We've completed the sixth stop on our Seven Wonders World Tour...the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. Our 3 week itinerary included stops in Delhi, Varanasi, Khajuraho, Orchha, Jhansi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mumbai and a final 4 days on the beaches of Goa.
I've left the blog entries up in hope that they can serve as some sort of inspiration for you. India is truly a country that MUST be experienced and we'd return there in a hearbeat!
We have arrived! Our first entry after a LOOOOONG flight to New Delhi and a little jet lagged. Day one recovery and try to get the hang of the way things work here...Gateway of India, Parliament buildings, major league shopping and a wild trip around town with our new found friend Fareed, the tuk-tuk driver. Had lunch at his home with his family today (after a trip to the Qutb Minar muslim complex)....one of the most entertaining and eye popping experiences through the back alleys of Old Delhi!!! Definately NOT on the usual tour itinerary...unforgettable! Watch for updates from Varanasi in the next few days...Namaste!
Nov. 17, 2011...2 days from the banks of the holy river Ganges in Varanasi (holy man! amazing sunrise and sunset boat tours & a visit to a local boatman's house...once again an astounding look into the everyday lives of the locals) and then a flight to Khajuraho to visit the erotic temples(warning: parental advisory) and a welcome break from the crowds!
Check back in the next few days for pics from the Taj Mahal in Agra!!
Nov. 20, 2011...Overland by taxi from Khajuraho to Orchha (Nov. 18) on one of the WORST stretches of road imaginable and the first glitch in the itinerary...arrived at the hotel to find NO booking for us? No problem though! Orchha, a beautiful little town full of temples, forts and a new found friend, Ravi, whose INCREDIBLE hospitality made this a memorable stay!
Nov. 21, 2011...Train to Agra and the reason for our trip to India, a visit to one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal!! Free entry on the day we arrived (some kinda local holiday) and it appeared that most of the population of India was visiting the Taj that day...still a jaw dropping experience despite the crowds!
Check back in a few days for more Taj pics (we seem to have taken quite a few) and we'll have updates from the pink city of Jaipur and the lake city of Udaipur!
Nov. 25, 2011...Jaipur and Udaipur (Nov. 21 - 25) Jaipur is go go go...After a day of palaces, temples, forts, elephant rides and power shopping, thank god for our palatial interim residence (which was an AMAZING hotel). And then Udaipur is really laid back and it's all about the lake views (local claim to fame: James Bond's Octopussy was filmed at the Lake Palace) Looking forward to a coupla days in Mumbai and then finish it off with 3 days in Goa.
Nov. 30, 2011 A few final pics from Mumbai and Goa before our tortuous 27 hour trip home. Arrived Mumbai on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks at the Taj Palace hotel, Gateway of India and area...memorials and security on high alert!
Decompressing in Goa...just what we needed after the hectic pace we had set up for ourselves. Nice to kick back and reflect on the overwhelming experiences of the past three weeks. Fresh lobster dinner on the beach while we watched the sun set over the Arabian Sea...priceless!
