the golden triangle   Jaipur - Agra - Delhi

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan awaits us today with the Palace of the Winds, the Pink City with all sorts of Bazaars in the arcades of residential houses. These are arranged in the streets for clothing, silver jewelry, the blue ceramictypical for Jaipur, etc. This is the only thing that happens in an orderly fashion on the bazaar. Every dealer tries to lure the tourist into his shop "Yes, Sir!" ", "Hello my friend!" "Have a look at this scarf mame!" The pedestrians are even more strenuous than the vehicles, as they simply turn, stop, or walk into one without a horn. You must not be afraid of touch. Annoying are the agents of the shops who want to lead you into the shop, or discuss why we Europeans are so unfriendly and so often say "no thanks!". Sitting down in the shop and looking at it doesn't cost anything. Incidentally, we have so much money that we could buy him something, whether we're doing it or not. After all, he had to feed a large family. Oh yes, haggling over the prices, that' s exciting. If the T-shirt costs 550 INR at the beginning, you can take it with you at the end for 250 INR. Compared to the small markets in Pushkar or Udaipur, where besides the play of colours of the colourful fabrics there is also the exoticism of India with the smell of spice, inzen and food in the air, the intrusiveness of the traders, the noise of the street and the unintent smell of it are in the air. exhaust gas and urine.
We somehow can't find access to the city, and since our senses get so little positive impulses, it's extremely hard for us to see the negatives that are everywhere in India. Perhaps an open word is appropriate at this point. Yes, India is dirty, there is a damn lot of rubbish around. You are approached everywhere and should answer the usual questions about name, place of residence, itinerary, etc. Often with the background that the one has a great offer right now. If you don't want to be rude, it takes time and can sometimes annoy. It is normal for Indian men to just spit and pinch everywhere. Accordingly, it does not smell good in some places, often the waste water is simply directed to the street (extremely in Jaisalmer) But in other places a delicious food scent hangs in the air or it smells of incense sticks and spices. The noise level is also not especially the honking always and everywhere strains the nerves. Even on the bazaars, tuck tucks and motorcycles are looking loudly for their way. Often there seems to be no discernible reason for us to horn. But what would India be without the Tuck Tucks, they belong to it. Just like the women in their colorful saris, the colorful markets and the damn delicious food. There are plenty of beautiful, varied buildings to admire and partly beautiful landscapes.
But finally we also find in Jaipur a place that is really good for us the temple complex in Galta, in a picturesque gorge that is 5 km outside the city. Our Tuck Tuck driver Lala wanted to bring us not only to the city, but also to bring us here. In hindsight, we are grateful this time for the business ability of our driver. The temples are dedicated to the sun god and the monkey god Hanuman. The game of Monkeys and the motorcycle tour with a local student down into the valley was real Great. One attraction is the three springs-fed basins, which used to be served the pilgrims for their cleansing ritual and are now used by the monkeys for bathing.

Knowledge of the day: India offers many extremely contrasting experiences and is culturally somewhat in need of getting used to. Either you hate it or you love it.

The Hotel Pearl Palace is one of the best of our tour. A large, tastefully furnished room with large, clean bathroom, we can related. The meals on the roof top are a bit more expensive, but very rich and delicious. We enjoy the variety of Indian breakfast with dosa, alu parata, and pulao, or in the evening the Thali and kashmiri pulao. Dinner is accompanied by live Indian music. After each meal, a short feedback is requested. TripAdvisor in particular is very popular.

In addition to the district of the City Palace, which is partly quite run down and we does not like it. Amber Fort and Fort Jaigarh with the largest cannon in the world are on the program. Both of them do not convince us. It is extremely touristy and people are only interested in fast business. Tourists almost always pay 5 to 10 times what locals pay. When asked about the way, Amber almost always gets the answer "Like to take an elephant?" or "Like to take a Jeb?" A supposedly state guide texts one and admits at some point that he wants 300 INR. Better not to say "no thanks!" but simply ignore it. Luckily, we can walk a bit between the forts. Slowly, this becomes a long time. But Amber seems to be the forbidden city. It is not allowed to read sitting on stairs in the guidebook, nor to go to a beautiful vantage point to take pictures and it does not seem to be allowed to walk up to the Amber Palace in peace.

Knowledge of the day - A friendly "No thanks!" is already considered to be Invitation to action. Simply ignoring is not considered unfriendly
rejection, but is intended to signal pointless, does not need time to Waste.

Agra - 5.45 a.m. the alarm clock rings. On to the Taj Mahal to admire the World Heritage Site at sunrise. Luckily, our Coral Guesthouse is only 10 minutes away. Guides offer their services along the way. The entrance fee is 1300 INR incl. visit to the tombs inside a proud price. Locals pay only 50 INR. But for that is the photography incl. and there are shoe overcoats and a bottle of water. Because nothing can be taken with you except a camera, the purse and the smartphone. There are few visitors there at this morning hour. Perhaps the fog has deterred. The Taj Mahal in the fog has something mystical, when the sun rises and gives the whole white a delicate bright red shimmer, one feels like a world of 1001 nights. The marble with partly pastel-coloured green and brown inlays, Koranic writings and the delicate decoration inside are fascinating. A masterpiece of its kind and a most popular photo motif. No wonder that all the personalities of the 20th century have been photographed on the marble slab in front of the Taj with the reflection of the mausoleum in the watercourse. So we also used the light of the rising sun in the fog. From the adjacent mosque, the Taj Mahal with its 4 minarets can be found at the corners of the square, with a slight tilt to the park side, so that they do not destroy the Taj in the event of a collapse.
take a picture at sunrise. On the sarcophagus of the Mumataz Mahal are the 99 names of Allah inscribed.
Perhaps the "Baby Mahal" mausoleum of Itim-ud-Daulah - built in 1622-1627 inspired the architect and his Persian and Indian craftsmen. This mausoleum is the first building in India to be completely covered with marble and is considered the most beautiful example of Pietra-dura works. It is visited by a few tourists, but is a very beautiful national monument next to the Taj Mahal and the red fort, which for years can only be visited partially. The Red Fort of Agra, from which you can see the Taj from a clear view, with its red sand stone form a stark contrast to the two mausoleums. The interior of the behind the massive walls is very versatile with its buildings. With a hall of mirrors, the audience hall, women's chambers of the concubines with white columns and stones and a red sandcoloured palace. Unfortunately, the mosques are closed due to construction work. The Pearl Mosque is said to be one of the most beautiful in India.

Knowledge of the day - the early riser is given the most beautiful light. The fog can't tarnish that either.

Say goodbye in Delhi and invited to Ashok for the real homestay, so we want to overwrite our last day in Rajasthan.
Our second visit to the capital of India is more pleasant with Bittoo as a travel companion than our first experiences 3 weeks ago. Even the heaviest rainfall of the last 25 years cannot tarnish this. We also visit the Lotus Temple, the Humayun Mausoleum, one of the most beautiful monuments of the Mughal period. In this tomb, the indigenous building traditions merge with the Persian for the first time. Completed in 1564 by the widow of the ruler, the building is characterized by the contrast of sandstone and marble. A particularly spiritual place is the temple complex Swaminarayan Akshardham. Due to terror threats, the visitor can only, under the highest safeguards, the vision of a spiritual monument on the banks of the Yamuna, completed on November 6, 2005, as a socio-spiritual place of strength and encounter, peace, beauty, joy, and divinity.