With all 29 states in India containing a completely different culture and language, there is so much to explore everywhere you look. A few years ago for the first time in my life, I traveled to North India, with the help of a tour company, Suburban Travels & Holiday. Along with three of my cousins, I spent a week touring Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. These three places are known as the Golden Triangle because of their geographic location and rich culture and history. Following are the places, attractions and monuments we visited during our time there.

Delhi

We flew into New Delhi, where we were welcomed by our personal driver for the next 6 days. Delhi is a union territory, the capital of India, which makes it neither a city or a state. It lies below Haryana and besides Uttar Pradesh, both states we visited during this trip. India is one place that I recommend you choose the higher rated and priced hotels, because the cheap ones are not clean, safe, or manageable. For our first two days in Delhi, we did a lot of shopping, eating and site seeing!

Our first day in New Delhi, so we stopped by to see the Indian Parliament as well as the Rashtrapathi Bhawan, the residence of the President of India. It is open during the week from 10 am-6 pm, however, you cannot enter it without further permission. You can drive by the long beautiful road or stand on the sidewalks to see all the buildings, which is quite a treat in itself.
Address: Sansad Marg, Gokul Nagar, Janpath, Connaught Place, New Delhi, India

India Gate, New Delhi

Just down the street from the Indian Parliament is the India Gate, which is a must see in Delhi! This is not to be confused with the Gateway of India, which is located in Mumbai. We went once in the daytime and again at night, to see all the lights and events going on around the India Gate. The India Gate is a memorial to over eighty thousand soldiers in the Indian Army who died during the World War I and the third Afghan war. Their names are carved into the walls.

There is a soldier standing at the base of the Gate and a fire torch that is lite at all times. You can’t get close enough to touch the monument or go through the gate. However, you can go around the monument and walk along the different paths that lead to it. Leading up to the gate are carts with snacks (such as pani puri), drinks, toy stands and more.

Apart from all the site seeing, Delhi is also a great place to shop! Delhi is known for colorful bazaars at very cheap prices with items carved of marble, silk clothing material and more! We were able to stop at several clothing stores and buy some Indian outfits for ourselves before our trip was over. If you are shopping at stores on the street, make sure you get an idea of the price range and try out several stores before you make a purchase. I guarantee you, you will see very similar things all along the stores down the street and you’ll be able to bargain with a better understanding of the prices.
Click here for my full list of tips and hacks on bargaining!

Haryana

Most tour companies don’t go off path their normal routine, but this company was very flexible with us. They allowed us to use one day to visit some friends in a neighboring state. On the second day of our tour, we drove to Haryana, the state directly northwest of Delhi. This part of the trip was the most authentic and scenic. We were able to go to a friend’s house, enjoy a delicious lunch, and tour around their land and neighborhood.

They drove us around to several places in the afternoon, visiting their extended family. We were able to learn about how things run in their village. We visited an elderly man, who owned a machine to cut grass for the cattle. There was a farm nearby that housed hundreds of buffaloes and acres of green luscious land which we got a chance to explore as well. Later that afternoon, we enjoyed tea made with buffalo milk at a relative’s house. It was the most thickest, richest tea I’ve ever had in my life!

This leads me to the next must do thing; EAT Authentic Indian Food! If you ever get to tour smaller towns, you must eat from a local restaurant where the townspeople eat from. It might not be the cleanliest place, but no doubt the food will be great. During our Haryana trip, we were lucky to have home-made authentic north Indian food for lunch. It was one of my all time favorite meals during this trip! One of the best parts about eating different ethnic food is the customs and traditions behind it. For this meal, we sat on the bed and all the food was placed before us on a mat. And then, we dug in with our hands and ate until we couldn’t move.

Agra, Uttar Pradesh

The next day, we set off on our 5 hour road trip to Agra. On the way, we stopped at several well known, historical sites including tombs and old palaces. After checking into our hotel in Agra, we headed out for the most awaited part of the trip. The biggest attractions of the whole trip was the Taj Mahal, the Epitome of Love. The Agra Fort was also a great treat, definitely not to be missed if you’re in Agra. We also visited the Tomb of Etimad-Ud-Daulah, known as the “Baby Taj”, prior to visiting the Taj Mahal.

Check out this Taj Mahal post for more on this white beauty.

The Agra Fort is filled with so much history, as it had been the residence of the Mughal Emperors. The fort is built in a way to protect the empire from attacks and invaders. It really looked like walking into the sets of a historical Hindi movie. You can picture the soldiers on horses rushing into the fort through the long pathways.
The Tomb of Etimad-Ud-Daulah, located in Agra was built by Nur Jahan for her father. This structure later became the inspiration for Shah Jahan when building the Taj Mahal.

Rajasthan

We took another five hour car ride from Agra to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Rajasthan is yet another state, with it’s own unique culture, beliefs and food. Jaipur is known as Pink City for all the beautiful pink colored buildings and architecture in the city. The King ordered the whole city to be painted pink, a color of warmth and hospitality, to welcome a Queen and Prince to Jaipur. Since then, everyone in the city has kept the buildings this color.

Fatehpuri Sikri, Uttar Pradesh

During the ride, we stopped in Fatehpur Sikri, the capital of the then Mughal Empire. This small town has so much history and architecture. If I could, I would have scheduled a whole day just in this town. We visited the Fatehpuri Sikri Fort and it was almost empty during the time we went. We had the whole place to ourselves to explore. The Jama Masjid (mosque), the Jodha Bai’s Palace and the Panch Mahal are just a few of the beautiful buildings within this Fort.

Amber Fort, Amer, Jaipur

In Jaipur, we visited the beautiful Amber Palace, which is a fort made from red stone and marble. It’s located high on a hill, in the city of Amer, in Rajasthan. This fort, like most of the other palaces display a combination of the Hindu and Muslim culture and architecture. We visited the palace during a week day, which significantly reduced the number of visitors present there.

Location: Devisinghpura, Amer, Jaipur
Timings: 8AM-9PM (closed for an hour in between)
Fees: 25 rupees for Indians, 200 rupees for foreigners

Jantar Mantar, Jaipur

Our first stop the next day was the Jantar Mantar. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a set of astronomical instruments used to predict time and space. We spend an hour there, reading all the interesting facts and use of each structure. These instruments were used for several years until bigger buildings were built around it, decreasing the accuracy of the readings. We had a tour guide to lead us from one place to another during this day.

Location: Gangori Bazaar, J.D.A. Market
Fees: 15 rupees for Indians, 200 rupees for tourists
Timings: 6AM- 6PM

City Palace, Jaipur

We visited the City Palace, a beautiful palace built by the King in the middle of the Jaipur. Our guide told us that the royal family and a King still lives there, but they have no power. We visited the Royal Observatory and Central Museum within the compound. The museum showcases the King’s old dresses, weapons, daily used objects, paintings and more.

There were many picturesque doors and pathways inside, making it a great place to walk around.

Address: Tulsi Marg, Gangori Bazaar, J.D.A. Market
Timings: 930AM- 5PM
Fees: Normal entry is 100 rupees for residents, 500 rupees for foreigners. For entrance to museum, 130 rupees for residents, 900 rupees for foreigners. (A significant difference)

Qutub Minar, Mehrauli, Delhi

On our way back into Delhi for the last day of the trip, we enjoyed another great historical site. We visited the Qutub Minar, which is known as the Tower of Victory. It was built to celebrate Muslim dominance and the end of the last Hindu ruler. Next to the Qutub Minar stands the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, the first mosque to be built in India. Open every day of the year, this location is now a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Location; Mehrauli, New Delhi
Ticket: 30 rupees for Indian & 500 rupees for foreigners.
Hours: 7AM-5PM daily

What did we miss?

There is so much to see and do within Delhi, Agra and Jaipur that we had to leave out some amazing places for next time. Some places in Delhi that we hope to go to in the future are the Jama Masjid, Lotus Temple and the Laxmi Narayan Temple. The Jama Masjid, also built by Shah Jahan, is one of the largest mosques in India. Both the Laxmi Narayan and Lotus Temple are open to people of any faith to visit and pray, although it is mainly a place of worship for Hindus. If you have more time while in Delhi, two historical places to see are the Raj Ghat, the memorial site of Mahatma Gandhi and the National Gandhi Museum.

A few other popular attractions within Jaipur that we did not get to visit this time includes the Hawa Mahal, the Gaitore, Statue Circle and the Rambagh Palace, which is now a hotel. Two other places I would have added to our itinerary if possible are the Nahargarh and Jaigarh Fort.

Make sure you check out the Travel Must Haves & Things to Know for India before planning your next trip!

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Front view of the Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Also known as an epitome of love, the Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful of the 7 wonders. When you stand beneath it, there is no wondering how it made it to that list. Shah Jahan, the Emperor built this white marble beauty in remembrance of his wife. Mumtaz, the third wife of Shah Jahan died from childbirth. Take a close look at the individually embedded stones in the Taj and you’ll see why it took this long. It took 22 years and over twenty thousand workers to finish this magnificent tombstone. The remains of Mumtaz was brought back to Taj Mahal after it was built. It was placed in a tombstone in the center. After Shah Jahan’s death, he was also buried in the Taj Mahal, next to his beloved wife.

If you are interested in visiting other places in North India, check out my Golden Triangle Tour. This consists of the beautiful cities of Rajasthan, Delhi and Agra. Here are a few things to keep in mind for Taj Mahal portion of our week trip!

1 If you want to see the Taj Mahal in all its beauty, go in the next 5 years. Several people I talked to said that the inside portion where the tomb lays might close off to the public. Our guide said this is because of all the damage done by visitors. In this last year, they have raised the price for local residents from 50 to 250 rupees (roughly 3.5 USD). They did this to limit the number of visitors in efforts to preserve it’s beauty.

2 The Taj is a very popular site, even for the local residents. Expect it to be crowded at any given time of the year. Try to go during the early mornings to avoid the large crowds and the heat. The booths open around 6am, but you can start lining up about 30-45 minutes before that. The crowd picks up again in the afternoons and it gets busy with families and locals until closing. Though there is an option to buy tickets online, it is better to buy it in person at the Taj. There is no limit to the number of people entering and there is no timing on the tickets.

This brings me to the next point.. India is very hot all year round. Along with the scorching sun in Agra, the Yamuna River also runs through Agra. This results in plenty of mosquitoes lurking around for that foreign blood. So make sure to use plenty of sunscreen and a good mosquito repellent. I bought the Kinven Anti Mosquito Repellent Bundle years ago for less than 15 bucks. I’ve been using the same one over and over for all my trips and it works great! As for sunscreen, my favorite brand is the banana boat. I found these Banana Boat travel packets that are great while on the go!

4 The most important thing to know would be that the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays for tourists. It is only open to Muslims during their prayer times. It is open after sunrise to before sunset on all other days.

5 As you enter the Taj, you will be divided into men’s and women’s checking lines. All your personal belonging will be checked. There are several things that are strictly prohibited, such as big bags, luggage, any weapons, tripods and drones. You also cannot carry any food, tobacco or gum with you. If you have any of these, they will ask you to trash it before entering. You are allowed a small bag with your essential items, such as your cell phone, wallet, camera, etc. With your ticket comes a free bottle of water and shoe covers. You must wear the shoe covers as you enter the Taj, since it is a holy place.

6 Because of the cheap prices to enter, there may be people who are there for more than just site-seeing. Beware of pickpockets, who may take advantage of your distraction with taking pictures, enjoying the site and shopping for souvenirs. Always be aware of your surroundings and keep all your personal belongings close by at all times. If you are traveling with little kids, keep them at an arms distance. The crowds can get very rough, especially while entering and exiting doors/narrow ways. The price for a foreigner to enter is around 1000 rupees. Take out what you need and avoid flashing all your money. If you’re considering getting a fanny pack, check out this popular one!

7 I highly recommend you get a tour guide to see the Taj. Speak with the guide first to make sure they know your language prior to booking them. We found a great English speaking guide, who was well educated about the Taj and answered many of our questions. He also took our pictures and told us all the good angles to shoot from. It’s okay to reject a guide if you don’t feel they will be good. You can find another one instead, as there are many guides nearby the entrance. Bargain to get a good deal for the tour; we paid around 400 rupees for the 4 of us. Another option is the audio tour, which is great for people who want to go at their own pace instead.

8 It is a good walk from the entrance where the ticket booth is located to the actual entrance of Taj Mahal. There are also several horse carriages and other rides available (for $$) that takes you to the front. Regardless, there is a lot to walk all around…so, wear comfortable shoes! Some great options would be the ASICS Women’s Gel-venture 5 Running Shoe and Tiosebon athletic walking shoes. If you want a more stylish look, try the Sperry Boat Slip on Loafers!

9 Don’t buy the overpriced souvenirs in the complex of the Taj. The shop will have someone sitting outside, “making” the souvenirs. They will tell you that their grandfathers shop has been there for so many years. I bought a marble piece from one of the shops after some bargaining. Then I saw that same exact souvenir a day later on the street for one third of the price.

0 If you’re in Agra, I’m guessing you will also be visiting the other famous attractions, such as the Red Fort, Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula and the Tomb of Akbar the Great. Save the Taj Mahal for the last site, even if it means saving it for the following morning. Reason being, after seeing the Taj Mahal, all the other sites seem just average. Enjoy the beauty and fine details of all the other monuments and sites prior to the visiting the Taj Mahal.

There are many more things to keep in mind as you visit other parts of India, so check out the Namaste India post! You can also check out the official Taj Mahal page for more information. Are you one of those people who like to have a book to look up information while you are there? The Lonely Planet book is a great guide for Taj along with the other parts of the Golden Triangle trip.

Seeing the Taj Mahal was a special experience… an unforgettable trip and an ‘Am I really here’ kind of a moment. They say that you’ll fall in love with the Taj Mahal at first site, as Shah Jahan did for his wife. The beauty of the Taj is so mesmerizing and it’s definitely a must see monument within India!