India’s Golden Triangle as Experienced by a Goway Asia Expert
Goway’s Senior Asia Specialist, Nyssa Hartin, travelled with a group to India’s Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur). Here, she answers some questions about her experiences, and gives her advice on selling this exotic destination.
What was your favourite place you visited while in India and why?
This is a really tough question for me to answer. India is such a vibrant destination and I saw a lot of beautiful things on my whirlwind trip. I loved Agra, not because Agra itself is a particularly thrilling place, but because its home to two famous and amazing sites – the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort (as seen above). The Taj Mahal is spectacular. Photos and words just don’t do it justice. I walked into the complex and immediately all of my expectations were blown away. It’s so grandiose and beautiful! Agra’s Red Fort is also outstanding. It’s enormous and has a lot of really beautiful and unique areas to walk through. Hands down it’s the more impressive fort that I saw on my trip, and I saw quite a few! Added bonus, you also get some nice views of the Taj from some of the Fort’s windows.
What was something new you learned while there?
India gets cold! Well, the north does at least. I’ve always really thought of India as a country with temperatures that range from extremely hot to mildly hot but never cold. I travelled the Golden Triangle in December and it was delightfully cool. During the day it was pleasant in jeans and a t-shirt, and at night it cooled down enough for a sweater (but not so much that we couldn’t enjoy the many open air restaurants). For a country where it’s customary to have your legs and shoulders covered, the temperatures for this time of year were perfect for m,e and I would certainly recommend November and December for any clients who are not extreme heat enthusiasts.
What are your “top tip” for agents selling India to their clients?
1) Go with a guide
This is my advice for the seasoned and novice traveller alike. I’m a fairly independent traveller and don’t always opt for guided services, but luckily I did in India. India is an incredible but overwhelming place. There is just so much of everything – colour, people, sights, smells, everything. I quickly realized just how lost in India I would have been without my guide. He made my trip! I learned so much about all of the sights we visited and got to experience some of the best food due to his helpful recommendations. If I had done this trip on my own I really would have missed out on what makes this country so remarkable!
2) Don’t be afraid to up-sell
Everybody loves luxury, and India is the place for it. India has some truly amazing luxury options (including authentic palaces that have been converted into hotels) that offer top experiences for much less than many other places in the world.
If you could go back to India, what would you like to see/do next?
There is no doubt in my mind that I will be returning to India. There is so much that I want to still see. When I do, I would like to get a bit off the beaten track and head north. I would love to get up into the Himalayas and do some light trekking, combined with some form of yoga or wellness retreat. Of all the places in the world for a getaway like that, I feel that Northern India would be the most spectacular!
Suggested Itinerary:
6-Day Essential Golden Triangle