FEATURE
‘The Golden Triangle’ was a fascinating experience Howard Borrell visited India’s ‘Golden Triangle’ recently – and shares some of his experiences with us.
W
HAT an experience! We’d visited the south of India thirty years earlier and decided it was time to experience the north, focusing on ‘The Golden Triangle’ – which links Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. A 2am arrival in Delhi and the smog created by industry and 33 million people was there to greet us; it immediately attacked the back of your throat and stayed there until you were indoors. It was to be a frequent companion for the rest of our visit, generally surrendering to the sun around lunchtime. Delhi was a mad mix of poverty, elegance that comes from being the capital city, incessant and chaotic traffic, a never-ending array of verbal scams and a colourful vibrancy that hooked you after just a few hours in its company.
16 Reflections February 2024
Jaipur followed. Locally brewed Thornbridge beer doesn’t prepare you for the attack on the senses that 7-million people bring. Maybe it was that indefinable edginess they set out to achieve with their award-winning brew? Crossing the road was an act of bravery that deserved a medal, but both cities warranted the effort in seeking out their cultural highlights. Palaces and forts harked back to pre-British rule when it was the norm for invaders to take it in turns to burst through the Khyber Pass, sometimes they rushed back with their spoils, other times they lingered long enough to build alliances and add some influence to India’s fascinating past. Delhi’s impressive Red Fort became the main residence of Mogul emperor Shah Mahal when he moved the capital from Agra to Delhi in 1639 and began immediate construction.
Top left: Hawa Mahal (the Pink Palace) in Jaipur. All pictures courtesy of Howard Borrell. Top: An elephant, a motor bike and a tuk-tuk share this Indian road. Above: Howard’s visit to the Taj Mahal at 8am was almost smogfree and there were enough visitors even at that hour in the morning! Pushkar – a hippy destination in the 60s and still so today – was a breathtaking surprise. We stayed overnight, on the way to Udapuir, in rooms straight from a Rudyard Kipling novel, overlooking the sacred lake that I’m sure has been the backdrop for several well-known movies. Surrounding the lake was an exciting blend of commercial activity that sold everything from spiritual happiness to a Royal Enfield motorcycle.
To advertise call 01246 550488