Triomphe in Paris. This monument is the largest war memorial in India. Additional monuments have been built in this area in honor of veterans from other wars.
The Lotus Temple is a Baha’i worship center that was opened in 1986. It is open to people of all faiths to reflect and worship. Any religions can be celebrated, chanted or read at the temple in any language. It is argued that it is one of the most visited places in the world. Often surpassing the annual visitor numbers of the Taj Mahal.
The Laxmi Narayan Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu. It was built between 1933 – 1939. Since we are not Hindu, we were not able to enter many temples in India. We were, however, able to visit this inner temple without cameras. It was interesting to witness the worshipers during their daily routine.
Qutub is a Muslim memorial complex that includes many important tombs, a ruined Mosque and a 73 meter high minaret, called Qutub Minar. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first story of the minaret was built in 1192 AD. Many of the complex buildings were constructed in the 13th century with stones and materials from ruined Hindu temples on the same site.
The second evening we took a tuk tuk to Center Place which is filled with shops and street vendors. Negotiating a ride is a task in itself. The rates quoted can vary by several hundred rupees and are always higher than the “local price.” It is also a frequent occurrence that the tuk tuk driver will make a stop at a shopping area during your ride without your permission. The shops are extremely overpriced and of course give kick-backs to the drivers. We ended up in one of these places and when we asked the driver to keep going to our intended destination, he did so but was quite upset with us.
On our third day we set out in the morning with our driver, Rakesh, toward Agra. We were so excited to see the Taj Mahal, one of the 7 Wonders of the World. The drive from Delhi to Agra is approximately 4 hours. We were greeted at our hotel by the local guide. He suggested we walk to Taj Mahal as our hotel was closer than the parking lot. Awesome!
When entering the grounds there is strict security to pass through but once you make it in, a calm feeling fills you. There are beautiful gardens and a massive gate leading to the magnificent declaration of love.
As the story is described at the monument; “Born in 1592 to Jehangir, Prince Khurran became Shah Jahan, the fourth Mughal emperor of India. While strolling in the Meena Bazaar in 1607, Khurran was mesmerized by a beautiful Persian noble girl. He was 14 and she was 13 years old. Shah Jahan sought Jehangir’s permission to be married. 
Finally they were married in 1612.” The legend goes that during child birth of her 14th child, Shah Jahan’s wife knew she was not going to make it through. So, she called for him and said that if he truly loved her he would build a memorial in her honor. After her death he had the Taj Mahal and the surrounding buildings built on the same spot they originally met. The Taj Mahal was built with many specific aspects of Islam and their teachings about the after life. For example, the monument has eight sides which Muslims believe heaven has eight gates. The architecture and precise measurements are amazing. Standing in the presence of the amazing structure it is easy to see why it is a Wonder of the World.
Another impressive historical monument is the Agra Fort. It is more of a palace than a fort. Construction was completed in 1573 after 8 years of labor by more than 4,000 workers. It was the main residence of the Mughal Dynasty. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The detail work within the palace is fantastic. Precious and semi-precious stones were used for the design work in almost all rooms of the residence. One tower was built on the riverside of the palace that was used as a jail for the Emperor Shah Jahan. He was held there for 7 years after his fourth born son killed his three older brothers and captured his father so he could become emperor. While under house arrest the former emperor could see the Taj Mahal and the resting palace of his beloved wife. He died while imprisoned and is now buried in a tomb next to his wife in the Taj Mahal.
To complete the Golden Triangle of India 
we set out to visit the “Pink City”, Jaipur. It is the capital and the largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. On the outskirts of the city, Rakesh stopped to show us a hidden gem, Galta Ji (The Monkey Temple). It is built in the 17th century into the valley of the mountains that surround the city. It’s main attractions are the number of monkeys that surround the temple. As well as, the natural spring water that flows into the temple. People believe the water is holy and they come there to bath in it.
While the city of Jaipur was founded in 1727, the ancient city of Amber (just 10 kilometers away) is much older. We visited sites in both the city of Jaipur and the ancient city of Amber. Lying high up in the hills of Amber is the Jaigarh Fort which is over 1,000 years old.
After getting a view of the Jaigarh Fort form across the river, we drove up the steep streets to visit the newer Amber Fort built adjacent to it in the late 16th century. The fort was constructed of sandstone and marble. A palace for the emperors of Rajasthan consumes most of the space within the fort.
As we left the city of Amber and headed back toward Jaipur our tour continued with several other historical places. Here is quick view of the best of what we saw.
Our adventure continues on safari in the Rajasthan jungles of Ranthambore on our hunt for the elusive tiger…