There are so many places to visit in India, so many temples, forts and tombs to see. It’s such a huge and diverse country that one would need several months to really explore the depths of it. What happens when you don’t have ‘several months’? The Golden Triangle, that’s what!
Delhi, Agra and Jaipur make up the most traveled (tourist) route in India. The cities offer a fair introduction to the country and a chance to visit many incredible monuments and structures, including the iconic mausoleum, Taj Mahal. I visited a good number of these and here are my top 5;
5. Arkshadam Temple, New Delhi
Akshardham Temple is a large complex of temples made of pink sandstone and white marble. The complex features a water show, a beautiful garden and three exhibitions, among which is a cultural boat ride. The architecture, like many temples in India is impressive. The Akshardham mandir consists of 234 intricately carved pillars, 9 ornate domes and 20,000 statues of India’s deities.
4. The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
The Jantar Mantar is an astronomical observation site home to about 20 architectural astronomical instruments. It was built in the early 18th century to allow the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye. It is a UNESCO world heritage site that is worth seeing in the city of Jaipur.
3. Fatehpur Sikri, Agra
Fatehpur Sikri is located just outside the city of Agra. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar and is considered to be his architectural legacy. The perfectly preserved city was abandoned shortly after its completion due to a shortage of water.
2. Taj Mahal, Agra
The Taj Mahal needs no introduction. It is one of the seven new world wonders with a beautiful, albeit sad, love story. It was constructed by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan in memory of his wife who died during the childbirth. The Taj Mahal is considered to be zenith of Mughal architecture in India.
1. Ranthambore National Park, Ranthambore
Visiting the Ranthambore National Park was by far the most unique and exciting experience I had in India. It was the first time I would go on a safari of any kind and it was absolutely worth it. The major ‘attraction’ of this park is the Bengal Tiger, which can be quite elusive at times but I was lucky and my second outing was a success!
There you go, my top 5 in India. What are yours?
