Why India?  — This was the first question that came across the minds of our family and friends, as they expressed concerns and almost puzzled reactions when we first revealed that our next travel destination was India.  Most people living in Westernized cultures, often depict India to be very crowded, dirty, dangerous and heavily impoverished and although I can’t overlook the harsh realities, as they do exist in parts of India,there are many hidden gems in the country that we hope to dispel the negativity.  India had always intrigued us as a place to visit but we always hesitated to travel to India, frankly for those same perceptions. With our kids being older, and many travel experiences in different countries before them, we figured that 5 years and 7 yrs was a reasonable age to travel to India with the hopes that they gain more than just a travel destination, but also a learning, cultural, spiritual, and humbling experience for them.  We were excited to learn about India’s rich history, beautiful art and architecture, culture, vibrancy of the people and the colours are the many reasons that eventually persuaded us to finally book our trip to India.

With just over a week to visit the golden triangle (New Delhi, Agra, Jaipur), there were so many things to see in so little time for us, we highly recommend hiring a local guide and driver to get around the cities. Yes, it will cost you more, but for convenience, our peace of mind and safety was our utmost priority with our kids. Make sure you do your extensive research when hiring tour companies and read reviews online before you book with them. We had the pleasure of hiring Jogi and Ajab from India Personal Tours and would highly recommend their services anytime. They have excellent reviews from trip advisor and were very flexible, knowledgeable, personable and friendly to us throughout our entire time with them.  Manu, the owner, was very responsive with his emails and helpful in creating our very own personalized customized itinerary. They also offer more affordable group tours for those on a budget. They have various service vehicles available to rent but we choose the 8 passenger van as we figured it would be the most comfortable for us and the kids for those long drives between the cities.

Here are the top three cities we visited in Northern India and the highlights of places in each of the cities we visited:

Delhi is the most populated city in India, with over 20 million citizens living here, the noise and traffic (constant honking) is definitely nothing we’ve ever encountered in our past travel adventures. For those who have not come across a city with such high density, the overcrowding, pollution, stray animals roaming around (goats, dogs, cows, and monkeys) and poverty in the streets may initially come as a culture shock.  With just a few hours to tour Delhi on our itinerary, we toured much of the city on wheels while our tour guide, explained the most historical places in the city.

Our only stop in New Delhi was at the the Humayan’s Tomb.  This monument was recently declared by UNESCO as a world heritage site and is characterized by its beautiful historic architecture and opulent red-sandstone exterior. The tomb is quite historical and was built even before the Taj Mahal in 1572. The tomb commemorates the second ruler of India, Mughal Humayun. Amidst the hustle and bustle of Delhi, we were surprised how the grounds and buildings were beautifully well maintained and actually quite a serene surrounding and a nice place for locals to enjoy a picnic (when its not too busy!). I would recommend at least 2 to 3 hrs to explore the grounds and don’t forget to visit Isa Khan’s Tomb.

AGRA

Agra was the second stop of our journey and took approximately 4 to 5 hours drive from New Delhi (with a quick stopover for lunch).  The most northern city in the state of Uttar Pradesh and home to the iconic Taj Mahal. We spent 2 nights in the city of Agra. 

Here are the main highlights that we visited:

Mehtab Bagh Garden

We captured some amazing sunset views of the Taj Mahal from across the Yamuna River. The best time to come visit the garden, is on Fridays when the Taj Mahal is closed.

Agra Fort

After our visit at the Taj Mahal, later that afternoon we visited one of the most iconic forts in all of India. Built with red sandstone exterior, the moment you walk into this fort, you can’t help but be blown away with the vastness and historic intricacies of this Fort’s architecture.  You will come across some of the Mughal’s old bath tubs used back in the 1500’s, grape gardens, and the living quarters of the Mughals.  So much history can be spent and learned here . We spent about 2 to 3 hours touring this monument. You can also get a glimpse of the Taj Mahal from afar.

Our very knowledeable, personable  and Friendly Tour Guide Jageshwar Kashyap (a.k.a. “Jogi”)

Our amazing driver, Ajab

Oberoi Villas 

An ultra luxurious hotel that offers unobstructed views of the Taj Mahal in all their accommodations. The staff and service is exceptional and went above and beyond our expectations. We were also offered a behind the scenes tour of the kitchen. The kids enjoyed some fresh delicious chocolates from the chef. To top it off, they surprised us with some packed foods to set us off on our journey.

JAIPUR (“The Pink City”), Rajasthan

Jaipur was the third stop on on our journey and was a 5-6 hour drive from Agra. The capital city of the Indian state of Rajasthan is also known as the Pink City and was once home and ruled by India’s royalty, founded in 1727. The Rajasthan state is known for its diversity of colours, beautiful block printing, and high quality textiles. Jaipur also happened to be our most favourite city that we visited.  We spent two nights in the city of Jaipur.

Here are the many highlights we visited in Jaipur:

Abhaneri Stepwell

Jal Mahal (Water Palace)

Hawa Mahal (Wind Palace)

Amber Fort

A popular place for tourists to visit, also decleared in 2013 as one of Unesco’s World Heritage Site.  You can choose to ride  an elephant up to the Fort, a jeep ride, or walk if you have the time.  The setting takes place atop a steep hill just outside of the city center, and offers one of the most scenic and breathtaking mountain views of Jaipur.

Samode Haveli:

This 200 year old palace, converted into a charming and quaint hotel in 1987.  Many of its original style and historical decor were maintained.  We even caught a traditional Rajasthan puppet show that the girls enjoyed!

The City Palace

Visit to a local School in Jaipur

Our last stop in Jaipur, and certainly the most memorable was a visit to one of government supported local schools. We purchased school supplies at the local shopping mall the night before and the girls assisted in individually packing a handful of school supplies to the school children. It was our first experience as a family doing any type of charitable act during our travels and certainly will not be our last. It was such a pleasure speaking to some of the children, some were shy and reserved while one girl I spoke with was forthcoming and eager to speak to us about her aspirations of becoming a doctor. It was quite inspiring to hear such ambition, and encouraged her to never stop pursuing her dreams.

After this experience, the girls mentioned to me after the trip that this is one of their most treasured memory and they truly felt humbled by the experience. This experience truly had opened their eyes to a different set of reality.

Alila Fort (Bisangarah Village)

Our highlight of our trip, tucked away in the rural area of Bisangarah Village with beautiful mountain views as your backdrop (about 2 hours from Jaipur) is this hidden gem called the Alila Fort. This Fort took 10 years to renovate but had only been open to public 1.5 years ago.

We decided this would be the best place to end our India trip, to unwind and relax from the chaos and noise of the cities. Such a peaceful and tranquil time during the two nights that we had stayed. The Alila Fort was a castle that was converted to a modernized luxurious hotel.  The hotel also offer guided tours to the local villages and other once in a lifetime experiences like camel and horse rides through the local villages. Check their website here for the list of options that they have available. We wish to thank the wonderful staff for making us feel so welcomed and at home during our stay.  We truly enjoyed the wonderful company.

1. Do travel during cooler months from November to February to optimize the overall travel experience. Believe it or not the northern regions of India drops down to single digits in the mornings and evenings so pack a sweater during these months. The summer months are very hot and humid and would try to avoid these months as much as possible.
2. Do hire a local tour guide and driver, especially for your first visit. It is very difficult to navigate through India’s public transportation system.
3. Do wake up early. Always better to see the monuments as early as possible to avoid long line-ups in the afternoon.
4. Do ensure that you review any travel advisories before your travel and that you visit your local travel clinic to ensure you receive the proper vaccinations needed.
5. Do eat hearty and full meals when you can.  Also, carry snacks and drinks during your visits to the monuments as eateries and shops are normally not available inside.

1. Don’t drink the local water and ice. Most hotels provide several complimentary bottles of water and also best to use for washing and rinsing your mouth and toothbrushes. Always ensure that the bottles are completely sealed before you open it.
2. Don’t be too adventurous and try local street food on your first visit. The sanitation and the quality of food may be different from those in well established dining facilities and the last thing you would want is to be sick and have your vacation spoiled. For those just in case situations, you should have a pack of immodium on your trip.
3. Don’t forget to apply for an India e-visa, and make sure to apply online here. You will need to provide photos and passport information during the application process.
4. Don’t stray off the beaten path too much and be mindful of the places that you do visit. Like every city, there are neighbourhoods with bad reputations. We traveled and visited places only during the day to early evening, and with our local tour guide and driver.
5. Don’t forget to pack a few hand sanitizers, wipes, and napkins.  Washrooms sometimes do not provide toilet paper.

Also be sure to check out our video highlights of our trip to Northern India below!

Our cultural experience in Northern India