May I add? You’re more likely to get sick in a European than in an ‘authentic’ restaurant, where anyway you pay a lot more for an inferior meal. All the meat you can eat is available very reasonably in Delhi at Pind Balluchi or the United Coffee House or Karim’s, just to mention a few examples, and with a minimum of common sense humbler places are certainly not to be scorned. The road between Delhi and Agra is indeed pretty gruesome, but the new freeway will do it in couple of hours – because the toll fees are high enough to deter 95 per cent of road users and eliminates all those enormous lorries etc. It’s worth taking more time between Agra and Jaipur, there are a lot of interesting and quiet places just off the main road which most tourists miss. The best-known ‘sights’ in both cities tend to be disagreeably crowded, predictably, but Akbar’s tomb at Sikandra, just out of Agra, and Gaitor and Galta-Ji on the outskirts of Jaipur are very beautiful and calm. From the other side of the river and from the Red Fort the Taj may be enjoyed as the vision it was always intended to be, I’ve never myself wanted to go closer. A guide is hardly necessary for those who can do their own homework, but a good driver is for the simple reason that it’s much easier and more comfortable than battling it out under your own steam, often frustratingly, on trains and buses. No foreigner in his right mind, as you say, would think of driving himself. Unbelievably, there are tourists who manage to do the whole Golden Triangle in a single (very long) day, though surely not with any enjoyment.
Rosemary Kneipp
May 26th, 2016 at 9:07 pm
Hi Stephen, and thank you for your input. I hope other readers will be able to have a more authentic food experience with your tips. I’m sorry we didn’t know about Akbar’s tomb at Sikandra and Gaitor and Galta-Ji in Jaipur. Doing the whole Golden Triangle in a single day sounds absolutely exhausting. Also it must mean that they can only visit the Taj Mahal during the hottest hours of the day! I would always rather see fewer sights but be able to appreciate them.
They go from Delhi at about 4 in the morning and so catch the Taj for about five minutes as soon as it opens. The only purpose, so I believe, is to have themselves photographed grinning in front of it. Then on to be whizzed around Jaipur and returned to Delhi at about midnight for a departure next morning. Can you think of anything less agreeable? It takes years to see, much more to understand, India and you’re right, the best way to do that is to make the best of whatever turns up – there’s something at every turn.
It seems your trip to India was a success, Rosemary. I’m glad for you. I’m still not convinced to go there, although I’m sure there is a lot to see and do. But in case I’ll change my mind, your post is an excellent starting point. We would definitely hire a private tour operator, like you did. I think it’s worth it. I understand mid-February is the best time to visit weather wise. As for the sites, I’d love to see and photograph the Taj Mahal. The trip doesn’t seem to be so expensive. Thanks for the tips.
[…] and we’ve certainly done a lot this year – a total of twelve weeks in Australia, the Golden Triangle in India including the Taj Mahal, cycling in Italy and Germany, especially along the Romantic […]
Interesting post. I went on the same trip a year ago, to just about the same places on the same circle (or triangle). I had booked with a Norwegian agency fixing all flights and everything, but I might as well have found a local operator like you did. That quite often turns out to be a bit cheaper, as well as giving you the opportunity of greater flexibility.
Rosemary Kneipp
January 25th, 2018 at 3:48 pm
We never go through agencies but always book flights, hotels and tours (very rare) ourselves.
Excellent tips!
May I add? You’re more likely to get sick in a European than in an ‘authentic’ restaurant, where anyway you pay a lot more for an inferior meal. All the meat you can eat is available very reasonably in Delhi at Pind Balluchi or the United Coffee House or Karim’s, just to mention a few examples, and with a minimum of common sense humbler places are certainly not to be scorned. The road between Delhi and Agra is indeed pretty gruesome, but the new freeway will do it in couple of hours – because the toll fees are high enough to deter 95 per cent of road users and eliminates all those enormous lorries etc. It’s worth taking more time between Agra and Jaipur, there are a lot of interesting and quiet places just off the main road which most tourists miss. The best-known ‘sights’ in both cities tend to be disagreeably crowded, predictably, but Akbar’s tomb at Sikandra, just out of Agra, and Gaitor and Galta-Ji on the outskirts of Jaipur are very beautiful and calm. From the other side of the river and from the Red Fort the Taj may be enjoyed as the vision it was always intended to be, I’ve never myself wanted to go closer. A guide is hardly necessary for those who can do their own homework, but a good driver is for the simple reason that it’s much easier and more comfortable than battling it out under your own steam, often frustratingly, on trains and buses. No foreigner in his right mind, as you say, would think of driving himself. Unbelievably, there are tourists who manage to do the whole Golden Triangle in a single (very long) day, though surely not with any enjoyment.
Hi Stephen, and thank you for your input. I hope other readers will be able to have a more authentic food experience with your tips. I’m sorry we didn’t know about Akbar’s tomb at Sikandra and Gaitor and Galta-Ji in Jaipur. Doing the whole Golden Triangle in a single day sounds absolutely exhausting. Also it must mean that they can only visit the Taj Mahal during the hottest hours of the day! I would always rather see fewer sights but be able to appreciate them.
They go from Delhi at about 4 in the morning and so catch the Taj for about five minutes as soon as it opens. The only purpose, so I believe, is to have themselves photographed grinning in front of it. Then on to be whizzed around Jaipur and returned to Delhi at about midnight for a departure next morning. Can you think of anything less agreeable? It takes years to see, much more to understand, India and you’re right, the best way to do that is to make the best of whatever turns up – there’s something at every turn.
It seems your trip to India was a success, Rosemary. I’m glad for you. I’m still not convinced to go there, although I’m sure there is a lot to see and do. But in case I’ll change my mind, your post is an excellent starting point. We would definitely hire a private tour operator, like you did. I think it’s worth it. I understand mid-February is the best time to visit weather wise. As for the sites, I’d love to see and photograph the Taj Mahal. The trip doesn’t seem to be so expensive. Thanks for the tips.
Taj Mahal its a great symbol of love. I live in Pakistan, always wanted to visit this place. Thanks for the share.
[…] and we’ve certainly done a lot this year – a total of twelve weeks in Australia, the Golden Triangle in India including the Taj Mahal, cycling in Italy and Germany, especially along the Romantic […]
Interesting post. I went on the same trip a year ago, to just about the same places on the same circle (or triangle). I had booked with a Norwegian agency fixing all flights and everything, but I might as well have found a local operator like you did. That quite often turns out to be a bit cheaper, as well as giving you the opportunity of greater flexibility.
We never go through agencies but always book flights, hotels and tours (very rare) ourselves.