ISB student Elizabeth Goslin provides a brief glimpse into her family's recent vacation to India and shows us why “Incredible India” is exactly that.

India was an easy choice when it came to choosing where to spend our family holiday. Not only do we have many close friends from India and neighboring countries, but we have also long been fascinated with Indian history and culture and, of course, its cuisine.

We opted for a trip to the “Golden Triangle” of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, with a side trip to Ranthambhore, a national tiger preserve in eastern Rajasthan. It took eight days.

The first two days were devoted to Delhi. We visited the Red Fort, the seat of Moghul power built in the 17th century, Jama Mashid, the largest Great Mosque in India, and other places. It was a pleasure to see Indian tourists not only in Delhi but everywhere we went. At the Red Fort we were approached by students wearing traditional school uniforms who asked to take a picture of us. We said yes, and they, in turn, agreed to let us take a picture of them. We wanted to visit the Gandhi Memorial Museum but it was unexpectedly closed that afternoon for a government event. Rickshaws were a great way to navigate the tiny streets and dodge through traffic on the larger ones.

A highlight of our Delhi visit was a trip to a large Hindu temple. An official greeter covered our heads with colorful pieces of cloth and we washed our feet by passing through a small pool of running water prior to entering the temple precinct. A service was underway and we sat on the carpeted floor among the worshipers. The music was stirring and we felt most welcome due to the friendly nods and smiles of other people there. Before we left, we paid a visit to a meal program-just like a soup kitchen-where a couple hundred people were waiting to eat. We helped prepare bread and were graciously shown by other volunteers how to roll and flatten the dough for cooking. We were honored to serve in this small way.

From Delhi we took an early train to Agra. We spent the morning at the Agra Fort, another majestic Moghul fort that once was a “city within a city,” and it too is full of fascinating stories. We learned more about Indian history and were amazed by the architectural and ornamental detail. We were fascinated by the hall where you could whisper into a corner and be heard in the corner opposite (there are many of those around the world, but this one had the truest sound of the ones we’ve visited). Monkeys and green parrots were a constant presence and here again we had our picture taken by some local visitors.

We visited several arts and crafts centers in the afternoon, and then went to see-or experience, really-the Taj Mahal. It was great to walk around and see it from different angles and to enjoy the beauty of the gardens. It was especially gratifying to be there at sunset and witness the subtle changes in color. It is truly a beautiful place and worth seeing.

We took two days to visit Ranthambhore National Park, home to some 40 tigers and hundreds of other animals. We saw langurs, chitals, nilgais, wild boar and many other animals and exotic birds including peacocks, most at a very close range. Going on a safari entails sitting very still and quietly deep in the park and we were shocked at how much there was to notice. We saw tiger tracks , and one afternoon we heard the roaring of a tiger very nearby.

Our final stop was Jaipur, the “Pink City,” a bustling city full to the brim with people and excitement. There were many shopping opportunities from street markets to high-end stores and our Beijing bargaining skills certainly came in handy. In the city, we visited the City Palace, the Palace of Wind and the Amber Fort just to the north, where you can enjoy an elephant ride up to the entrance. This was another beautiful palace filled with a genuine maze of secret passages to explore.

We found the Indian people friendly to a fault. It is impossible not to see and be troubled by the extreme poverty; one cannot gloss over its disturbing reality and can only hope that public and private measures will have ever stronger benefits. But the great beauty, cultural richness, openness and pride were also in great evidence, and we look forward to returning some day.

Details:

Stay : The Intercontinental Grand New Delhi, US$200 per night.
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental
Eat : The tandoori chicken made fresh from the tandoor is a definite must and can be found at roadside dhabas.