MATURE TRAVELLER
  • Home
    • CRUISING >
      • Coral Expeditions
      • Majestic Princess >
        • Princess Explorer >
          • Volendam
          • Holland America Orient >
            • Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam >
              • Lake Geneva Restoration
            • Royal Caribbean Icon
            • Hurtigren
          • Paul Gauguin Cruises Tahitian Dreaming
          • Blue Lagoon Cruises
          • Sunborn Yacht Hotel
          • Captain Cook Cruises Fiji
          • CroisiEurope >
            • CroisiEurope Danube
          • Ponant Adventures in Style
          • SeaDream Visits Elba
          • Azamara Onward >
            • Azamara Pacific
          • SeaDream Memories
          • CroisiEurope
          • CroisiEurope Loire Valley
          • CroisiEurope Rhine River >
            • Turn in those trinkers >
              • Oceania Cruises
              • Silja Line
            • Rhine Part 2
          • Silversea's Wild NZ
          • The Rhine
          • Riverboats
          • Rhine Part 3
          • Riverboat Cuisine
          • Mekong Riverboat
          • Lake Geneva
        • Diamond Princess
        • Multigenerational Cruising
        • Cunard Queens
        • Norwegian Cruise Lines >
          • MSC Bellissima >
            • Luxury Boating
            • Cruise Relaunch plans >
              • Samoa Shells
              • Canadian Rail
              • Portugal Rail
              • Canada Rail
              • Ascott The Residence
              • Whitsundays Photo Essay
              • Hotel Kurrajong
              • Croisieurope paddlewheeler
              • Silversea NZ part 2
            • MSC Opera
        • SeaDream A Seven-Day Dream >
          • PNG with P&O
          • Celebrity Galapagos Cruise >
            • Celebrity Beyond
            • Celestial Eclipse. Baltic
            • Wonder of the Seas
            • Voyager of the Seas
            • MSC Seaside >
              • MSC Grandiosa >
                • HAL Rotterdam >
                  • Citadines Sydney Airport
                  • Captain Cook Fiji
                  • Luxury Whitsundays
                  • Holland America Koningsdam
              • Sponsors >
                • Destinations - Overseas >
                  • Patagonia
                  • Ireland
                  • African Elephants
                  • Guernsey
                  • Salzburg
                  • Austria's Silent Night
                  • Ethiopia
                  • Yorkshire
                  • Bryce Canyon
                  • Macao
                  • Dubai Taj
                  • Return to Sri Lanka
                  • The Copper Coast
                  • Nepal
                  • The Balkans Tour
                  • Disney Star Wars
                  • Indian Motorbike
                  • The Falkland Islands
                  • Rajasthan
                  • Marrakech
                  • Europe
                  • Ganges Odyssey
                  • Hokkaido
                  • Würzburg
                  • Samoa
                  • Tripura India
                  • Hong Kong Park Lane
                  • A Day in Hong Kong
                  • Zagreb Croatia
                  • Paris Hotels
                  • Majorca Hotel
                  • Dubai Hotel
                  • Croatia
                  • Flanders >
                    • New Zealand
                    • Switzerland
                  • Wales
                  • The Sahara
                  • Rabat, Morocco
                  • Ireland's Movies
                  • Morocco Adventure
                  • Milwaukee
                  • Hong Kong Peak Tram
                  • India's Golden Triangle
                  • Peru's Colca Valley
                  • Destination Africa
                  • Samoa Paradise
                  • Italy's Amalfi Coast
                  • Sri Lanka Eco Lodge
                  • Cuba Cars
                  • Caribbean Airport
                  • Jasper Canada
                  • Kuala Lumpur
                  • Antarctica
                  • Cuba Revolution
                  • The Netherlands
                  • British Columbia Bears
                  • North to Alaska
                  • Winnipeg Canada >
                    • Finland 'Escape'
                  • Thailand
                  • Germany
                  • Finland
                  • Malaysia Medical
                  • Stockholm >
                    • CroisiEurope Canary
                  • The Havannah Vanuatu
                  • Deadwood, USA
                  • Helsinki cool
                  • French Village
                  • Vietnam
                  • UK Film Locations
                  • Cumbria England
                  • Doha Qatar
                  • Archives >
                    • Blue Lagoon Photos >
                      • Paul Gauguin Photos
                      • Cook Islands Photos
                      • SAMOA PHOTO JOURNEY
                      • Lonely Planet Dark Skies
                    • TECHNOLOGY >
                      • The New Paklite Collection
                      • Travel Books >
                        • Latest Lonely Planet Kids
                        • Lonely Planet Kids’ Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts
                        • Lonely Planet Kids Stickers
                        • Lonely Planet Kids cardboard
                        • Lonely Planet Atlas
                        • Lonely Planet Dinosaurs
                        • Hardie Grant Books
                        • New Holland Publishers
                        • The Pacific In the Wake of Captain Cook
                        • Endeavour
                        • Political Correctness
                        • Lonely Planet Wellness
                        • Child of Africa
                        • Where the Murray River Runs
                        • Lonely Planet’s Cruise Ports >
                          • Air Asia
                        • Lonely Planent Cuisines
                        • Lonely Planet Earth
                        • Lonely Planet animal
                        • Stealth Raiders Book
                        • GOLF RESORTS BOOK
                        • Lonely Planet Kids
                        • Roped In from Hardie Grant
                        • Hawaiian Airlines
                        • The Steamboats of Lake Geneva
                      • Editorial Plan
                    • Contact
                    • Advertise
                  • Hong Kong
                  • Costa Rica Lindblad
                  • Ottawa
                  • Tokyo Disney Park >
                    • Tokyo Disney Sea Music
                    • CHINA >
                      • China Shore Tour
                    • FASHIONS $ GEAR >
                      • GROUP TOURS >
                        • Fiji with Peter C >
                          • UK & IRELAND >
                            • Singles Travel
                          • Grey Nomad Awards
                        • Holland America Home
                        • Princess Cruises
                    • AIRLINES
                    • Tokyo DisneySea Dining
      • Royal Caribbean >
        • European Waterways >
          • Byron Bay
      • MSC CRUISES
      • CROISIEUROPE
      • Lonely Planet Books
      • CAMERAS
      • TRAVEL FINANCE
      • DISABILITY TRAVEL
      • Hawaii with Dal >
        • Royal Caribbean restarts
        • Cruise lines return
      • Kimberley Quest
      • Las Vegas
  • Magazine
  • Fiji with John
  • Media Kit
  • Italy
  • Rottnest quokkas
  • Coral Princess
  • P&O Brisbane
  • NZ OPENS
        The splendour and variety of India’s Golden Triangle
Len Rutledge: “I am sitting in front of the Taj Mahal absorbing the magic of the world’s most beautiful building. India’s crowds, chaos and poverty are temporarily relegated to the back of my mind as I let this piece of paradise into my soul”. 
​

India is a country of enormous contrasts where poverty sits beside wealth, beauty intermingles with filth, and structure and chaos compete for supremacy. It will dazzle all your senses and cause you heart-ache at the same time.
It can be challenging and charming, overwhelming and stunningly beautiful. The eager friendliness of the people is endearing, and the food is unforgettable but there is likely to be unexpected glitches no matter how much you plan.
India is a large country and the one with the second largest population in the world. It really is many countries all rolled into one. If you lay a map of India over a map of Europe you will see that it covers the area from Scandinavia to North Africa and from Spain to Russia. It is one of the world’s oldest living civilizations yet the present nation-state is just over 70 years old.
Just like Australia, it is difficult to see the whole country in one visit. That is why my wife and I restricted ourselves to a part of north-west India, known better as the Extended Golden Triangle, on our recent visit. There were many highlights.
Delhi, India’s capital, is dotted with mosques, forts, and monuments left over from the Mughal rulers that once occupied the city but there are also some more modern temples and other buildings. The contrast between rambling Old Delhi and well planned New Delhi is immense, and it's interesting to spend time exploring both.
Udaipur, in Rajasthan, is sometimes called the most romantic city in India because of its famed lakes and palaces. The City Palace complex, the architecturally splendid Bagore Ki Haveli, and Lake Pichola with its beautiful Lake Palace Hotel are just some of the ‘must-see’ sights. We loved it.
Jodhpur is famous for its blue buildings and for the unusual pants worn by a polo team when visiting England in 1897. The impregnable Mehrangarh Fort, which rises above the city, is one of the largest forts in India.
Also here is the magnificent Umaid Bhawan Palace, one of the last great palaces to be built in India. The royal family of Jodhpur still occupies a section of it but most has been converted into a luxury hotel. Nearby Mandore was the capital of the Marwar region before Jodhpur was founded.
Pushkar is a sleepy little holy town that attracts a lot of backpackers and hippie types and is one of the most visited pilgrimage places in India. Surrounding by hills on three sides, Pushkar abounds in temples and is centred on the lake which has mythological importance.
Pushkar Camel Fair, Rajasthan’s most famous festival, is held here late October or early November depending on the moon and it attracts 200,000 visitors from around the world.
India's desert capital of Jaipur, known as the Pink City because of the pink walls and buildings of the old city, lures visitors with its stunning ancient palaces and forts. It is an excellent place to shop for gemstones, silver jewellery, bangles, clothes, blue pottery, and textiles.
Nearby Amber Fort is set on a hill top overlooking Maota Lake and it is accessed on the back of elephants. It was the original home of Rajput royalty until Jaipur city was constructed and it is now a much-enjoyed attraction.
There are quite a few worthwhile places to visit in Agra and around, apart from India's most famous monument -- the Tāj Mahal. The many interesting remnants of the Mughal era will surprise you and the crazy, congested bazaars of the Old City will fascinate you.
Don’t miss a visit to majestic Agra Fort, Mehtab Bagh known as the Moonlight Garden, and the tomb of Itimād-ud-Daula or ‘Little Tāj’.
Indian food is widely perceived as being predominantly vegetarian but in fact less than half of the Indian population is vegetarian. In the past, the abstinence from meat eating has often been an economic consideration because many people could not afford meat.
As India improves economically, the consumption of meat is increasing and the variety of cuisines available to the visitor has sky-rocketed. We were delighted with much of the local food and with the people who cooked and served it.
The Golden Triangle region has accommodation costing from $18,000 (no this is not a misprint) to $2 per night. Naturally the quality and experience varies widely. We generally used economical 3-star accommodation and were happy wherever we went.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
India has some of the best and most expensive hotel rooms in the world and the facilities and service are virtually unmatched anywhere. On a couple of nights we lived like royalty at reasonable cost in restored palaces that are now hotels. That experience will long be remembered.
Words: Len Rutledge    Pictures: Phensri Rutledge
www.LenRutledge.com
​
Len is the author of Experience India’s Golden Triangle 2018 available as an ebook or paperback from  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B078H9VPJB
Feature supplied by: www.wtfmedia.com.au
Images
  1. Agra Taj Mahal
  2. Jaipur Hawa Mahal
  3. New Delhi Qutb Minar
  4. Puskar
  5. Udipur Lake and City
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
    • CRUISING >
      • Coral Expeditions
      • Majestic Princess >
        • Princess Explorer >
          • Volendam
          • Holland America Orient >
            • Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam >
              • Lake Geneva Restoration
            • Royal Caribbean Icon
            • Hurtigren
          • Paul Gauguin Cruises Tahitian Dreaming
          • Blue Lagoon Cruises
          • Sunborn Yacht Hotel
          • Captain Cook Cruises Fiji
          • CroisiEurope >
            • CroisiEurope Danube
          • Ponant Adventures in Style
          • SeaDream Visits Elba
          • Azamara Onward >
            • Azamara Pacific
          • SeaDream Memories
          • CroisiEurope
          • CroisiEurope Loire Valley
          • CroisiEurope Rhine River >
            • Turn in those trinkers >
              • Oceania Cruises
              • Silja Line
            • Rhine Part 2
          • Silversea's Wild NZ
          • The Rhine
          • Riverboats
          • Rhine Part 3
          • Riverboat Cuisine
          • Mekong Riverboat
          • Lake Geneva
        • Diamond Princess
        • Multigenerational Cruising
        • Cunard Queens
        • Norwegian Cruise Lines >
          • MSC Bellissima >
            • Luxury Boating
            • Cruise Relaunch plans >
              • Samoa Shells
              • Canadian Rail
              • Portugal Rail
              • Canada Rail
              • Ascott The Residence
              • Whitsundays Photo Essay
              • Hotel Kurrajong
              • Croisieurope paddlewheeler
              • Silversea NZ part 2
            • MSC Opera
        • SeaDream A Seven-Day Dream >
          • PNG with P&O
          • Celebrity Galapagos Cruise >
            • Celebrity Beyond
            • Celestial Eclipse. Baltic
            • Wonder of the Seas
            • Voyager of the Seas
            • MSC Seaside >
              • MSC Grandiosa >
                • HAL Rotterdam >
                  • Citadines Sydney Airport
                  • Captain Cook Fiji
                  • Luxury Whitsundays
                  • Holland America Koningsdam
              • Sponsors >
                • Destinations - Overseas >
                  • Patagonia
                  • Ireland
                  • African Elephants
                  • Guernsey
                  • Salzburg
                  • Austria's Silent Night
                  • Ethiopia
                  • Yorkshire
                  • Bryce Canyon
                  • Macao
                  • Dubai Taj
                  • Return to Sri Lanka
                  • The Copper Coast
                  • Nepal
                  • The Balkans Tour
                  • Disney Star Wars
                  • Indian Motorbike
                  • The Falkland Islands
                  • Rajasthan
                  • Marrakech
                  • Europe
                  • Ganges Odyssey
                  • Hokkaido
                  • Würzburg
                  • Samoa
                  • Tripura India
                  • Hong Kong Park Lane
                  • A Day in Hong Kong
                  • Zagreb Croatia
                  • Paris Hotels
                  • Majorca Hotel
                  • Dubai Hotel
                  • Croatia
                  • Flanders >
                    • New Zealand
                    • Switzerland
                  • Wales
                  • The Sahara
                  • Rabat, Morocco
                  • Ireland's Movies
                  • Morocco Adventure
                  • Milwaukee
                  • Hong Kong Peak Tram
                  • India's Golden Triangle
                  • Peru's Colca Valley
                  • Destination Africa
                  • Samoa Paradise
                  • Italy's Amalfi Coast
                  • Sri Lanka Eco Lodge
                  • Cuba Cars
                  • Caribbean Airport
                  • Jasper Canada
                  • Kuala Lumpur
                  • Antarctica
                  • Cuba Revolution
                  • The Netherlands
                  • British Columbia Bears
                  • North to Alaska
                  • Winnipeg Canada >
                    • Finland 'Escape'
                  • Thailand
                  • Germany
                  • Finland
                  • Malaysia Medical
                  • Stockholm >
                    • CroisiEurope Canary
                  • The Havannah Vanuatu
                  • Deadwood, USA
                  • Helsinki cool
                  • French Village
                  • Vietnam
                  • UK Film Locations
                  • Cumbria England
                  • Doha Qatar
                  • Archives >
                    • Blue Lagoon Photos >
                      • Paul Gauguin Photos
                      • Cook Islands Photos
                      • SAMOA PHOTO JOURNEY
                      • Lonely Planet Dark Skies
                    • TECHNOLOGY >
                      • The New Paklite Collection
                      • Travel Books >
                        • Latest Lonely Planet Kids
                        • Lonely Planet Kids’ Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts
                        • Lonely Planet Kids Stickers
                        • Lonely Planet Kids cardboard
                        • Lonely Planet Atlas
                        • Lonely Planet Dinosaurs
                        • Hardie Grant Books
                        • New Holland Publishers
                        • The Pacific In the Wake of Captain Cook
                        • Endeavour
                        • Political Correctness
                        • Lonely Planet Wellness
                        • Child of Africa
                        • Where the Murray River Runs
                        • Lonely Planet’s Cruise Ports >
                          • Air Asia
                        • Lonely Planent Cuisines
                        • Lonely Planet Earth
                        • Lonely Planet animal
                        • Stealth Raiders Book
                        • GOLF RESORTS BOOK
                        • Lonely Planet Kids
                        • Roped In from Hardie Grant
                        • Hawaiian Airlines
                        • The Steamboats of Lake Geneva
                      • Editorial Plan
                    • Contact
                    • Advertise
                  • Hong Kong
                  • Costa Rica Lindblad
                  • Ottawa
                  • Tokyo Disney Park >
                    • Tokyo Disney Sea Music
                    • CHINA >
                      • China Shore Tour
                    • FASHIONS $ GEAR >
                      • GROUP TOURS >
                        • Fiji with Peter C >
                          • UK & IRELAND >
                            • Singles Travel
                          • Grey Nomad Awards
                        • Holland America Home
                        • Princess Cruises
                    • AIRLINES
                    • Tokyo DisneySea Dining
      • Royal Caribbean >
        • European Waterways >
          • Byron Bay
      • MSC CRUISES
      • CROISIEUROPE
      • Lonely Planet Books
      • CAMERAS
      • TRAVEL FINANCE
      • DISABILITY TRAVEL
      • Hawaii with Dal >
        • Royal Caribbean restarts
        • Cruise lines return
      • Kimberley Quest
      • Las Vegas
  • Magazine
  • Fiji with John
  • Media Kit
  • Italy
  • Rottnest quokkas
  • Coral Princess
  • P&O Brisbane
  • NZ OPENS