After Delhi, this is the second city I have visited during my stay in India. Jaipur is the largest city in Rajasthan, a state situated in the north-west of India.

It is hard not to notice that pink is the dominant color in the city when the walls of so many buildings are painted in this color. In Jaipur I had the chance to see and admire so many lovely shades of pink. It is said that Jaipur, one of the most beautiful and vibrant cities in India, was painted pink in 1876 when the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria visited the country. This is the reason why Jaipur is also called the Pink City. Nowadays, the residents of Jaipur are compelled by law to maintain the color pink.

The founder of the city, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, was a great warrior and astronomer and this is why the city bears strong historical and astronomical traces.

Together with Delhi and Agra, Jaipur is part of the Golden Triangle of India and for good reason. The multitude of tourist attractions and interesting experiences that can be lived here, make Jaipur one of the jewels of India. No matter how you choose to spend your time there, there are a few places you should definitely not miss:

1.You should visit the City Palace and discover the simplicity of the old times. The City Palace Complex is divided into two parts: the Mubarak Mahal or the Auspicious Palace (the palace of welcoming the tourists in the City Palace) and the Maharani’s Palace (the palace of the queen). The first one shelters a museum which displays a vast collection of royal costumes, delicate cashmere shawls, silk saris and other dresses with interesting prints and folk embroidery. The second one displays a very well-preserved collection of weapons and a beautiful collection of paintings.

A visit to this place will give you the chance to admire an interesting blend between the Mogul, the Rajput and the European architecture. An interesting aspect about this place is the fact that a private section of this complex is still home for the last ruling royal family.

2.You should plunge into the mysteries of astronomy and visit the Jantar Mantar which is an astronomical observation site built in the early 18^th century. One of the five astronomical observatories built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the Jantar Mantar is the largest one. Consisting of nineteen geometric devices, it was built with the purpose of measuring time, tracking celestial bodies and observing the planets around the sun.

In case you are curious to find out what your future looks like, you should know that there is an Interpretation Center inside the complex. This center offers you the chance to contact an astrologer from whom you can get a complete astrological report. You can also find out valuable information about the principles and the history of the observatory if you visit the Interpretation Center.

3.You could visit the magnificent Hawa Mahal, a beautiful palace whose architecture combines two styles, the Hindu and the Islamic one. Made of red and pink sandstone and embellished with small latticed windows, Hawa Mahal is built in the shape of the crown of Lord Krishna, a Hindu god.

Situated in the heart of Jaipur, Hawa Mahal or the Palace of the Winds was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. The purpose of this construction was to provide the royal ladies a view of everyday life through the windows, as they never appeared in public. According to the religion principles, the women were not allowed to appear in public without covering their faces.

4.You should definitely admire the beautiful Jal Mahal, which is one of the most wonderful palaces in Jaipur. Made of light colored sandstone, the Jal Mahal or the Lake Palace, the way it is also called, seems to float in the middle of Man Sagar Lake. Enjoying the image of the palace floating in the middle of the lake is simply amazing.

5.You can enjoy an elephant ride while you explore the ruins of the fabulous Amber Fort, which is one of the most beautiful places in the area of Jaipur. Hidden in the heart of the Aravalli Hills, 11 kilometers away from Jaipur, this complex of ruins is placed in a fairytale setting.

Made of red sandstone and white marble, the architecture of the complex combines two styles, the Hindu and the Muslim one. It will be a real delight to discover the contrast between the simple exterior and the welcoming interior design. The experience of reaching the top of the fortress on an elephant will perfectly complete the pleasure of discovering the beautiful courtyards, halls and walls.

6.You could visit the local bazaars and practice your negotiation skills. From spices and clothes to different types of services, everything is negotiable in the Indian bazaars. Any visit to Jaipur should start and end in the local bazaars, where you can find different goods at really low prices. It goes without saying that you should drive a hard bargain if you really want to get the prices you are willing to pay for. You should know that Indians usually try to charge tourists ten times more for every product.

7.Take a walk in the central area of the city where you will have the chance to admire the lively monkeys that live here. It is said that they are organized in groups and that they become aggressive when it comes to their territory. You can feed them with bananas and other fruit, but while doing this you should take care of your personal belongings in case you don’t want them to be stolen by these monkey thieves.

I also advise you to watch a few documentary movies about these monkeys before you go to Jaipur. There are a few good movies which present the life of these monkeys.

Even though there is so much more to discover about Jaipur, these are in my opinion, the things you should definitely not miss during your stay there. Add Jaipur to your trip list and you will not regret it!

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Designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, a Persian architect, and embellished with a lot of Indo-Persian architectural motifs, Humayun’s Tomb is a perfect example of Mogul architecture.

It houses the mortal remains of Humayun, the second Mogul Emperor of India. After his death, it was his widow, Bega Begum, who wanted this place to be built, in order to serve as the emperor’s resting place. She wanted the monument to be really impressive and opulent. Surrounded by a few beautiful gardens, this outstanding monument is the first garden-tomb built in India and also one of the most famous tourist attractions in Delhi.

A really interesting aspect is the fact that Humayun’s Tomb is considered to be a source of inspiration for Shah Jahan, the founder of the marvelous Taj Mahal. It will be an interesting experience to plunge into the history of this place and admire its beautiful architectural style. Nowadays, Humayun’s Tomb is also the resting place of other mogul emperors.

As a bonus, you will also have the opportunity to explore Isa Khan’s Garden Tomb, which is a similar monument situated nearby.

If I haven’t convinced you to visit this place so far, take a look at the following pictures and decide whether you add it to your trip list or not.

The gate of Isa Khan’s Garden Tomb

Isa Khan’s Garden Tomb

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After I came back from India, a lot of people asked me if I liked this country and my answer was simple. India is both fascinating and shocking, but overall my trip there was a great experience. When you say India, you say fabulous tourist attractions, but also poverty and fraud.

Considered the seventh largest country in the world, India is home to more than a billion people. It is also a country defined by contrasts such as beauty and ugliness, wealth and poverty. I must confess that I discovered a dirty, chaotic and vibrant India, which was fascinating in terms of culture and traditions, but also disappointing when it comes to living conditions. The moment you realize how many people live in improper conditions, you start appreciating what you have even more.

India has a real problem when it comes to food and drinking water. It was a shock for me to see a lot of people gathered around a tanker who were trying to fill plastic containers with drinking water.

Water recycling is a common practice in India and I was very surprised to find out that even the water from the hotel showers was recycled and then used to water the gardens and the green areas.

Despite these aspects, they always smile and their attitude should be an example for the rest of us. Indians are very hospitable and annoyingly friendly, and they are really fascinated by the white tourists who cross their threshold. They believe that the whiter your skin is, the better you are. It is the only country I have visited so far, where the locals were desperate to take pictures of us.

Another interesting aspect about India is the fact that time seems to pass very slowly. You have the feeling that a day has more hours and an hour has more minutes. India reminded me of my grandmother who used to tell me that time was passing slowly in her youth.

India is the country of spices and even if I must confess that I didn’t like Indian food, it was interesting to taste different spices and flavors. Anise, butter chicken masala and tandoori chicken masala are among the ones which I really liked.

There are other interesting aspects which are worth mentioning about India, but I would like to start talking about the fascinating tourist attractions this country has to offer.

First of all, in case you decide to visit India, my advice is to choose an organized tour with a professional local guide who will be able to give you plenty of interesting information about their culture, history, traditions and tourist attractions. My trip itinerary was planned around the Golden Triangle and it included the most beautiful and interesting tourist attractions in this area.

I started my Indian adventure in Delhi, the capital of the country, where I have spent a few days. The city is really vibrant and crowded and it displays a strong contrast between the poor and the rich areas. Even if the sudden passing from a rich area to a poor one is really surprising and confusing, the city has a lot to offer when it comes to beautiful and interesting tourist attractions.

You should admire every corner of Qutub Complex, a beautiful complex which displays a few ruins and also the tallest tower in India.

Considered the symbol of the Baha’i Faith, the wonderful Lotus Temple is another beautiful place which should be visited.

Built in the Indo-Persian style, Humayun’s Tomb is an outstanding monument which reminds of the marvelous Taj Mahal.

You should feel the energy of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, which is one of the most prominent Sikh houses of worship.

The imposing India Gate, the House of the Parliament, the impressive Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Red Fort are other beautiful attractions in Delhi which are worth visiting.

Mahatma Gandhi Complex which includes a museum and a memorial called Raj Ghat is another place which deserves your attention.

Displaying an impressive architecture, the Jama Masjid which is one of the largest mosques in Asia is one of my favorite places in Delhi.

Enjoying a rickshaw ride through the Old Delhi is indeed a mandatory experience in case you want to discover the authentic vibe of the city.

The narrow alleys of Chandni Chowk shelter a few markets where you can buy a variety of goods. The Spice Market is one of the most interesting in the area.

My favorite place in Delhi is the Swaminarayan Akshardham Complex, which shelters a unique and modern Hindu Temple.

As well as Delhi, Jaipur is equally vibrant and chaotic and it has a lot to offer. Any visit to Jaipur should start and end in the local bazaar, where you can find different goods at low prices, especially if you are a good negotiator. You should drive a hard bargain because Indians usually charge ten times more for every product.

During the few days spent in Jaipur, I had the chance to visit a few lovely tourist attractions which in my opinion should also be on your trip list.

One of them is the City Palace, which is a grandiose complex of exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards.

A visit to the Astronomical Observatory (Jantar Mantar) will be an interesting experience.

You should also admire the outside of Hawa Mahal, which is another interesting building.

The beautiful Jal Mahal which floats in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake is indeed a great view to enjoy.

My favorite place in the area of Jaipur is the fabulous Amber Fort, which is a complex of ruins situated on the Aravalli Hills.

Reaching the top of the fortress on an elephant will perfectly complete the experience of discovering the beautiful courtyards, halls and walls.

My last days in India were dedicated to Agra, the most authentic Indian city. Agra shelters the imposing Taj Mahal which has fully conquered my heart.

Standing in front of this marvelous building and admiring its beauty and grandeur is indeed an unforgettable experience.

You can also admire the image of the Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh, which is a complex of gardens situated nearby.

Admiring Agra Fort, which is the seat and the stronghold of Mughal Empire will also be a great experience.

A visit to Itmad-Ud-Daula, which is the first tomb in India made entirely of white marble, will perfectly complete your experience in Agra. This place is also called Baby Taj Mahal because its architecture is quite similar to the marvelous Taj Mahal.

Situated close to Agra, Fatehpur Sikri is a deserted red sandstone city which will be a feast for your eyes in case you decide to visit it.

These are the most beautiful and interesting tourist attractions which can be admired in the Golden Triangle of India. Taking into account the good and the bad aspects, India is a country that deserves to be discovered because it offers a really unique blend of experiences.

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