Trapped by their cell phones, computers, and social media conundrums it's no surprise that the teens of today need to get out there and discover the wonders of India’s history and heritage in real time. The textures of fabrics, of sculpted temple walls, the scents and mayhem of a crowded spice market, the push and pull of getting closer to a favourite monument despite the throngs of tourists in the way…No amount of scrolling through hundreds of travel websites can give them the magic of a hands-on experience. It's time now to take a family holiday to India’s most iconic cities-— Delhi-Agra-Jaipur, linked together with the famous Golden Triangle.
For one, new insights from different members of your family group will filter in about the places you visit; secondly, it’s a great time for bonding and bickering over matters of tourist interest and third it offers the young adults scores of wonderful memories they can look back on.
Let your journey begin with Delhi, the gateway to so many amazing treasures of India’s past. The history lessons of the classroom come alive as vibrant cultural expressions as one traverses the gap between Chandni Chowk of Mughal India to Rashtrapati Bhavan from the Raj-era. The Qutb archaeological complex in Mehrauli opens up different chapters from the annals of Delhi’s past— peeling back layers of culture, religion, and political history. At the same time, it draws their attention to the importance of its architectural richness. The 12th-century mosque here is the earliest example of Indo-Islamic art and architecture in the country. It's a great time for them to learn the basics of how Islamic ornamentation features, such as arabesques, calligraphy, and geometric forms in construction works came to fuse with Indian traditions. The Alai Darwaza reflects the earliest example of the first true arches and true domes in India. It might surprise them to note how pillars, ceilings, and stones from the many older Hindu and Jain temples from the site were reused to build the Islamic structures here. Let them have a go at embracing the massive 4th/5th-century iron pillar, which might amaze them for being rust-free to this day.
As you wander through the gullies of the medieval Hauz Khas village with its cafes and swanky boutiques, unraveling the historic beginnings of this popular hangout joint can be made fun for youngsters. This was part of Siri, the second medieval city of India which dates back to the Delhi Sultanate of the Alauddin Khalji Dynasty (1296–1316). A lovely lunch at a café overlooking the famous hauz (tank), swings you back to the era of Firoz Shah Tughluq. Siri Fort, now parts of which have been repurposed to meet present-day needs, has a string of boutiques, an auditorium which is a popular recreational space, and a well-equipped sports complex.
At the iconic Humayun’s’ Tomb points out the classic features that comprise its symmetric perfection— and, how it is believed to be even architecturally more perfect than the Taj. It was significant for its important architectural innovations including creating a Char Bagh – a garden setting inspired by the description of paradise in the Holy Quran.
Back in the Old Quarter get them to ditch the burgers and pizzas to gorge on traditional Dilliwallah snacks, kebabs, biryanis, and sweets like the jalebis which go back to the days of the Mughals.
In Agra, while viewing the Taj Mahal, get them to recapture the essence of its architectural splendour. Share with them the importance of its artisanal decoration, which some old families in Agra still pursue with passion. A visit to a workroom of the famous pietra dura or Pacchikari, (inlay work of semi-precious stones on marble, etc) will give them an idea of how painstaking this ancestral handicraft is to this day; also how tough it is to ensure the craft does not die away with the lure of easier employment for the artisans.
At sunset lead them to Mehtab Bagh for a unique viewing of the Taj. Speak to them about how important gardens were for the Mughals and the different kinds they commissioned; a good example is the Islamic Char Bagh Tomb Garden and the significance of all the different features in it… from the trees to the waterbodies.
Agra is also renowned for the exquisite zardozi work and the young girls in the group should be lured into visiting one of the families that still pursue this exquisite craft.
Visit Agra Fort and the abandoned capital of Emperor Akbar Fatehpur Sikri and share your learnings with the youngsters in the group of the might of the Mughal Empire in its heyday.
In Jaipur city get everyone to hop on to rickshaw to enjoy a fabulous heritage tour of the old bastion of the Kachhwaha rulers of Rajasthan. Introduce them to the architectural tenets from old Hindu texts which inspired Maharaja Swai Jai Singh II to build this new capital.
The Pink City Rickshaw Company needs your support as a tourist for a worthy cause as it aims to provide employment opportunities to 200 women from low-income households in Jaipur. This a great eco-friendly way of enjoying immersive exploration of all the major touchpoints, including monuments, museums, and bazaars which spill over with crafts from all over Rajasthan.
If you are in Jaipur during a festival, it offers even more exciting vignettes of local culture. You might want to pencil in visits to the textile crafting villages of Sanganer and Bagru, for their ancient handblocks and printing traditions.
At the historic old capital of Amer, the youngsters will discover many Insta moments. Wrap up the trip here with a tour of the water heritage of the area. They need to learn how precious water is for the communities in Rajasthan. The tour will also reflect the sustainable living practices that have been an intrinsic part of the lives of the villagers down the centuries.
As a special treat, you should all go on a leopard-spotting safari at Jhalana, which isn’t too far from Jaipur. There’s a bonus for birdwatching enthusiasts as the area attracts a lot of avifaunal species.
Exploring the Golden Triangle; with the teens in your family can be a truly enriching experience as it can open up fresh insights into a beloved tourist circuit. Each journey here offers many precious moments to enjoy, debate, and bicker about— and best of all take back many shared memories.