Here’s a precious new way of making new memories of the Golden Triangle as you hit the premier hot spots of Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur, exploring the rhymes and rhythms in their days.
Mesmerising Taj Viewings in Agra
The best place to start this memorable journey is, yes, the Taj Mahal. And the best time to soak in its fabled beauty and charm is at sunrise. Of course, if you can’t get enough of it, there’s a wonderful opportunity to gaze upon its jaw-dropping awesomeness when it’s bathed in the golden hues of a vibrant sunset. And, if ever your visit is timed for a full moon night, its shimmering, ethereal beauty will bring home to you why it’s one of India’s most alluring tourist attractions.
So, if you want to see the Taj in all its morning glory, you need to hop out of your bed early and make sure you are at the Eastern Gate by 5.30 am, as it’s the first to open, about an hour or half an hour before the sunrise. The other good thing is that it’s less crowded at this time. That means you don’t have to jostle for space to find the prime spots such as ‘Diana’s’ Bench for this luminescent viewing. It’s a 15-minute walk from the gate to the entrance of the main complex, so you do really need to get there early—hangover from the night before or not!
As the sun breaks through the morning mist its rays reach out and embrace the entire edifice in a shimmer of pearly hues edged in gilded highlights. And if tendrils of the winter mists continue to cling to the white marble mausoleum it can be a truly mystical experience. As the sunrise progresses the Taj looks more and more magical, inspiring the photographer or the poet in you to capture these moments for eternity.
If you are visiting the Agra Fort there are viewpoints from there as well, which offer this stunning transition from darkness to dawn of this architectural marvel, and an emperor’s symbol of love, over the centuries, for his beloved queen.
The sunset from the Mehtab Bagh is an enduring treasure of your memories of the Taj. If you are in the city for the night, you just can’t miss it. If you are flush in funds one of the best places to enjoy daylong views of the Taj is the luxurious Kohinoor Suite at the Oberoi Udaivilas, amongst the closest hotels to the fabled mausoleum.
Jaipur at Sunset
The Pink City turns a soft coppery hue as the rays of a dying sun cling to it passionately before they are swallowed up by the velvety darkness of the night. Cocktail hour comes with a loaded dice in the 16th century city as all over town there are prime spots to watch the sunset over sundowners. A trending spot today is the Sunset Bar at the Sarovar Portico. People arrive here to lounge around with its famous “sunset sips". Then there’s the added allure of “buy one- get one, happy hours". The picture windows and the vintage vibe of the bar creates just the right ambience to soak in the magic of the sunset. Be there for sure before the evening shadows transform it into a black velvet blanket shimmering with the scatter of stars and an early moon hanging low in the sky. With its dedicated stock global wines, mixed drinks, draft lager and ritzy appetizers, the sunset bar knows how to keep the cash registers ringing.
Diona Jaipur is another premier spot in town for atmospheric sunsets to be enjoyed with inventive sundowners and refreshing brews. If you are restless of heart and adventurous of spirit a lovely way to savour the splendours of a Jaipur sunset is on a hot air balloon ride. That’s as close as you can get while sailing across gilded skies lit up by the last rays of the sun, before it retires for an early night.
Moonlighting in Udaipur
The fabled royal city of fairytale palaces and scenic lakes has every right to own a special place as one of the world’s most romantic cities. Honeymooners and wedding parties have down the decades provided plenty of fodder to its mythical charms. A boat ride on a full moon night on the iconic Lake Pichola brings these myths to life. As you sail gently over the lake the glittering line-up of illuminated palaces and temples along the waterline offers a mesmerising picture, beautifully reflected in the waters. On the lake itself the legendary water palace, the Lake Palace Hotel appears like a ghostly galleon of pristine white beauty, elegantly riding the waves in the distance. Your night under a smiling moon can end with a lovely dinner at the other palace, the heritage-bound Jag Mandir, set upon an island on the lake. Dating back to the 14 century this artificial lake, skirted by the verdant Aravalli Hills, centuries old palaces, and temples, extends over a distance of about four-square kilometres.
Another lovely spot to enjoy moonlight boat ride is the serene Fateh Sagar Lake built in the 17th century by Maharaja Jai Singh. One of the popular places on the lake itself is Nehru Island which has a beautiful garden. Fateh Sagar Lake is a much-favoured spot for sunset viewings as well, as is the Ambrai Ghat from where pleasure boats head out on Lake Pichola.
What you find here are just a few samplers of the places one can enjoy some of the most iconic moments in Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur. But there’s no doubt you’ll surely discover your own private spots from where you can savour these experiences which you’d like to share with just your buddies.