These words made me think about what I experienced in India and about how pleasant my trip was. This is how I actually decided to talk about a few useful tips that could make your trip to the Golden Triangle of India more pleasant:

1.You should choose an organized tour because this is the most comfortable and simple way to safely visit this part of India. The Golden Triangle of India includes three important cities, Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, which have a lot to offer when it comes to beautiful tourist attractions. An organized tour usually includes the most important and beautiful places which should be visited by any tourist.

As far as I’m concerned, the tour I have chosen included a very well-planned itinerary with a coach and a local guide and also very good accommodation. This is the perfect option in case you want to save a lot of time and energy and also enjoy the beauty of this part of India. Believe me, no matter how experienced you are as a driver, the traffic in India is chaotic and it’s really difficult to drive there in case you are not a local. When it comes to means of public transport, you don’t even want to imagine how they look like.

2.It is important to choose a tour with an Indian guide because as a local he is able to provide a lot of interesting information about the places you are going to visit. An Indian guide knows a lot of things about the history and the traditions of the country and he will tell you a lot of interesting stories and facts.

The local guides are able to give you very useful tips such as drinking only bottled water, brushing your teeth only with bottled water or being more careful with your personal belongings in some places. They will also give you interesting details about the cultural restrictions you should take into account as a tourist. Beware of the fact that the local guides have their own arrangements to earn money. You should not buy anything from the places they recommend, unless you want to pay almost 10 times more.

3.India is considered a shopping paradise and almost everything there is negotiable. If you drive a hard bargain you can buy quality goods at really good prices. The local bazaars or the local street markets are the perfect places where you can practice your negotiation skills. You should remember that prices are usually very high for the tourists, because tourism is considered a real source of money. It may seem exaggerated but the prices are sometimes 10 times higher than the real ones.

4.In case you decide to book your accommodation on your own, you should be very careful when you do this because not all the places in India look like in pictures. This is another strong reason I really recommend an organized tour.

As far as I’m concerned, I was very pleased with the hotels I stayed in, during my trip to India. In my opinion accommodation is an important aspect, especially since India is a sort of cultural shock for many tourists.

5.Make sure you will have enough time to explore the beauty of this part of India. You should spend at least three days in each of these three cities, in case you want to fully enjoy the beauty of the most important tourist attractions.

6.You should always take a pair of socks and a scarf with you because you will need them in almost all the holy places. You have to take off your shoes before you enter a religious edifice and it’s a little unpleasant to walk barefoot. This is why a pair of socks will solve the problem. There are also mosques or temples where you have to cover your head and a scarf will be more than perfect. Another recommendation is to avoid very short skirts or shorts.

7.You should set your expectations in a realistic way. Expect to discover a fascinating India, but at the same time a poor and depressing one. Over 80 percent of the country’s population lives in improper conditions, worrying about the food and the water for the next day. It is an indescribable feeling to see all those people living in poverty and it’s hard not to be affected by all those images.

8.Indians are very friendly, sometimes too friendly and you should not be very sociable with them, especially with the ones who try to sell you something. It might be difficult to leave without buying something because they are usually very persistent. You might end up buying unnecessary things.

9.You should pay a special attention to the monkeys which walk freely in the streets. The guide told us that they are organized in groups and they might become violent trying to defend their territory. They steal everything from bags and cameras to money or food.

10.Wash your hands as often as possible, use wipes for everything and do not eat in the streets! Excepting the tourist attractions and the public areas, India is a very dirty country and you risk contacting a disease or an infection. I also advise you to carry a mosquito spray with you because insects can be dangerous and they can also spread diseases.

Just a few of my favorite tourist attractions in India ⇓⇓⇓

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This is how I felt when I traveled to India, a country which is difficult to understand to a certain extend. I discovered a fascinating India in terms of tourist attractions, culture and traditions, but also a shocking one when it comes to living conditions. There is a very strong contrast between poverty and wealth in India. Even though the country is blessed with one of the most extravagant buildings in the world, it is also the house of so many shacks.

Considered the second most populous country in the world, India is home to more than a billion people. The sad truth behind this huge number of people is the fact that over 80 percents of them live in poverty.

Despite the fact that my experience in India was a great one, there are a few shocking aspects about this country that I would like to mention:

Even though I got to India at night when the streets were not so crowded, the first thing I noticed about this country was its chaotic traffic. A lot of vehicles, rickshaws, bicycles and scooters gave me the feeling of a continuous chaos. This chaotic image is exacerbated by the multitude of people who are all the time in the streets.

Many nice things have been written about India, but the truth is that it is a very dirty country. Despite its many nice aspects, the strong contrast between the poor and the rich areas is quite surprising. Indians know that tourism is a source of high income and this is why the tourist attractions and the public spaces are very clean.  Even so, I had the feeling that everything in India was covered by a layer of dust and dirt.

The unpleasant smells are hard to bear in India. For example the markets where you can buy street food are a challenge a few people can overcome. Indians do not respect any hygiene rule when they cook. For example I was shocked when I saw a woman kneading the dough on her legs. It goes without saying that I didn’t try street food and that I don’t recommend it.

When it comes to Indian cuisine, it is known that India is the country of spices. Even if it might seem interesting to taste different spices and flavors, Indian food is not for everybody. I must confess that after trying a few local dishes I can definitely say that I’m not a fan of Indian food. In a nutshell, Indian food was not a pleasant experience for me.

The public transport is other disappointing aspect about India. Despite being very dirty and crowded, the buses also have broken chairs and windows. They seem to fall apart. Fortunately we had a modern coach at our disposal and I had only one contact with the Indian public transport. In order to get to a fortress we had to take a special bus, which had a similar appearance with the ones used for public transport. I spent only 10 minutes on that bus and although they were mostly tourists around me, these were the longest 10 minutes of my life.

India is also a very polluted country. The air was so suffocating, that I felt there were moments when I could not breathe. During our last day in India, when we were trying to get to the airport, the city was covered by smog. A few days later we read that this was the moment when the level of pollution had reached the critical point. We felt relieved that this thing happened at the end of our trip.

Besides pollution, food and drinking water are other two major problems in India. A lot of people worry about their daily food and water. I will always keep in my mind the image of people gathered around a tanker, who were trying to fill plastic containers with drinking water. This could be a lesson for all of us who should learn to appreciate the little things in life like waking up in the morning and having running water to brush our teeth and shower.

Last but not least, the images with people who live in improper conditions are really shocking. The moment you realize how hard their life is, you start appreciating what you have even more. There were people who were simply sleeping under the open sky, surrounded by garbage and starving children who are screaming for a piece of bread.

Words are not enough to describe the negative side of India, but I’m sure that the following pictures will do a better job.

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Before my trip I had read a few articles about Agra and I found out that it was considered a very dirty city, but to be honest I didn’t expect it to be so dirty. For me it is almost unbelievable that the dirtiest city I have visited so far is the home of the imposing Taj Mahal.

Surprisingly, Agra or the Emperors’ City, as it is called, means more than this gorgeous monument. Beyond the poverty, the dirtiness and the chaos, Agra is a pleasant surprise when it comes to beautiful tourist attractions. Situated on the banks of the Yamuna River, the city of Agra shelters a few lovely places which really deserve to be visited:

1.The gorgeous Taj Mahal is definitely the most remarkable tourist attraction you can visit in Agra. This white marble monument is considered the jewel of the city and also a symbol of love. Behind its impressive architecture, the Taj Mahal hides an emotional story. It is said that Shah Jahan built this impressive monument to serve as the resting place of his beloved wife. Mumtaz Mahal died at only 38 years old, while she was giving birth to their 14^th child.

Building this monument was a difficult process, but driven by his strong love and investing a lot of time and effort, Shah Jahan managed to finish one of the most remarkable buildings in the world. The elaborate architecture of the Taj Mahal is completed by a few gardens and green areas, which seem to place this edifice in a perfect scenery. In 1666, this oasis of peace became the resting place of its creator.

2.Situated along the Yamuna River, opposite the Taj Mahal, the Mehtab Bagh or the Moonlight Garden is a great place to go for a walk and admire the Taj Mahal. The Mehtab Bagh is laid out in a perfect symmetry and alignment with the Taj Mahal and it was built as an ideal place for admiring this gorgeous monument.

Built by the Emperor Babur in the early 1500s, the garden is embellished with beautiful white walkways, large water fountains and airy pavilions filled with colorful fruit trees. According to the legend this is the place where Shah Jahan wanted to build another monument similar to the Taj Mahal, to serve as his tomb. Unfortunately, he didn’t fulfill his wish and the Mehtab Bagh remained only an ideal place to admire the beautiful Taj Mahal. It is said that during sunrise and sunset, the Taj Mahal looks at its best.

3.The Agra Fort or the Red Fort of Agra is another beautiful place you should explore during your stay in this city. The Agra Fort was built by the Mogul Emperor Akbar in the 16^th century, as a military strategic point and a royal residence. Made of red sandstone and built in a semicircular shape, this massive fort served as the seat of government and the stronghold of the Mogul Dynasty. This walled city shelters a few impressive palaces, mosques, halls and gardens built in both red sandstone and white marble.

Situated on the opposite bank of the Yamuna River, this is the place from where Shah Jahan enjoyed seeing the Taj Mahal for the last time. He was imprisoned here by his son Aurangzeb, who offered him the privilege of admiring his masterpiece every day. It is actually believed that Shah Jahan died in one of the towers of the fort while he was looking at the imposing Taj Mahal.

4.The tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daula (I’timad-Ud-Daulah), also called the Baby Taj Mahal, is the first tomb built in India and made entirely of white marble. This mausoleum was built by Nur Jahan to serve as the resting place of her father, Mirza Ghiyas Beg. Surrounded by four Persian gardens designed in a rectangular shape, this memorial combines both Persian and Indian architectural motifs. Octagonal towers, arched entrances, marble lattice screens, open-pillared dome pavilions are just a few of the elements of this fusion.

Even though the size of the tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daula cannot be compared to the one of the Taj Mahal, this mausoleum is considered a source of inspiration for the architect of the famous Taj Mahal. Embellished with flowers, trees and fruit, the central hall shelters the tombs of Mirza and his wife.

5.Built during the second half of the 16^th century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri is a deserted red sandstone city. Situated almost 40 kilometers away of Agra, this fortress was the capital of the Mogul Empire for about 10 years. Considered an architectural jewel, this complex consists of a few monuments, temples and mosques which are surrounded by beautiful gardens. The fusion between the red of the buildings and the green of the gardens creates a very nice combination of colors.

The city came to be known as Fatehpur Sikri or the City of Victory after Akbar’s victorious campaign in 1573. Even though this ancient city was originally built on the bank of a lake which doesn’t exist today, the place is not less beautiful and it really deserves to be visited. More than this, a mysterious vibe which can be felt inside the city seems to shroud the entire place in mystery.

All things considered, even though the gorgeous Taj Mahal is indeed the most beautiful place in Agra, it is not the only tourist attraction which deserves to be visited. Besides this masterpiece, Agra shelters a few other lovely places which really deserve to be on anyone’s trip list.

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Four Points by Sheraton is the hotel whose welcoming interior helped me get over the dirtiness and the chaos of the city. I don’t even want to imagine how it would have been to stay in improper conditions in one of the dirtiest cities in the world! Fortunately, I haven’t experienced such a situation because Four Points by Sheraton is a clean and beautifully decorated hotel, whose atmosphere is unexpectedly warm and welcoming.

The large reception embellished with a few pieces of futurist furniture immediately gave me the feeling that I went back to civilization. Once I entered this hotel, I felt a kind of relief because I realized that I can spend a few days in good and proper conditions.

Accommodation

Four Points by Sheraton offers 165 rooms and suites, beautifully decorated with modern furniture. Spacious and colorful, the rooms are equipped with all the necessary amenities and you don’t have to worry about anything. From a modern LED television to smoke detectors and temperature control, the hotel offers everything you need for a comfortable stay. Each room or suite has a well-equipped bathroom and a sitting area in case you want to relax and enjoy the view of the city, after an exhausting day of running from one tourist attraction to another.

Culinary experience

When it comes to food, Four Points by Sheraton will give you a few options to choose from. Oasis is the most popular restaurant of the hotel, a spacious and warming space where you will have the chance to taste dishes from the North Indian, the Chinese and the Continental cuisines. Even though I’m not a fan of Indian food, I had the chance to choose from a variety of dishes inside this restaurant. This is the place where I tried peth, a soft candy which is considered the most popular sweet in Agra.

In case you are looking for a special type of culinary experience, Four Points by Sheraton will offer you this opportunity at Rooftop, another lovely restaurant. Here, you can enjoy delicious North Indian and Continental dishes served on the rooftop of the hotel. You should know that this restaurant is open only in the evenings.

Last but not least, you can relax at Henry’s, a beautifully decorated lounge bar where you can enjoy a sophisticated cocktail or meal.

Other facilities

A rooftop pool is waiting for you to relax and drink a glass of wine while you are admiring the beautiful view of the city. In case you want to work out and keep yourself in a good shape and mood, the well-equipped fitness center of the hotel will offer you this opportunity. Parking will not be a problem in case you travel by car, because the hotel offers free parking spaces. Four Points by Sheraton also has a 421-square-meter ballroom where different events take place.

The staff

As usual the staff is a very important aspect when it comes to customers’ satisfaction. You don’t have to worry about anything, because a very well-trained staff will be at your disposal and they will do their best to meet all your demands.

How to get there

Four Points by Sheraton is situated 8 kilometers away from Kheria Airport. In case you are traveling by plane and you don’t have an agency to take care of your transport, you can simply take a cab from the airport to the hotel.

Situated in Taj Nagari, Phase 1, C1 & C2 Fatehabad Road Agra, Four Points by Sheraton is also close to the city center. This is why it will be very easy to visit the main tourist attractions in the city. The Agra Fort Railway Station is located at a 10-minute drive from the hotel.

All things considered, you should definitely choose Four Points by Sheraton, in case you ever get to Agra. We all know that details are really important when it comes to a memorable travel experience and believe me that Four Points by Sheraton can really make the difference.

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The Agra Fort is a proper example in this regard. Built by the Mogul Emperor Akbar in the 16^th century as a military strategic point, the fort served as the seat of the government and the royal residence of the Mogul Dynasty.

It is said that over 4000 people have been working hard for almost 8 years, in order to complete the construction of this massive fort. Built in a semicircular shape and covering an area of about 2.5 kilometers, the Agra Fort is surrounded by double battlement massive walls.

The red sandstone walls of the fort hide Shah Jahan’s sad story. According to the legend the founder of the Taj Mahal died in one of the towers of this fort, while he was looking at his masterpiece. Shan Jahan was imprisoned in the Agra Fort by his son and because the fort was situated opposite the Taj Mahal, on the other bank of the Yamuna River, he had the privilege of admiring his masterpiece every day.

Nowadays, the Agra Fort shelters a few impressive palaces, mosques, halls and gardens made of red sandstone and white marble. The entire fort hides secret subterranean chambers, which are interconnected.

Exploring the lovely Agra Fort will definitely be an interesting experience. You don’t have to take my words for granted, but you can look at the following pictures.

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Situated almost 40 kilometers away from Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, a mysterious deserted red sandstone city, is one of the places which gave me the feeling that I traveled back in time.

Despite the fact that the vibe of this place is really special, the story it hides is even more interesting. According to the legend the Emperor Akbar visited the old village of Sikri to see the Sufi Saint Shaikh Salim Chishti, who had the gift of helping people fulfill their wishes. Akbar also wanted to have an heir to the throne and the saint predicted the birth of his son.

When the prophecy came true, Akbar rebuilt the village of Sikri and moved the political capital of the Mogul Empire here. Shortly after this reconstruction, the emperor changed the name of the new city in Fatehpur Sikri or the City of Victory, to mark a victorious campaign. This fortress was the capital of the empire for more than 10 years.

The reason why the city was abandoned is still a mystery today, but it is believed that after Akbar’s death, the lake which used to supply the city with water dried up. In this situation the population might have been forced to abandon the city.

Nowadays, Fatehpur Sikri shelters a few monuments, temples and palaces which are surrounded by beautiful gardens.  It is said that the emperor had three wives and that he built a palace for each of them. His wives were of different religions and this is why he built three edifices, a Hindu, a Muslim and a Christian one. The symbol of the entire city is the Jama Masjid, a beautiful mosque which is still used today.

There are a lot of other beautiful places in the city which really deserve to be visited, but you don’t have to take my words for granted. Take a look at the following pictures and convince yourself that this place is worth visiting.

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Overwhelmed by anxiety, I was constantly checking the time because I was so eager to see the imposing Taj Mahal in the afternoon when the sun shines bright. This is the best moment to admire this incredible building because the sunrays make it look like a diamond. The Taj Mahal can be considered a diamond in terms of architecture and this is why it is one of the seven wonders of the new world.

When we got to the main entrance, I was really disappointed by the endless queue. It was a terrible chaos because people were impatient and they were pushing each other.  When we got closer we realized that there was a special entrance for tourists and we didn’t have to wait with the locals.  The advantage of entering before the locals doesn’t come cheap, because a tourist has to pay maybe ten times more for a ticket.

After I had entered the complex, I saw another beautiful gate which was the entrance into the courtyard of the monument.

With every step I made, I felt my heart beating louder and louder and in a couple of minutes the imposing Taj Mahal was lying in front of my eyes. Words are not enough to describe what I felt in front of this image. The gorgeous Taj Mahal looked perfect in the sunlight.

The elegance of the lines, the perfection of the contours and the perfect symmetry were portraying one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen. I could have looked at this mausoleum made of white marble and ivory for days.

I advise you to admire the Taj Mahal throughout the day, because it gives you the feeling that it changes its color. I saw it for the first time in shades of yellowish white in the afternoon and I stared at it until it became a mix of white and blue, after the sunset.

I also had the privilege of admiring it in shades of white in the morning, when I saw it from Mehtab Bagh, which is a complex of gardens situated nearby.

The Taj Mahal is gorgeous thanks to its impressive architecture, its pleasant scenery embellished with beautiful gardens and green areas and also thanks to its emotional story.

It is said that the emperor Shah Jahan built this impressive monument as a tomb and memorial for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14^th child. The love for his beautiful wife who died at 38 years old was the force which led to the construction of one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.

The emperor invested a lot of money, time and effort to build this unique white building. He also wanted to build a similar construction on the other bank of the Yamuna River. The building was supposed to be made of black marble and serve as his tomb. All these plans determined Aurangzeb, the emperor’s son, to take advantage of his father’s disease and put him under house arrest.

Even though the emperor recovered from his illness, his son arrested him and jailed him in Agra Fort. Situated close to the Taj Mahal, this place gave the emperor the opportunity to admire his masterpiece every day.

After his death he was buried inside the imposing Taj Mahal, next to his beloved wife. However, despite the fact that the Taj Mahal has an imposing appearance, its interior is pretty simple. The two tombs are situated in a small room decorated with Indian floral motifs.

A paradox is the fact that despite being a tomb and a memorial, the Taj Mahal is considered a house of love. It is a place of pilgrimage and a symbol of love because many newlyweds come here and promise eternal faith to each other. Love is actually the reason behind this outstanding construction.

In order to better understand what I’m talking about, you should visit the Taj Mahal and you should let yourself mesmerized by its beauty.

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In case you plan a trip to this place, you should take into account a few useful tips:

1.First of all it’s important to know that you have a few options you may choose from, when it comes to the way you can get to the Amber Fort. The fort is situated at a 20-minute drive from Jaipur. In case you travel on your own and you don’t have an agency to take care of your transport, you can use the public transport, a rented car or a taxi.

Even though it is the cheapest option, I don’t recommend the public transport because their buses are really crowded and dirty. In case you decide to rent a car, you should take into account the chaotic traffic in Jaipur and the fact that there are few parking spaces in the area. The best options to get to the fort and enjoy your visit there are to choose an organized tour or to rent a car, but with a driver at your disposal.

2.After reaching the parking area, you should know that you have three options to get to the fort. You can choose an elephant ride around the ruins of the fabulous Amber Fort, you can go by jeep or you can simply walk. If you choose the four-wheel drive you should know that there is a jeep that comes every 60 minutes and if you choose to walk you should know that it will take you about a half an hour to get to the fort.

An important and also disappointing aspect is the fact that travel agencies promote these elephant rides because they are more profitable. This is why they will give you the impression that these rides are the only option you have to get to the fort.

3.I advise you to inform yourself about the places you are going to visit inside the complex, especially if you don’t have a guide at your disposal. There are a lot of interesting places inside the Amber Fort and reading about them will help you decide upon the most beautiful and interesting ones.

4.If you can, you should spend an entire day inside the Amber Fort. Unfortunately, I spend only the first half of the day there and I couldn’t enjoy the evening activities. You should know that in the evening, you can admire the image of the lighted fort from the bottom of the hill or you can enjoy a classical dance program which takes place in Sukh Mahal. You have to pay a fee if you want to watch this show. The icing on the cake is the fact that after dark, you will have the opportunity to watch a gorgeous light show.

5.Bring water with you because the temperature is pretty high inside the temples. Don’t worry in case you run out of water because there is a restaurant inside the complex, called Surabhi, where you can have a meal or a drink. During dinner you can enjoy puppet shows and traditional songs inside this restaurant.

All things considered, there is one more thing left to do. Plan your trip and enjoy it to the fullest!

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The entire area is simply gorgeous and gives you the feeling that you are in the middle of a fairytale setting. Situated 11 kilometers away from Jaipur, in Amer, a part of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation, the Amber Fort or the Amer Fort is considered the main tourist attraction in the area.

The Amber Fort was built in the 16^th century, by Raja Shri Maan Singh Ji I, who was a brave general and also the chief army leader of the Mogul Emperor Akbar.

Made of red sandstone and white marble, the fort displays beautiful motifs from both the Hindu and the Muslim architectural style. Huge fortifications with large gates and courtyards, impressive ramparts, temples and palaces with gorgeous interior gardens are just a few of the places you can visit in the fort.

The entire complex is divided into four courtyards connected to each others. There are many places you can admire inside the complex, but in my opinion, you should definitely not miss the following ones:

The Jaleb Chowk is the main courtyard of the complex and the place where the emperor used to gather his armies. The courtyard is a huge open space where the armies used to hold their victory parades.

On the right side of the Jaleb Chowk there are a few stairs which lead to Shila Devi Temple, a place dedicated to Ganesha, a Hindu deity whose image is carved in a single piece of coral. The temple was also dedicated to goddess Shila, who was considered the incarnation of Kali, the goddess of death and time and the symbol of motherly-love. According to the legend this is the place where different sacrifices happened in order to help the army win its battles.

I really enjoyed visiting the Jaleb Chowk which seems to be the meeting point for a lot of tourists who are eager to start their journey in Amber Fort. Even though the celebrations are long gone, the walls of the courtyard are silent witnesses of the events that used to go on here.

If you follow the main stairway you will reach the second courtyard. Here you can spend a few moments of relaxation in the Diwan-i-Am or the Hall of Public Audience, which was the place where the emperor used to listen to his subjects’ complains. Built on two rows of pillars and embellished with double rows of columns and latticed galleries, this large hall seems to have a more intimate vibe.

Considered the most exquisite part of the Amber Fort, the third courtyard shelters the emperor’s private quarters. This is the place where tourists can find out interesting details about the private life of the royal family.  The access to this courtyard is made through the Ganesh Pol, a gate embellished with arches and mosaics.

Here, you can visit the Diwan-i-Khas or the Hall of Private Audience, which was the place where the emperor used to meet his officials and friends.

Even though this hall stands out because of its stunning mosaic glass work, the icing on the cake is the next building, called the Sheesh Mahal or the Palace of Mirrors. The ceiling and the walls of the Sheesh Mahal are covered in tiny mirrors embellished with floral paintings.

According to the legend, the emperor ordered the construction of this palace for one of his empresses who loved admiring the stars, but who was not allowed to sleep outside, due to religious beliefs. It is said that if two candles were lit in this palace, their reflection in the mirrors looked like thousands of stars in the sky. Its interesting and unique appearance made the Palace of Mirrors the perfect setting for a few movies and videos.

Opposite this palace, you will discover the Sukh Niwas (Sukh Mahal) or the Hall of Pleasure. This place was used by the emperor, his empresses and his mistresses as a resting place.  An ancient method was used to keep this hall cool. A small canal filled with cold water was passing through the hall in order to form air vapors, with the purpose of cooling the air.

The fourth courtyard of the fort could be described as an interesting one. The royal women and the mistresses used to live in this part of the palace. They were known as the Zenana. Even the empresses and the empress mother lived here. This part of the palace was very secluded and the emperor could visit his empresses and mistresses without being seen by anyone.

Besides these four lovely courtyards, there is another part of the Amber Fort which deserves your attention. I am talking about the Mogul Garden or Kesar Kyari, a place situated in the middle of Maota Lake. The star-shaped flower beds of the garden can be admired from the top of the fort. These flower beds were once planted with saffron, but today because of the climate changes, this plant doesn’t grow here anymore.

Visiting the interesting ruins of the Amber Fort was one of the most interesting experiences that I have lived in India. All things considered, in case you ever get to the city of Jaipur, you should definitely add the Amber Fort to your trip list.

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I have always considered these places really interesting, because they hide the traces of long-forgotten times.

This interest of mine was the reason why I have always added this type of places to my trip itinerary. A proper example in this regard is the City Palace, which was the first planed city of medieval India and also the home of a lot of royal families.

Built by Maharaja Sawai Singh II, this place consists of a complex of courtyards, gardens and buildings which seem to still dominate the Old City of Jaipur. The City Palace covers quite a large area and the pleasure of walking can be easily combined with the one of exploring the interesting buildings.

After visiting this complex, I strongly believe that there are three buildings which deserve to be visited. The first one is the Mubarak Mahal, the palace of welcoming the tourists in the complex. Also called the Auspicious Palace, it shelters an interesting museum with a vast collection of royal costumes, delicate cashmere shawls, silk saris and other dresses with interesting prints and folk embroidery. The second one, the Maharani’s Palace, is the palace of the queen and it displays a very well-preserved collection of weapons and a beautiful collection of paintings. The third one is the Chandra Mahal, a beautiful building that is still home to the last ruling royal family.

I could say a lot of other things about the City Palace, but words are not enough to portray the essence of this place. This is why you should take a look at the following pictures and decide for yourself if this place is worth visiting.

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