Article text updated: 05/29/2018

Last year, Mikhail, a long-time reader of the blog, shared his reports from a vacation trip to India. From the first time he fell in love with this wonderful country with ancient history and have been there four times already. At first, like many Russian tourists, he went to Goa, then to Kerala. Today I am starting to publish his review of the trip to the Golden Triangle.

The chassis touches with a slight push runway. The braking and short run of the airliner to the passenger terminal is the most pleasant moment of the flight, and it’s not a matter of fear: the long, tedious boredom of waiting is over. This is where the journey begins for me.

No clapping of hands, the ship's commander greets Delhi in three languages ​​(Arabic, English and Hindi) and reports the weather overboard.

With a light step, with a trunk on my shoulder and a practically empty suitcase - me, my wife - with a handbag, smiling, we pass the post customs control. The aroma of India is in the air: the smell of spices, flowers and something else elusive - this is the smell only in the airports of this country. The walls above the reception desks are decorated with hands with folded fingers in the symbolic language of mudra. It is impossible to pass - a photo for memory.

The last concern is luggage, and we are free...

A black luggage belt moves in a circle: suitcases, bags, backpacks. The gaze follows the movement - circle after circle. Every now and then someone's hands snatch and drag away the prey. The feed is empty. All! The last ownerless suitcases have been removed and placed in a pile. Confusion: our things are missing.

While going to India, to the state of Kerala, in February of the same year, 2012, I read on the Internet an entertaining story from a girl about her forced acquaintance with Doha, the capital of the Emirate of Qatar. The flight was delayed, and the narrator was late for the connection. She was given two options to choose from: wait until she could be connected to another flight, or spend a day in Doha, at the carrier’s expense, and fly on the same flight the next day.

Naturally, we kept the possibility of such or a similar situation in our heads, but a successful connection in February relaxed us; our almost empty (two sweaters and autumn shoes) suitcase was a witness to this.

What's a trip without adventure? Even if it’s a forced delay in another city. But to stay only in what you’re wearing?!.

Statistics for 2011: luggage was lost every 90 seconds at airports around the world. The most common reason for loss is a transfer from one plane to another. The shorter the connection, the greater the probability. There were 40 minutes between our flights.

There’s nothing to do, we go to the “Lost & Found” counter, my wife fills out the paperwork, I’m quietly seething, because it’s not about things - clothes can be bought, but the mood... Not the best best start holidays in India. While I’m nervously pacing, I hear my wife’s surprised exclamation: “Four hundred dollars”? The luggage in two suitcases was valued at exactly the same amount (compensation is per kilogram of luggage, unless you have a certified inventory of your belongings). Probably for the first time I was glad that I did not speak foreign languages. “Two suitcases for four hundred dollars?” - and, switching to Russian, I add: “Yes, these two, so scattered, empty suitcases cost twice as much!”

Behind the counter is a tall, handsome Indian man in a turban and red caftan. However, perhaps the caftan was black and the turban was red, I don’t really remember, but I see the face under the turban as it is now: a hefty mustache turning into sideburns, a friendly smile on the lips, and mockery in the eyes. It flashes through my head: “He understands me and is amused by my bubbling irritation. Stop! Calmly". We sign the papers and head out... I regret that I didn’t take a photo.

I would not like to dwell on this topic for a long time. A month later, at home, we could not remember this incident without laughing, which at first threatened to develop from a simple everyday situation into a problem. Suffice it to say that you can’t buy swimsuits in India, but there was more waiting for us beach holiday in Kerala. A quick look around Delhi's shops only confirmed my fears. But our wardrobe has been enriched with elements of national clothing, and several branded items made in India (for example, I still take “Puma” shorts and a baseball cap on all my trips).

A day later, the fate of our suitcases became clear, the full merit of our guide Ajay Singh: he literally did not get off the phone, calling either Delhi airport or Doha airport. True, the luggage was in no hurry to reunite with us, but preferred to travel on its own, we don’t even know which country he visited as a “hare,” but the journey was stormy, judging by the broken locks and shabby appearance. He caught up with us only in Agra.

Stepping over the threshold of the Indira Gandhi airport, I can’t speak for my wife, but I had already given up on the missing things - a seven-day journey lay ahead across three states: Delhi, which has the status of a union territory (national capital district), Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (Uttar Pradesh). We had to drive approximately 700 kilometers by car along Indian roads, see the wonder of the world, the Taj Mahal and ancient capital The Great Mughals - the city of Agra.

The impetus for this trip was, like the trip around Kerala (as I said in previous reports, I wanted to see a giant blue squirrel), a random photograph. While flipping through pages of photographs on the Internet, I came across a photograph of an openwork pink palace - Hawa Mahal. Graceful, almost weightless, slightly reminiscent of the lace kokoshnik of a Russian beauty, in the soft evening light - it beckoned with some kind of understatement.

The book of ethnographer Natalya Guseva “These Amazing Indians” added fuel. Leaving aside the controversial “Arctic theory”, this is an absolutely wonderful story about India and Indians.

Pandavas, Great Mughals, Rajputs - it sounded like music. You should definitely go and see these legendary places. “Golden Triangle” is a surprisingly accurate name. The top is Delhi, and at the base are Agra and Jaipur. In the capital of India we will begin our journey and here we will board a plane to fly to the beach of Kerala.

Delhi is the second largest city, one of the oldest settlements in India, and is sometimes said to be the capital of seven empires. One of them is the Mughal Empire and the story about it lies ahead, but about the first empire - the state of the Pandavas, it is necessary to say at least a few words. The Mahabharata, the holy book of the Hindus, tells that when it became impossible for the cousins ​​Kauravas and Pandavas to live together in Hastinapur (a place about one hundred kilometers from Delhi), the capital of the Kuru kingdom, the country was divided into two unequal parts, and the Pandavas were a site has been allocated in the dense jungle on the banks of the Jumna. The brothers cleared the area by fire and built a beautiful city, calling him Indraprastha. This city, precisely, was located within the city limits of present-day Delhi, and this event itself took place approximately 3000 BC.

For three millennia, the city has seen everything: prosperity, the glory of kings, and periods of complete desolation. On his golden throne sat the sultans of the Afghan Lodi dynasty, warlike Rajput rulers, and emperors of the Great Mughal dynasty; it survived the sack and burning of Timur and the colonial "yoke" of the British. Since 1757, the British ruled British India from Calcutta, but in 1911 Delhi again returned its capital status, the residence of the British Viceroy was moved here from Calcutta, and since 1947 Delhi has been the capital of independent India.

It is impossible, and not entirely correct, to retell the story of such a ancient city. I will only note that the history of Delhi is the history of a great civilization.

On the way to the hotel, looking at the city through the car window, I was somewhat embarrassed: having lived all my life in Moscow, the appearance of the capital of India was strange. A huge territory, an intricate system of roads, low-rise buildings, temples, palaces, overpasses of the elevated metro lines, a crowd of cars and people. One undeniable advantage is a lot of greenery, sometimes completely hiding the buildings.

From the window of our room at the Aura De Asia 3* hotel from the height of the fourth floor there was a view of Patel Road - a wide highway busy with traffic with a mesh fence separating oncoming lanes and a light metro line above it (it felt like family here, I grew up in a house that stood on Volgogradsky Prospekt in Soviet times, in the seventies, the oncoming lanes of which were also separated by a chain-link fence). Right and left - nothing remarkable. What surprised me was the presence of pedicabs in the traffic. Of course, we have heard about them, but in prosperous states of Goa and Kerala were not seen.

Later, while going on an excursion, under the metro overpass near the intersection, we were amazed by the sight of a small colony of beggars in rags and their completely naked children of different ages and genders, scurrying between cars stopped at traffic lights and begging for alms. The sight of this spectacle did not add bright colors to the first impressions of Delhi.

It is impossible to get to know any city in a short period of time. What can we say about such a metropolis as Delhi! Visiting some attractions only allowed one to touch the history and modern life capital of India.

Judging by the program compiled by the travel agency “ Sightseeing tour in Delhi: you will see the India Gate (gate with a small letter), drive through the city center near the Presidential Palace, see the Qutub Minar, the Gandhi Memorial, etc.”, the acquaintance promised to be the most superficial. Here it’s worth once again kindly remembering our wonderful guide Ajay: he not only managed to turn the sightseeing routine into an entertaining historical journey, but also, having mastered the times, expanded the scope of the excursion program.

Having cleaned ourselves up after the journey and done some forced shopping, we were ready to watch and learn. The first stop is New Delhi, which is the capital of modern India. Formally, this is a district of the Union Territory of Delhi, located on the banks of the Jamna River or, as Rajasthanis call it, Yamuna, and bordering Old Delhi, the government of the state and the presidential palace are located here.

A small note: when going on my first excursion, either under the impression of the city seen from the car window, or not having recovered from the incident at the airport, I took a camera with a telephoto lens, leaving the wide-angle lens in the hotel room. Therefore, for the photos of Delhi I owe almost entirely to my wife, low Kudos to her for that!

At this point I would like to note that Mikhail and I had a small argument. He was embarrassed to display his photographs because he considered them not professional enough. My opinion is that there are indeed a lot of complaints about the photographs, if we consider their artistic component. But, reading such a fascinating text, you don’t pay attention to the shortcomings in the photo. The photographs serve as an excellent addition to the story that Mikhail tells us.

Now I believe it’s the capital! The wide Rajpath is the King's front road framed by pompous ministerial mansions and alleys with fountains, starting from the presidential palace (in the old days it was the palace of the Viceroy of India) and ending at the India Gate arch. The author of the Gate project is Edwin Lutyens, as well as the entire project New Delhi) are a memorial to Indian soldiers who died in the Anglo-Afghan wars and during the First World War. Eternal flame, honor guard, 90'000 names carved in stone.

Photo 5. Rajpath Street in Delhi is the main street in the country. Trip reports from India's Golden Triangle

But India wouldn’t be India if there weren’t a “cow walking” next to all this pathos. Beggars, an impromptu barber next to the pedestal, a non-working fountain and some person trying to clean it with a piece of wire are scenes familiar to us, who have already visited this country twice, adding a peculiar charm to the epic picture of grand Delhi.

Second stop - Old Delhi. In fact, the political and economic center of India in ancient times, in the Middle Ages, during the reign of the Great Mughals, was Old Delhi (then simply Delhi). Its current appearance was formed under Shah Jahan, the padishah of the Mughal Empire (1627-1658). It is to this ruler that we owe the Taj Mahal.

The British ruled India from Calcutta since 1757, but in 1911, due to domestic political reasons, they moved the capital again to Delhi, and in the same year the construction of New Delhi began.

Red Fort is a 17th century citadel, Jama Masjid is the most great mosque in India, the circular Konat square remained visible only through a car window. Our goal is the Qutab Minar. The forced delay at the airport made additional adjustments to the excursion plan, no matter how “individual” the tour was, but the lost time cannot be returned. I had to sacrifice something.

I don’t regret at all that the choice fell on Qutub Minar. Huge architectural complex, basically, the ruins of monuments from different historical eras: the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque (the power of Islam), the Ala-i-Darwaza gate, the tomb of Imam Zamin, and above all this the Qutub Minar minaret soared high into the sky. Built from red sandstone, the Qutub Minar (or Qutab Minar) is still the tallest brick minaret in the world (height 72.6 meters, diameter at the base 14.74 meters). Fine stone carvings decorate the four circular balconies (sherefe), with verses of the Koran carved below them. The last fifth balcony, from which the muezzin should shout, is so high that its details cannot be seen.

The minaret was built by several generations of rulers of the Mughal dynasty, starting with the first Muslim ruler of India, Qutb ad-Din Aibek, who laid the foundation of the minaret in 1193, and ending with Firuz Shah Tughlaq, who completed the tower in 1368.

An interesting fact: in 1311, Sultan Alauddin (Ala-Eddin) Khilji, I think out of vanity, decided to build a nearby minaret twice as high: 183 meters. But his death in 1315 did not allow the plan to come true; only the first tier was built. The ruins of this 25-meter structure can still be seen today.

Photo 14. Tours to India from Moscow. Excursions to Delhi. Minaret Qutub Minar

Another interesting fact: for their construction, the Delhi sultans used parts of Hindu and Jain temples, which they also destroyed (for example, the remains of seven Jain temples were used for the construction of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque), which gave a peculiar flavor to the buildings - the ornamentation of some details of the monuments, especially Colon, is in no way consistent with the requirements of canonical Islam.

On the one hand - vandalism. In passing, I would like to note that in Tunisia, while admiring the Kairouan Cathedral Mosque, I noticed that the columns were antique, with different orders. This phenomenon is of the same order. On the other hand, borrowing details and techniques of Indian architecture has enriched India with masterpieces of the symbiosis of Islamic and Indian architecture, which can be distinguished into a unique style, and some examples of such a fusion have even become a symbol of India: the Taj Mahal or Fatehpur Sikri, for example.

One cannot ignore this not very cheerful fact: until recently, the minaret was a favorite place for female suicides. According to the guide, these suicides are associated with the tradition of Sati (self-immolation of a wife after the death of her husband), which is prohibited in modern India. Whether this is true or not, I do not presume to say, just as I do not undertake to assess or analyze the reasons that force Indian women to take this step in modern India. I will only note that tradition in Indian society still has the same decisive importance as before. But the entrance to the minaret has recently been tightly closed.

And now it’s time to admit my ignorance: on the territory of the complex, among the ruins, stood the legendary Iron Column. I knew about her existence and presence in Delhi, but it was a complete surprise for me that she was here.

There are many miracles in the world! The ancients compiled a list of seven wonders of the Ecumene, every schoolchild knows it by heart. Of the seven, only the Cheops pyramid has survived to our times. There are several versions of modern lists of “wonders of the world” - they are also creations of human hands, they are unsurpassed in beauty, architecture and engineering solutions! I'm talking about other wonders, such as Stonehenge or drawings (geoglyphs) of the Nazca desert, for example. There is something fantastic in them, and no matter how scientists struggle to solve them, no matter what skeptics say, there is still no intelligible answer to “how” and “why”.

The iron column in Delhi is a mystery of the same order. The column itself, or stambha, is an essential element of a Hindu temple. With the installation of this element and its dedication to a specific god, the marking and construction of the temple begins. The material for construction can be any, the only condition is uniformity.

Dry facts: seven meters above the ground, weight - six tons, approximate age - 1600 years. It is alleged that it was erected by King Kumaragupta I (Kumaragupta I). Initially, it was located in the city of Mathura, in a temple dedicated to the god Vishnu. On the column there are inscriptions dedicated to God Vishnu and King Chandragupta (375-413). Its top was once decorated with the figure of Garuda (the riding bird of Vishnu, half-eagle, half-man).

The column is resistant to corrosion. All! The rest of what is written and said are hypotheses that give rise to questions. Welded or forged? Meteoric iron or melting down the wreckage of a starship?

I wrote it and physically felt the grin of the skeptical reader. Don’t rush to conclusions, I myself believe only in what you can touch with your hands, and to provoke you, look at the photo taken last year in Karnataka: detail of the bas-relief of the Hoysaleshvara temple (12-14 centuries AD) in the city of Halebid . Even without a rich imagination, it’s easy to see the spacesuits on the figures.

What helped the column resist corrosion: phosphorus in the alloy or the high ammonia content in the atmosphere of ancient Delhi? Questions, questions and questions! Indians believe that if you stand with your back to a column and wrap your arms around it, all your wishes will come true! Only this cannot be checked now - in 1997, in order to avoid vandalism, the iron pillar was fenced off, and a policeman with a bamboo stick walks nearby as a patrol.

After wandering among the ruins and enjoying the view of the park inhabited by the ubiquitous cheerful chipmunks, we head to the hotel.

In the southern latitudes, at seven in the evening it is already dark, but it is still too early to go to bed. After dinner, we set off to wander around the area around the hotel. As the sun sets, life in the cities of the East comes to life: shops open, shopkeepers and fruit and vegetable sellers lay out their goods, the air is filled with smells. In my memory, the aroma of guava dominates over all smells - evening Delhi smells of this fruit.

Without any particular goal, we wandered the streets for a couple of hours, moving from one shop to another. I don’t know if this is true, but the impression was that our hotel was located in the quarter of gold merchants, and they were all Sikhs.

In the display cases there is a scattering of jewelry: chains as thick as a finger, signets with diamonds, mountains of pearls, rings decorated with huge sapphires, emeralds, garnets and the Star of India. And all this is set in a huge amount of gold.

I have noticed the Indians’ love for massive gold jewelry before. It seemed that such beauty should pull the fingers to the ground, but when I picked up a couple of samples, I was struck by their low weight: stamped, gold - the frame is no thicker than foil. Having had enough of the glitter of gold, having bought some fruit, we go to bed - tomorrow we have an early start.

It rained at night. The rainy season in India lasts from June to October; in September it rains from the sky, although abundantly, but briefly, mainly at night. During 7 days (from September 2 to September 9) of traveling through the Golden Triangle, we only encountered real downpour in Agra, while visiting the Red Fort.

In the morning, a surprise awaited us: according to the trip itinerary, we were supposed to immediately go to Jaipur, but the guide expanded the scope of excursions around Delhi. After delaying our departure for several hours, he introduced us to two modern architectural masterpieces of Delhi: the Lotus Temple and the Akshardham Temple Complex.

If you look at the map, the Akshardham Swaminarayan Temple is located on the other bank of the Jumna, opposite the India Gate. From the high overpass that leads from the ring road to the temple, one can see beautiful view to the complex. Palace is the only epithet suitable for this temple, and what we saw on the territory of the complex and inside the temple only confirmed the first impression of what we saw.

A little etymology. In the center of the Vaishnava (Vaishnavas are Hindus who worship the god Vishnu) temple there is a three-meter statue of Neelkantha Varmi - the incarnation of God Swaminarayan. Sahajananda Swami (1781-1830) is also known as Bhagavan Swaminarayan, the founder of the movement in Hinduism known as the Swaminarayan Movement. His devotees worship him as an avatar of Narayana - one of the forms of Vishnu and emanating from Krishna.

Are you confused? There are 33 million gods in Hinduism, try to keep it all in your head without being born a Hindu!

To get into the temple, I had to not only take off my shoes and hand over all my gadgets, but also take everything out of my pockets - because of the terrorist threat, you can’t bring anything into the temple (money is allowed).

Photo 20. Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple is the largest Hindu cathedral in India. A trip through the Golden Triangle.

It is impossible to describe what we saw in words! The complex is located on a vast territory and includes the temple itself, a huge singing fountain in the shape of a lotus, ponds with fountains, and everything is surrounded by covered galleries along the perimeter. All buildings are made of pink sandstone, no concrete, the interior decoration of the temple halls is made of white marble, the main dome (there are nine in total) is made of transparent marble, the same one that was used in the construction of the Taj Mahal. The inside of the dome is inlaid with thousands of diamonds, the walls of the main hall are covered with gold and precious stones, the statue of God Swaminarayan is covered with gold, and there is a huge ruby ​​in the forehead.

To complete the picture, I’ll add a few numbers: the outside of the temple is decorated with 234 hand-carved columns, 148 stone-carved elephants, 125 human figures and 42 animal figures. All figures are represented in scenes from Indian myths and legends. Water for the fountains was brought from all the rivers of the country. According to the official version, the construction of the temple cost five hundred million (500,000,000) US dollars, collected by Swaminarayan’s followers, and according to our guide, the amount is many times more, I don’t even dare to voice it.

I am far from any religious delight, I am not a churchgoer, but joint participation in prayer, even as a spectator clapping my hands, touched me to the depths of my soul.

Akshardham, for all its unusualness, is still a traditional Hindu temple. Another thing is the Lotus Temple - a temple of supporters of the Baha'i teachings. Baha'ism is a monotheistic religion. Its founder was Iranian Hussein Ali-i-Nuri. Another name is Bahá'u'lláh (hence the name of the religious movement). In his sermons, Bahá'u'lláh taught that all prophets were sent to Earth to establish the "Kingdom of God on earth." Devotees revere Bahá'u'lláh as the last in a line (Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Zarathustra, Krishna, Jesus Christ, Muhammad and Baba) of the manifestation of God. Religious center Baha'ism is located in Haifa.

For India, this is not the first attempt to unite all faiths into one. Suffice it to recall Akbar the Great, who created the new creed Din-i Illahi (Divine Faith). True, after his death not a single adherent of Din-i Illahia was found. Moreover, evil tongues claim that he was prompted to create a new faith not so much by religious views as by a harem, among the inhabitants of which were women of different religions. But let's leave gossip to the gossipers.

The temple is built in the shape of a flower white lotus. No decorations inside or outside. Style - structural expressionism. Looking at " stone Flower", the Sydney Opera House comes to mind, only there the shape of the floors represents sails. For the future traveler: it’s good to visit both temples in the late afternoon, because both of them have beautiful lighting, both the temples themselves and the fountains. If you just get aesthetic pleasure in Akshardham, then you can also take photographs of the Lotus Temple.

After admiring the surroundings from the stylobate of the temple, the beautiful garden, trimmed lawns, following the flight of an eagle circling over the red temple of supporters of Krishna consciousness (ISKCON), we go back to the car, it’s time to hit the road, Rajasthan awaits us.

This concludes the first part of the review about our next vacation in India. In the next chapter, Mikhail will talk about a trip to Jaipur, sometimes called the Pink City. If you liked the story, I would be very grateful for a few words of support to its author. He spent time, effort (the report takes up 23 pages of printed text in A4 format) and put his soul into this review...

Departures 2019: June 8 and 22, July 6 and 27, August 10 and 24, September 7 and 21;
6 days / 5 nights
Delhi – Jaipur – Abhaneri – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra – Vrindavan – Delhi
India will never cease to amaze and delight you. It will stun you with the color of the old streets of Delhi, allow you to plunge into the atmosphere of the past and feel like royalty in the Pink City of the Maharajas of Jaipur and will remind you of the story of eternal love, embodied in the magnificent Taj Mahal.
Group tour from 2 people. Air travel with Aeroflot.
from 256 USD+ a/b for 2-person occupancy

Tour Features

• Rich excursion program;
• Meals: breakfasts and dinners;
• Transfers on a comfortable air-conditioned bus;
• Experienced Russian speaking guide.

India. Tour program

1 day, night from Saturday to Sunday. Arrival in Delhi
Upon arrival in Delhi, meeting with a company representative and transfer to the hotel according to the program. (Hotel room booked from Saturday).

Legend says: no man or ruler who dared to create new town in place of Delhi, will not be able to maintain its power for long. However, the prophecies failed to stop the many conquerors of Delhi who came and renamed the city again and again over the centuries. The architectural masterpieces and monuments of the “capital of seven empires”, created by different rulers, are a unique example of the evolution and synthesis of different cultures and influences.

Day 2, Sunday. Delhi
The tour will begin with a visit Jama Masjid– Delhi Cathedral Mosque, the largest mosque in India, which houses priceless Muslim relics.

Afterwards the group will drive along the walls Red Fort, which is one of the most important historical complexes of India, embodying a long period of Indian history, a symbol of the architectural beauty and power of the dynasties ruling India. It is from the walls of the Red Fort that every year on August 15, the anniversary of independence from Great Britain, the Prime Minister of India addresses the Indian people.

The tour will continue to New Delhi: The group will drive along Rajghat - the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi and along the central avenue of the city with government buildings and see Sansad Bhavan (Palace of Parliament) and Rashtrapati Bhavan ( Presidential palace), who at one time served Royal residence British viceroys who ruled India.

Then he will head to India Gate. This memorial is dedicated to the soldiers of the Indian Army who died as a result of military operations from the First World War to the present day.

Later visit to the sparkling bright colors and gold plated white and pink Birla temple, dedicated to the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity Lakshmi, and to the main Sikh temple of Delhi - Gurudwara Bangla Sahib - a snow-white temple with golden domes and a large pond inside the complex, known as Sarovar, the waters of which are considered sacred.

Then visit Humayun Tombs- the tomb of one of the Muslim rulers. Constructed of white marble and red sandstone, the tomb is a synthesis of Persian and Indian traditions and is considered the first example of mature Mughal architecture.

Next excursion to Akshardham. The Akshardham complex was built in 2005 and immediately entered the Guinness Book of Records as the largest Hindu temple in the world. It combines a mixture of architectural styles from different parts of India, as its construction was carried out over a period of 5 years with the participation of 7 thousand craftsmen from Rajasthan, Orissa and Bengal. Akshardham is built of Rajasthani pink sandstone and Italian marble, is not supported by any metal or concrete materials, and its perimeter is decorated with more than two hundred columns and many sculptures.

Return to the hotel, dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3, Monday. Delhi – Jaipur
265 km/ 7 hours
At 09:00, after breakfast, check out from the hotel, excursion to the Qutub Minar complex and transfer to Jaipur.

Morning visit to the complex Qutub Minar- Victory Tower, built in the 12th century by the viceroy of King Qutub-ud-din Aibak. Decorated with delicate elegant ornaments, the Qutub Minar is the tallest (72.5 m) brick minaret in the world and is protected by UNESCO as a site world heritage. Part architectural ensemble Qutub Minar also includes an iron column seven meters high and weighing six and a half tons, which has practically escaped corrosion over the 1,600 years of its existence. The column was erected in the 5th century and is almost 100% iron, with no manganese and almost no nickel. The miraculous properties of the column have long puzzled scientists who connect its origin with extraterrestrial civilizations.

Next move to Jaipur, which is also called the “pink city”. Travelers literally freeze with delight just by looking at old quarter Jaipur, where almost all the buildings are painted in pink and terracotta tones. The breathtaking view of the ancient forts is a romantic reminder of a bygone era. The city with its historical heritage And rich architecture there is something to amaze tourists.

On arrival in Jaipur visit Galtaji Temple, located at the foothills of the Aravali Mountains. The Galtaji temple complex is built of pink sandstone. Thanks to its unusual shape and the abundant frescoes with Rajput miniatures on the walls, Galtaji is more reminiscent of a palace or an ancient haveli house than a temple.

Built in the 18th century by Diwan Kriparama, a loyal subject of the Raja of Jaipur, the temple is named after Saint Galta, who is said to have practiced penance at this very spot centuries ago.
Inside temple complex There are three ponds for ablutions with sacred water, which attract pilgrims. The most revered of them is Galta Kund - it is fed by a source from a rock that is shaped like a cow's head.
Galtaji is also known as the Monkey Temple due to large quantity families of Langurs and flocks of rhesus macaques that live in its surroundings.

Next visit Birla temple, built in 1988 by the Birla Industrial Group, one of India's financial tycoons. The temple is dedicated to God Vishnu (Narayan), the guardian of the whole world, and his wife Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, so sometimes this temple is also called the Lakshmi Narayan temple.

Day 4, Tuesday. Jaipur
At 08.00 am, after breakfast - ascent on elephants/jeeps to the great pride of Jaipur, to Amber Fort. The construction of Amber Fort was started in the 17th century by the ruler of Jaipur, Maharaja Man Singh, the most successful general of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Before the City Palace was built, Amber served only as a fortification. The fort is surrounded by a fortified wall with loopholes overlooking Lake Moat, and behind its stern and austere façade hides an incredibly beautiful complex of palaces, halls, pavilions, gardens and temples.

Climbing on an elephant to the main gate will give an unforgettable experience of Maharaja. (If it is not possible to climb on an elephant, guests will be taken to the top in jeeps).

Walk through the palace complex. The halls that open to the eye are an example oriental luxury. Numerous rooms are decorated with paintings inlaid with precious stones and mirrors, depicting scenes of war and hunting. The most impressive is perhaps the Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors), in which the light from a single lamp is reflected in many mirrors, illuminating the entire room.

On the way back from Amber Fort, stop for lunch. Before lunch, group members will learn all the intricacies of dressing in Indian national clothes - ladies will be able to try on a sari and paint their hands with henna (mehendi), and men will learn how to wrap a turban around their heads at speed.

Next stop for photography at Hawa Mahal(Palace of the Winds).
The façade, made of pink sandstone, is covered with intricate carvings and pierced by numerous tiny window openings, which allowed the harem chambers to be ventilated on hot days and allowed women to watch what was happening outside.

Next stop for photography at Jal Mahal(Palace on the Water) and near the city Albert Hall Museum. The museum building is made in Indo-Saracenic style architectural style, and is decorated with light towers that seem like sails filled with wind.

Later in the day visit City Palace, part of which is open to the public as a museum, and the other part is still occupied by the royal family. The museum stores large collection rare manuscripts, military equipment, costumes, carpets and miniatures.

Then visit Jantar Mantar(Royal Observatory) - the most famous of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh in India. Jai Sing was a great admirer of progress and achieved great success in the study of science and technology, but his passion was astronomy. An opportunity to get up close and personal with giant astronomical instruments at the open-air observatory.

Jaipur is famous for its large selection of beautiful and affordable handcrafted jewelery made from precious and semi-precious stones. Return to the hotel, dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5, Wednesday. Jaipur – Abhaneri – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra
240 km / 6 hours
08.00 am: After breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to Agra.

Along the way, stop at Abhaneri village, home to one of the oldest stepwells in India. This square structure of incredible beauty and harmony is 13 floors in
depth. The large mouth of the well served as a funnel for collecting drinking water, which flowed freely along a geometrically complex system of steps and ladders covering all three sides of the well.

Next on the way is a visit to the abandoned city. Built from pink sandstone by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar, the city served as the capital of the Mughal Empire in the late 16th century. Soon after all the wells dried up, the city was abandoned by the emperor and was deserted forever. Despite the fact that more than 300 years have passed, the city is perfectly preserved to this day. The buildings of Fatehpur Sikri are the result of a synthesis of various architectural schools, since craftsmen from different regions India. The city was larger than London in size at the time of its construction, mosques and palaces adorned it. The city with a perfectly preserved historical heritage has something to amaze tourists.
After sightseeing at Fatehpur Sikri, transfer to Agra. Upon arrival, visit the Itmad-ud-Daula mausoleum, which was erected by order of Empress Nur Jahan in memory of her father. The construction of this mausoleum preceded the construction of the Taj Mahal by several years, and it is rightly considered the harbinger of the Taj Mahal and is called the Small Taj.

Check-in at the hotel, dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6, Thursday. Agra – Vrindavan – Delhi
205 km / 4 hours
08.00 am, after breakfast, visit the enchanting Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays). A short ride on an electric rickshaw.

Taj Mahal- the pearl of Muslim art and architecture of India, attracts tourists from all over the world. Its construction took 22 years, and 20 thousand craftsmen were invited from all over the empire. A thousand elephants transported white marble 300 km for its construction. Erected into a sign great love Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to his wife Mumtaz Mahal in the mid-17th century, the Taj Mahal is truly one of the wonders of the world. Lined with translucent marble, the Taj is beautiful from any angle, and upon closer inspection, the inlay with gems is simply amazing. The longer you contemplate it, the more it captivates you. Its sheer beauty is unparalleled.

The tour will continue to Agra Forte- a fortification that served as the residence of rulers during the era of the Mughal Empire. The walls and gates of Agra Fort, as well as the first settlements, were built by order of Akbar the Great on east coast Yamuna River. Akbar's successors - first of all, Shah Jahan strengthened and expanded the fort and built a mosque, and Aurangzeb surrounded it with ramparts. Visit to the reception hall and royal pavilions.

Then move to Delhi and on the way visit Emperor Akbar's tomb, which is located in the small settlement of Sikandra, in the suburbs of Agra and is a true masterpiece of Muslim architecture.

Next on the way visit to Vrindavan, or the city of 5000 temples, which is a holy place of pilgrimage for followers of Vaishnavism. In ancient times, on the site of modern Vrindavan, there was a forest in which, according to legends about Krishna, 5000 years ago the god Vishnu, during his earthly incarnation in the form of Krishna, held his divine games.

Visit Krishna-Balarama Temple, built in 1975 by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) This is one of the most beautiful temples in Vrindavan. Next to the temple is the samadhi (tomb) of ISKCON founder Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, built of pure white marble.

21:00-21:30 – Upon arrival in Delhi, transfer to international Airport Delhi and flight home.

* During the period December - January, arrival in Delhi is at 22:30-23:00.
** If clients wish to travel to Goa or Kerala after the Golden Triangle, they must book an additional night in Delhi and fly the next day.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION IS NOT AVAILABLE IN DELHI FOR THIS NIGHT!

Tour cost per 1 person.

Prices for May-September 2019

Accommodation for children under 5 years old without additional charges. beds - free.

Due to exchange rate fluctuations, the cost is indicated in USD. (U.S. dollar).
Payment in rubles according to *.

* The cost is valid when paid in cash at the office or by transfer to the company account.
Upon payment by bank card In the office through the terminal, a commission is added to the cost.

The tour price includes:

• Transfer airport – hotel – airport in Delhi;
• Accommodation in hotels according to the program in standard double rooms (5 nights);
• Meals - half board in hotels (breakfast and dinner);
• All transfers according to the program are in comfortable vehicles with air conditioning;
• Elephant ride to Amber Fort in Jaipur (can be replaced by a jeep ride);
• One lunch in Jaipur with entertainment;
• The tour of Akshardham only includes a tour of the temple;
• Services of a Russian-speaking guide;
• Assistance from an English-speaking company representative at the airport on the day of arrival and departure;
• Standard tea and coffee at breakfast;
• Medical insurance;
• Book as a gift.

The price does not include:

• Air flight Moscow – Delhi – Moscow;
• (4500 rub.);
• Entrance tickets to the monuments are paid locally (from 95 USD per person);
• Permission for video and photography, where necessary;
• Additional night in Delhi;
• Any drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) including tea, coffee, water at dinners;
• Porter services at the airport. and hotels, tips for guides, drivers, etc. expenses not included in the cost of the program;
• Personal expenses and expenses not specified in the program.

Hotels

Important:
If it is not possible to confirm the indicated or similar hotels, an alternative or other hotels of a higher or lower category will be booked at an additional cost with additional charges. fee or with a reduction in cost.

Information

1. Check-in/check-out time is 14:00 / 12:00.

2. In hotels, restaurants can only offer filtered water from a jug for free; bottled water at breakfast/dinner or lunch in hotels is always paid extra.

3. The start time of excursions and the sequence of sightseeing indicated in the program may be changed depending on weather conditions.

4. The tour of Akshardham only includes a tour of the temple. Fountain shows, boat rides, movies, robot gods are not included and cannot be included in the program even for an additional fee due to lack of time.

5. The Diwali holiday falls on the 07.11 arrival - depending on the traffic situation, sightseeing in Agra may be partially postponed to the next day, and the departure time from the hotel on the 3rd day will be changed to earlier.

6. The Holi holiday falls on March 16 (March 21) - the sequence of sightseeing and the time of departure from the hotel in Agra may be changed depending on the traffic situation. The program for arrival on March 16 will not include a visit to Vrindavan! If you would like to take part in the Holi celebration, we offer you a tour

7. From December 15 to January 15, there is heavy fog in Northern India. Sometimes the fogs are so thick that visibility is no more than 1-2 meters. Due to poor visibility, flight delays may occur, and trains may be canceled or severely delayed (sometimes over 6 hours).

Please take this weather factor into account when booking local and international flights during this period - connections between flights must be with a temporary reserve in order to catch your flight. international flight in case of delay domestic flight.

8. If the program includes a train ride, during the period from December 15 to January 15 it is strongly recommended to add one free day at the end of the program / book an additional night before international departure from the country, so that if the train is very late, guests will catch their international flight.
The company is not responsible for delays or cancellations of flights or trains due to fog in winter time. If a flight or train is canceled or delayed for many hours due to fog, there may be a situation where you will have to make changes to the route at the very last moment or directly on the day of travel.

9. Any changes to the program and additional costs caused by cancellation or delay of flights or trains at the last minute, including due to weather conditions, are beyond our control and must be settled directly on the spot. In case of necessary changes to the program, guests will be offered the most economical possible options for approval, however, all costs associated with this and additional mileage vehicle, must be paid by the guests.

The excursion program of the Golden Triangle covers the most famous and most interesting cities central India. This route is Delhi - Jaipur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra - Mathura - Vrindavan. The “vertices” of the triangle are Delhi, Jaipur and Agra.

What to see

You probably won’t find a more eventful excursion program than the Golden Triangle. Cities such as Agra, Jaipur, Delhi are the main tourist centers of India and contain many most interesting places, historical monuments and architectural masterpieces from the Mughal dynasty.

Jaipur

Jaipur can rightfully be called the most vibrant city.

Quite small in size, the city was built according to all the canons of ancient Indian architecture: it has a rectangular layout with narrow picturesque streets filled with people, shops and benches, surrounded by a fortress wall that protected the city from raids and wild animals.

Most of the city's historical monuments are built of pink sandstone, symbolizing hospitality. The most colorful attractions of Jaipur can be considered the Palace of the Winds and the City Palace Complex. The Palace of the Winds is truly a fabulous place, built specifically for the sheikh’s harem in the form of a honeycomb. This layout was specially thought out by the architects so that beautiful residents could observe the life of the city without fear of being seen.

The city palace complex is no less interesting. You will have to spend almost the whole day examining it. The palace itself consists of many most interesting museums where they are exhibited musical instruments, clothing and textile samples, collections of ceremonial weapons, ancient manuscripts, miniature copies of famous Indian monuments.

The city celebrates the grand festival of Diwali or the festival of lights in early November, dedicated to the goddess of love and prosperity Lakshmi, when candles are lit throughout the city, houses are decorated with lights, and the sky is illuminated by extraordinary fireworks.

In summer you can visit here for the Teej holidays, which takes place on the third day of the new moon. It is quite an interesting sight to see the city's swings being decorated with flowers and leaves to celebrate the beginning of the rainy season. For reptile lovers, the Nagpanchmi holiday will be extremely interesting, because it is on this day that this sacred animal is praised. People bring milk to snake holes, and snake charmers show their skills everywhere.

Delhi

Next point excursion tour will become Delhi, where you will be able to explore not only the sights of the Old City, but also fully enjoy the masterpieces of British-Indian architecture of the New. First of all, tourists will be offered to explore the huge Jama Masjid mosque. This beautiful building made of red sandstone and white marble is an excellent example of ancient Indian architecture. Here you can wash your hands in the pool or climb the southern minaret, from where a magical panorama of the Old City opens.

Next is Red Fort, built in 1648. You enter the territory through the Lahore Gate and immediately find yourself in one of the first covered markets, Chatta Chowk. To this day, the incomparable atmosphere of India, as it was hundreds of years ago, has been preserved here. On the shelves you can find the most unimaginable goods, buy jewelry and souvenirs, scented candles, oils, fabrics and clothes.

Don't stay long at the market; go to the Fort Museum, where household items and musical instruments are on display.

In the northern part of New Delhi is Connaught Square - a business and tourist centre New city. Here are the best shops and restaurants of the city, from here the road begins to the Gateway of India, where the fire Eternal flame Military parades are held in memory of the fallen soldiers of the Second World War. No less interesting will be a visit to the Hindu temple Lakshmi Narayan, named after the goddess of abundance and wealth Lakshmi. The walls of the temple are decorated with carvings and images from Hindu mythology.

Agra

Another pearl of the Golden Triangle excursion tour is fairytale city Agra. It is famous, of course, for one of the seven wonders of the world - the Taj Mahal. Among the cypress trees on the bank of the river, the immortal monument of love, built under Shah Jahan in honor of his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal, is located majestically. The unusual tomb still delights the eye with its exquisite beauty. Made of white marble, the mausoleum is completed by a double dome of perfect shape and four minarets. The empress's tomb is built of marble, inlaid with precious stones, and decorated with ornaments made of black marble.

Taj Mahal and Agra Fort

Another equally interesting attraction of the city is the Agra Fort, made of red sandstone. The complex has preserved terraces, halls, gardens and the beautiful marble mosque Moti Masjid behind its ten-meter walls. Here it is also worth visiting the halls of public and private audiences, the Vine Garden and the Palace of Mirrors. The Tomb of Itemad-ud-Daula is the heart of the Persian Park and one of the most elegant attractions of the city. Empress Norjahan built it for her parents. The small-sized tomb is rightfully considered the Small Taj, impressing tourists with its white and black marble decoration, openwork panels decorated with precious stones and extraordinary mosaics.

If you are accustomed to surprises and contrasts, are ready for adventure and are not afraid of a kaleidoscope of impressions - India is created for you. First, get to know the so-called “golden triangle of India”: Delhi – Agra – Jaipur, architectural and cultural pearls. Don’t be afraid of negative reviews and horror stories about India – not everyone can immerse themselves in its atmosphere. But if you succeed, in the cold snowy winter you will remember with pleasure the wonderful Indian sunrises and sunsets, the pink walls and spicy wind of Jaipur, the hubbub, bustle and dirt of the streets of Delhi, the architectural treasures of Agra.

Delhi

When traveling through the Golden Triangle of India along the route Delhi - Agra - Jaipur, you will certainly start from Delhi. Firstly, there is a large international airport here, and secondly, it is convenient to get from Delhi to any point in northern India - there is a large transport interchange.

The chaos of Delhi's streets is overwhelming at first. When you leave the airport, don’t expect a relaxing ride to your hotel: traveling by local transport through the city streets is akin to a bucket-load of experience. cold water. Crowds of people, chaotic traffic, garbage, dirt on the streets, cows in the most unexpected places. At this moment you just need to relax, breathe in the spicy air of Delhi and immerse yourself in its atmosphere.

After some time, the eye will begin to highlight the bright saris on women, the beauty and friendliness of their faces, the exotic, in the form of snake charmers on the streets, unfamiliar fruits, flowers and plants. And after visiting the architectural sights, you will completely forget about the contrasts of the Indian capital.

Chandni Chowk

Akshardham Temple

The largest Hindu temple complex in the world. The millennia-old traditions of Hindu culture are reflected in the architectural splendor and mixture of styles from different regions of India. The temple area is surrounded by well-kept parks with water canals along which you can ride a boat while listening to a guide.

Akshardham Temple

Lotus Temple

It is impossible not to visit the modern architectural masterpiece, created in the shape of a flower. Its shape makes a special impression in the evenings, when the Temple is brightly lit. The Lotus Temple was created as a unifying place of prayer and meditation for people of all religions. The creators managed to make the house of worship the most visited in the world, surpassing the Taj Mahal and the Eiffel Tower.

Chandni Chowk

One of the oldest and most famous markets in Asia. Here you will be fully immersed in the flavor of India. You will not see such a variety of unprecedented spices, exotic fruits, fabrics, carpets, jewelry and other things anywhere else. Chandni Chowk will deafen you with the shouts of traders, swirl you in a whirlpool of colors and smells, abundance and flavor. Bargaining is a must, this is the way of Chandni Chowk.

According to reviews, it is best to visit India in December-November .

Useful advice for tourists: from October to March the most comfortable period for Europeans begins in India, the temperature does not rise too high, no more than + 29, it’s time to visit the “golden triangle”.

Agra

Agra in ancient literature is described as a guiding star, a miracle of the era, cultural and shopping mall. And this is true: having been the capital during the Mughal era, Agra remains an architectural treasure of India to this day.

Taj Mahal

The seventh wonder of the world. When you look at the Taj Mahal in a tourist brochure, it seems - so what? To feel its greatness, you need to look at it while standing next to it. The tomb amazes with its lightness, airiness, beauty and grandeur. A fabulous white palace against the backdrop of a blue sky - you will dream about this fairy tale many years later. A tour of India's Golden Triangle is unthinkable without a visit to the Taj Mahal.

Agra Fort

The Red Fort or Agra Fort is a complex built in 1565 by Akbar the Great, a Mughal emperor. He and his descendants ruled India from here. On the territory of the complex there are mosques, palaces and reception halls, observation towers. The architecture of the fort is an organic mixture of styles, and the fort itself can be described as a luxurious palace-fortress city.

Fatehpur Sikri

Another palace complex near Agra, built by Emperor Akbar. The complex was designed and built in a mixed style: Hindu, Persian and Iranian traditions give the buildings a unique flavor and beauty.

Jaipur

A must-visit destination in India's golden triangle is Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. This is the most rapidly developing city in the world. It was built according to ancient Indian architectural canons and has a surprisingly clear layout of the old part of the city.

Jaipur is considered a craft center: here you can visit workshops making handmade carpets, silk fabrics, cashmere, see the secrets of gem cutting and buy amazingly beautiful silver jewelry.

Jantar Mantar

One of the most famous observatories was built at the beginning of the 16th century. The observatory houses architectural instruments intended for astronomical research. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Palaces of Jaipur

Hawa Mahal - luxurious palace on the territory of the city. Its architecture is an organic combination of many semicircular turrets and balconies with windows. The City Palace is a whole complex of temples, palaces, parks and fountains. Water Palace floating above the water of Lake Man Sarobar.

Hawa Mahal Palace

Forts

Amber Fort is a luxurious palace complex above the river, 11 km from Jaipur. Jaigarh Fort was built as a defensive fortress next to the palace.

In March, an elephant festival is held in Jaipur - a very colorful and impressive spectacle.

Jantar Mantar Observatory

Some tips for travelers planning to visit India:

After visiting a tour of the Golden Triangle, people do not remain indifferent: some remember with horror the colorful slums, poverty and dirt. And someone dreams of returning to once again touch the amazing culture of the country and admire its beauty.

Every country has a number of amazing places, where tourists tend to go first. In Russia there is a route " Golden ring", and in India - the "Golden Triangle". The excursion program is so rich that sometimes it is difficult to immediately perceive the grandeur and beauty of temples, palaces, forts and mausoleums. Ancient country At every step it amazes with the abundance of historical and architectural monuments.

Cradle of ancient culture

The history of the country goes back several thousand years; it is impossible to cover all the sights in one trip. But it's worth trying to visit the most famous cities, immerse yourself in an atmosphere of contemplation and quiet admiration. 1 - 3 days are allotted for visiting one city, depending on the duration of the tour, so it is worth identifying the main points to visit or following the recommendations of the tour operator.

Delhi

India's Golden Triangle usually starts from the capital of the country. The metropolis, home to more than 10 million people, offers tourists to visit 6,000 attractions located in the city and its surroundings. It’s definitely worth looking at the most famous of them.

• Lotus Temple, symbolizing unity with higher powers. Its difference is in absolutely empty space, which does not distract from unity with God.
• Akshardham spread over an area of ​​12 hectares. The complex includes parks with many sculptural compositions, cinema, gift shop. The building is topped with 9 domes and covered with intricate carvings, giving the pink marble walls an unearthly lightness.
• Presidential palace is a current residence. There is a charming rose garden nearby.

You can feel the atmosphere of ancient India at the Chatta Chowk market, walking through the shopping arcades and purchasing amazing souvenirs full of hidden sacred meaning.

Jaipur

It will be remembered by travelers for a long time because of the special shade of the buildings, which is why the city is called “pink.” Its distinctive feature was the huge number of palaces.

• City Palace It is considered the largest building in the city.
• Hawa Mahal Because of its unique layout, it acquired the name “Palace of the Winds”. It's always cool there; there are small drafts moving through the suites of halls, creating freshness in any heat.
• Jal Mahal located in the middle of the lake. When looking at it, the analogy of a luxury ocean liner comes to mind.

It is worth taking a short look at the ancient observatory, Amber Fort and admiring the skill of the architects in constructing various temple complexes.

Agra

The city is famous for one of the wonders of the world. This is the famous Taj Mahal, built as a mausoleum for the beloved wife of the padishah. It impresses with its size and perfect proportions. The lake of tears leading to the foot of the mausoleum forever captured the ruler’s grief at the loss of his beloved woman. Amazing stories are also connected with other attractions of the city.

• Red Fort was not only a fortress, but also the residence of the rulers of the country.
• Pearl Mosque surprises with its snow-white domes and the harmony of the building itself.
• Tomb of Itemad-ud-Daula known as a smaller version of the Taj Mahal and unique in its own way.