GOLDEN TRIANGLE and BEYOND
Time Travel: the history of a millennium in a nutshell
India, a country of over a billion population, one of the top ten fastest growing tourism
destinations worldwide, and with the capital as a starting point for most travelers, the
Golden Triangle circuit of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur is on most travel itineraries. Yet these
cities still offer something to the intrepid traveler. They have witnessed the sweep of
religions and tribes, the rise and fall of empires and colonies, political intrigues and
romances, and the birth of a democracy.
Nobody is entirely sure why this is called the Golden Triangle. While the 3 cities do form a
triangle when plotted on a map, the golden seems to be interpreted as either ‘royal’
(following in the wake of emperors) or ‘must-visit’ (like the Golden Rule!). Here at Travel
Scope, we see the play of elements; the waters of the Yamuna river, the stone and earth of
the monuments that have withstood the test of time, the fiery zeal of rulers who sought
immortality, and the winds of Time. Perhaps golden represents the alchemy of history itself!
At Travel Scope, we are eager to retrace the alchemy of a millennium, through art,
literature, economy, architecture, food, stories and folklore to convey an essence of what
India is today.
TRAVELSCOPE INDIA
email - [email protected] | web - www.travelscopeindia.com
MONUMENTS AT A GLANCE
TRIP AT A GLANCE
DELHI
AGRA
AGRA
Ranthambore
JAIPUR
Welcome to Delhi!
Your time travel will start the minute you fly over Delhi airspace, broad tar ribbons and
sinuous rivers snake their way through a tapestry of concrete and forest. The Delhi
airport is a beehive of international and domestic traffic, as it links people and businesses
to the world and is an epitome of a technological, modern-day India. As you step out of
the airport, a Travel Scope representative will greet you and escort you to your hotel. On
the ride, Delhi’s incongruities take centrestage; high rises of glass and steel representing
every kind of tertiary business jostle with itinerant gypsy settlements selling everything
from earthenware to venetian blinds, decrepit black-and-yellow taxis compete with the
CNG green-and-yellow auto rickshaws, broad freeways teeming with cars of every size
are juxtaposed against a backdrop of the metro, the new arteries of the city.
Start the day with a Travel Scope guide on a walk of New Delhi, a city that largely owes
its present-day avatar to a man named Edwin Lutyens, a man best known for adapting
traditional architecture to contemporary styles. Head towards the India Gate, a
monument commemorating the deaths of over 70,000 Indian soldiers in the British
Forces during the World War I. Older British buildings that were used as power hubs
house today’s Parliament and Secretariat.
For those who are interested in understanding the Independence Struggle better, Travel
Scope also offers a 1857 Mutiny Walk, that marks the first revolt of a soldier in the
British Army, whose act is said to have catalyzed a nation into fighting for home rule.
Walk down Connaught Place, the business district of the British era, which serves much
the same purpose today.
We will continue to trace the Mughal Empire with an Old Delhi Walk-and-CycleRickshaw ride along the Red Fort, the Jama Masjid towards the bustling markets of
Chandni Chowk. There is a lot to be said about a country, as diverse in its faiths as India,
and as tolerant in its attitudes towards each. While today’s media is often ignited by
religious intolerance, the architecture of our cities tells a very different narrative. Walking
down Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, one can palpably experience the sacred yet secular
way of life that is so typical of India.
TRAVEL SCOPE RECOMMENDS
CRAFTS MUSEUM
No history is complete without an understanding of the art, and late morning you can
make your way to the Crafts Museum, celebrating living traditional crafts and skilled
industries rather than dead, old or rare objects. The Museum showcases handmade
activities and crafts, from folk and tribal cults, from textiles to earthenware, and even host
performances of song and dance. Lunch at Café Lota will allow you to partake a rich
tradition of Indian cooking, through regional specialties, sometimes with a contemporary
twist.
HUMAYUN’S TOMB / QUTAB MINAR WITH AN ART HISTORIAN
If you want to step back a little further into time, Travel Scope can also have an art
historian lead you to the Emperor Humayun’s tomb, OR the prayer tower of Qutab Minar,
some of the Mughal Empire monuments, among others that will feature most prominently
along the Golden triangle circuit.
DELHI’S MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART
For the artsy, Travel scope can also arrange for an expert to help you explore Delhi’s
Contemporary and Modern Art. There are several sections of Delhi that have gained
renown as art hubs: Hauz Khas, Lado Sarai and Shahapur Jat, among others, and
several artists and art collectors have private galleries here. You are welcome to tour
them at your own leisure, or to take an art historian along to better help you understand
and appreciate the nuances of the art on display.
NIZAMUDDIN DARGAH
If it is a Thursday, you may also be able to visit the Nizamuddin Dargah, the mausoleum
of a famous Sufi saint, Nizamuddin Auliya (1238 - 1325 CE), as also the poet Amir
Khusro and a Mughal princess, Jehan Ara Begum.
Sound Byte: the song Arziyan, from the movie Delhi 6 (2009) composed by A. R.
Rahman is dedicated to Nizamuddin Auliya.
TEA TASTING
If you think there’s nothing more to a cuppa than a handful of leaves thrown in boiling
water, perhaps you could give tea tasting a chance! After all, the tea leaf was responsible
for pioneering trade links, driving global commerce, establishing colonies, encouraging
piracy, sparking off a revolution, while finding curative uses for everything from love bites
to aging! Join Mr Mittal, a tea sommelier who has founded his own tea company, on an
encyclopedic journey of tea.
SPICE TRAIL
For the culinary-keen, Travel Scope offers a Spice Trail, a walk through the spice
markets, where you can smell, sample, haggle and buy the most exotic spices, and
understand the spice trade and how it influenced the colonial legacy of the East.
DELHI ZOO WALK
While India is better known for its national sanctuaries and tiger reserves, a zoo of over
130 species of animals, in a 176 acre, 16th Century citadel, may be just the thing for kids
after a day of monuments. It may later help them identify these animals in the wild, and
could be their first sighting of the Royal Bengal Tiger among others.
HOME COOKING / COOKING WITH 5 STAR HOTEL CHEFS SESSIONS
For a more local flavor (literally!), Travel Scope would be happy to organize cooking
sessions in Delhi, where you could smell, taste and use some of the ingredients that you
will find in the cuisine as you travel through the country, and learn the rich legacy of
spices! You can choose between a home cooking experience, where you can engage
with your host and prepare some simple, homely fare. Or you could choose to learn from
the best in the hotel industry with our 5 star hotel chefs who will showcase Indian
specialties.
ASTROLOGY
For the curious and the spiritual, India’s modernity has not dispelled faith in astrological
sciences, and it still forms an important part of daily lives from births and deaths, and
from marriages to business ties. Indulge in the mysticism that is India, and we promise
you, even the staunchest disbelievers will find something inexplicable.
YOGA WITH DR. ALKA
Yoga, comprises of techniques that lead to harmony between the inner self and the
eternal environment, between thought and action, between the individual and the world.
While the practice has spread far and wide, Yoga in India would be an enriching
experience for all age groups. Dr Alka Tyagi, a practitioner with over eight years
experience, can offer personalized Yoga sessions to guide you through various postures,
breathing techniques and their philosophical essence.
CULTURAL EVENING OF MUSIC AND DANCE
Cultural Evening of music and dance: There’s more to Indian music than Bollywood and
the ‘sitar’, and you can end your day on a melodious note with a specially organized
musical evening. Storytelling as a art has also been passed down through dance forms
like Bharatnatyam and Kathak. Travel Scope would be happy to arrange one-on-one
sessions with dancers of both forms, where performances will be interspersed with
interpretations, so that you can delve into the art and the narrative behind it.
PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS
Walk the crowded streets of Chandni Chowk with a professional photographer and try to
capture the sights of the Walled City of Shahjanabad. A place like no other, Chandni
Chowk offers numerous opportunities to photograph some rare moments; from a
rickshaw running an obstacle course to customers sampling the street food of Delhi, from
curious, playful children in the streets to old, wizened inhabitants quietly watching the
world go by, from busy shoppers to reverent worshippers, from tiny, roadside stores
selling spices and condiments, to bustling, brightly lit up shops trinkets and jewellery!
Capture the essence of India, pulsating, vibrant and colourful.
ART APPRECIATION TOURS
Delhi’s vibrant art scene well-represents the city’s traditional and modern influences,
where villages like Hauz Khas, Lado Sarai, Shahpur Jat rapidly developed into bustling
and eclectic districts full of designer boutiques and art galleries with a vibrant Bohemian
charm, showcasing the latest trends in fashion and art. During our art appreciation tours,
you could experience a wide range of activities: from a visit to the National Gallery of
Modern Art to viewing private art collections, from interactions with private collectors to
meetings with experts of contemporary art.
Welcome to Agra!
The Mughal trail continues in Agra, a city whose origins can be traced back to the days of
the Mahabharata (the epic poem of Great India). Agra, part of the Delhi Sultanate was
captured by a Persian-Turkic emperor, made into a capital and later gained prominence
under Mughal emperors like Akbar, Jehangir and Shahjahan.
Agra has been immortalized ever since, by Taj Mahal – the magnificent mausoleum,
which the emperor Shahjahan had built for his queen, Mumtaz and India’s own jewel in
the list of 7 Wonders of the Modern World. Travel Scope recommends that you head
there early morning, to watch the sunrise over the Taj Mahal and avoid the bustling
tourist queues to enter the monument. Instead let our storyteller guide weaves tales of
Agra and the mausoleum, as also the romance between Shahjahan and Mumtaz.
Literature Byte: The Taj of Agra by Joseph Horatio Chant (1837 – 1928) is a poem that
narrates the story behind the construction of the Taj Mahal.
Literature Byte: For those seeking a more local literary flavor Nazeer Akbarabadi (1735–
1830) is one of the most famous Urdu poets and ghazal writers. Akbarabadi’s poems talk
of the city of Agra in decline.
Literature Byte (For Children): Birbal was Akbar’s favourite advisor and a very wise man
in Akbar’s court. Every child in India grows up listening to the wisdom of Akbar and Birbal
stories. We recommend a story-time session with extracts from these extremely
humorous stories, which are bound to leave you and your children spellbound.
(Akbar Birbal Story App or Akbar Birbal stories)
Follow the road less traveled with Itmad-ul-Daulah, a marble tomb built for the
grandfather of Mumtaz (the queen interred at the Taj Mahal) also known as Baby Taj, is
said to have inspired the Taj Mahal.
For the grand finale (before you think that Mughal architecture is all about tombs), let us
guide you to Fatehpur Sikri, a city capital built by Emperor Akbar to honour a Sufi saint,
Salim Chisti, which is perhaps the best preserved vestige of the Mughal Empire. The city
complex includes palaces, pools, public audience halls, mosques and other places of
worship, and (you guessed it) tombs!
TRAVEL SCOPE RECOMMENDS
MEETING WITH INLAY ARTISANS
In the vein of most Mughal architecture, the Taj Mahal’s intricate beauty lies in the inlay
work; where semi precious stones are set into the marble floors to create floral motifs. If
interested, Travel Scope can organize a Meeting with Inlay Artisans to see how the
craftsmanship has continued through the ages.
RED TAJ MAHAL
While India is most famous for the Taj Mahal, there are several other monuments that it
inspired. The Red Taj in Agra, a smaller, red sandstone replica sans inlay and mosaic
work serves as a tomb for a Dutch soldier and trader John William Hessing, and was built
by his wife, Ann Hessing, turning the legend of the Taj Mahal on its head. In 1792, the 13year-old Hessing landed in Ceylon, later joined the Dutch East India Company’s army,
fought many battles in India, and eventually died as a part of the Maratha forces
defending the Agra Fort against the British. At its entrance, are two Persian inscriptions—
an epitaph and a chronogram: the former expresses Ann Hessing’s grief and the latter
marks the year of his death.
AGRA OLD CITY WALK
While the Taj Mahal steals the thunder in Agra, there are several other beautiful
monuments that have their own story to tell. Start the Agra Old City Walk at the Red
Fort – a UNESCO World Heritage site with a Mughal history. Then take a tonga, a horsecart past the railway station with its distinctly European architecture, and the Jama Masjid
district surrounded by Old Agra’s bazaars and fine architecture. Here you can hone your
bargaining skills on everything from zardozi embroidery to inlaid marble objects.
MEHTAB BAGH BY SUNSET
Watch the sunset at the Mehtab Bagh – which legend claims was to be site of a Black Taj
that the emperor Shah Jahan wished to build for himself, facing the monument he’d built
for his love. Instead the Mehtab Bagh or the ‘moonlit garden’ is a four garden layout,
typical of Mughal constructions worldwide – with beautiful flowering plants, pools and
fountains.
Welcome to Jaipur!
If there is an aspect of India that neither the Mughal empires nor the British Era could
wipe out, it was the regal lifestyles of the chieftains and princes from the feudal times,
and nowhere is it more in evidence than in Rajasthan. Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan
state, is known fondly as the ‘pink city’ as most buildings are made of rosy sandstone.
Established by Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, thus named to signify a ‘city of
victory’, Jaipur’s bustling bazaars and labyrinthine bylanes whisper the history of 4 eras;
the Rajput kingdoms, the Mughal Empire, the British Rule and modern times.
Info Byte: the Rajputs were the Hindu warrior clans who ruled princely states across the
northern stretches of India, were major obstacles to the dominion of Mughal empire and
they continued to rule little pockets of land even during the British Era.
For sightseers, an Old City Walk navigates across a city where the history still echoes
across time, and where tradition marries modernity. The City Palace exhibits royal
collections of miniature paintings, armour, royal garments, textiles, and artefacts. You can
then visit the Amer Fort, the citadel of the clan who later became the rulers of Jaipur and
the Jantar Mantar observatory built in the early 1700s by Sawai Jai Singh II, Jaipur’s ruler
and a keen astronomer that bears witness to Central Asia’s rich legacy of astronomy with
instruments that can forecast the weather even today! Continue on to the ornate Hawa
Mahal, the Palace of the Winds, Jaipur’s most distinctive landmark, and then run amok in
the Jaipur Street Market, where a smorgasbord of delights and crafts await.
A drive through the Rajasthan’s countryside will take you to Ramgarh Fort, an important
place of pilgrimage built in the late 11th century that today has some of the finest polo
grounds in the country.
TRAVEL SCOPE RECOMMENDS
THE STORY OF JAIPUR
Over a trek to the nearby Amer fort from where one can see the entire city of Jaipur, hear
the Story of Jaipur, a tale of forts, palaces, architectural marvels and valiant characters,
who in their own way, bear testimony to the glory that Jaipur is. Follow this with a hearty
picnic breakfast.
HOT-AIR BALLOON
For those who want even more bird-eye views of the city, you can take to the air in a HotAir Balloon and watch as a tapestry of desert, cities and villages unfolds beneath. A truly
splendid way to take in the sights – especially the looks of delight on the faces of the
people below!
ELEPHANT ENCOUNTERS: DERA AMER
No feudal experience is complete without elephants – the maharajahs preferred mode of
conveyance. Visit Dera Amer, a rustic camp located at the foothills of the Aravalli range
surrounded by wilderness, where you can get up close and personal with the
pachyderms. You can enjoy an Elephant Ride or splash around as you bathe the
elephants. For children, they can go wild painting the flanks of the elephant!
AMBASSADOR VINTAGE CAR RIDE
Later in the day, land-lubbers, elephant-giddy or vintage car lovers can choose to witness
the sound and light show at Amer Fort in a restored Ambassador, India’s first locally
manufactured car and once a status symbol for former Indian politicians.
DERA MANDAWA: RAJASTHANI COOKING EXPERIENCE, KITE FLYING, BOARD
GAMES
For those who want to partake more, a hands-on Rajasthani cooking experience at Dera
Mandawa awaits, where a trip to the nearby market for ingredients, a lesson in regional
specialties is followed by a scrumptious, regal lunch spread. The passionate couple, who
have converted this property into a heritage hotel, will be your hosts throughout the
cooking session and meal.
For the playful at heart, Dera Mandawa also offers Kite Flying sessions, where one can
try on the Rajasthani turbans and scarves and learn Char Bhar, a rural Indian game,
played with a board drawn into the sand, or on stone, cloth or paper and with counters of
pebbles, wood, cotton or even camel and goat droppings!
BLOCK PRINTING WORKSHOP
The technique of printing from wooden blocks onto paper and textile, originated in China
and spread across Asia. It may have inspired the first engraved woodcuts that lead to the
printing press. This technique is still widely used in India, mostly on textiles, and Travel
Scope can offer you a block-printing workshop to learn the art and skill.
MEET A GEMOLOGIST
Apart from the spices and the tea, India was also at the heart of a roaring trade in
precious stones, like diamonds and pearls among others. The Mughal Empire was lured
by the promise of these precious stones, and they worked huge quantities of stones into
their monuments, much to the delight of future generations of plunderers and thieves. To
know more about the craft and the mythology behind the stones, Travel Scope can
arrange for a meeting with a gemologist.
WOMEN THROUGH THE AGES
As with most patriarchal histories, the unheard voice is that of the females. For those
interested in knowing more about Women through the Ages, Travel Scope would
recommend an interactive session with Malashri Lal, an academic and writer, who has
written and taught extensively in the field of Gender Studies. Here you can debate at
length about issues from female foeticide to sex ratios, from infant marriages to
widowhood, from political participation to social roles of the fairer sex.
SHOPPING
No travel experience is complete without shopping, and the colourful bazaars of India
have something to offer even the most impatient of men! With specialties like local
handicrafts, textiles, gems, silver jewelry, blue pottery and carpets, Jaipur’s streets can
rival Ali Baba’s cave of wonders. Travel Scope can help you navigate your way across
street hawkers and chic boutiques, with a personal shopping expert in search of those
perfect souvenirs.
BEYOND THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE
RAMATHRA FORT
Named in honour of Lord Rama, who legend claims camped in the vicinity on his
southward journey to Sri Lanka, the Ramathra Fort commands views over the a rugged
plateau, farmlands and the mirror lake of Kalisil. Rustic luxury with a royal welcome at a
feudal palace, village walks, crocodile boat rides and bird watching, nestled in a green
valley that lies between tiger habitats.
SAMODE PALACE
For a touch of the regal, Samode Palace a 475-year-old palace has hosted royalty,
celebrities, artists and discerning travellers. The romance of Mughal and Indian
architecture, traditional hospitality with modern luxury, as you pass your time exploring
the countryside or indulging your senses; Samode Palace is a delectable wonderland.
+ Farm visit and meal – Samode Palace also arranges a visit to a local farm, where your
host will expose you to the agriculture techniques and technologies, giving you an
invaluable glimpse into rural India. This will be followed by a humble, yet heartening meal
with the family.
RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK
Ranthambore National Park, the former hunting ground of Maharajas, with crumbling fort
ramparts interspersed by villages, with numerous watering holes, is today the regal
empire of a clan of tigers, made famous by National Geographic’s coverage. Conserving
the tiger has also helped provide a refuge for a variety of other mammals like fox, jackals,
nilgai (blue bulls), spotted deer as also other avifauna, and offers an unmissable safari
experience.
TALABGAON CASTLE
Tucked away into the rural landscape of Rajasthan, Talabgaon Castle, with sky-lit
courtyards, vast lawns and delicately sculpted water cascades and Rajasthani-style
architecture, offers a rare warmth and hospitality. Explore the countryside on foot, bicycle
or horseback, as you catch glimpses of village-life and the indigenous crafts.
CHAMBAL SAFARI LODGE
For a wildlife experience, beyond big mammals, try the Chambal Safari Lodge, that has
thrived on the successful conservation of the gharial, a native, fish-eating crocodile with a
peculiar clock-shaped snout. The Chambal Safari Lodge is a heritage plantation
surrounded by farmland, defined by conservation ideals and gracious hospitality, and
offers a great insight into the lore of a family and the wildlife around.
AMANBAGH, ALWAR
Just 90 minutes away from Jaipur, the Amanbagh Hotel is an oasis retreat in the rugged
outcrops of the Aravalli mountain range. Rajasthan’s dramatic history surrounds
Amanbagh, which is influenced by the Mughal style of architecture. Discover
the remnants of an ancient empire in the picturesque city of Alwar such as the 17thcentury fort and temple of Ajabgarh, and venture along centuries-old paths around
Somsagar Lake.