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My husband and I traveled from 06-19 March 2011. with the operator "Minar".
It should be noted that if you were not in the central part of India, but rested only in GOA, you did not really see India. There is little information on the Golden Triangle on the Internet - so I would like to share my impressions about my trip.
1) Flight Moscow-GOA (day one)
It was decided in advance to leave winter clothes and shoes in the storage room of Domodedovo airport, otherwise it would take almost a whole suitcase, and there was no point in carrying it around the entire Golden Triangle tour. For two weeks they paid 2800 rubles. (payment at the end), but they did not worry about the excess baggage on the way back and did not carry extra cargo with them. We flew to GOA by Transaero, the flight was delayed by 2 hours.
The plane itself looked very impressive: a double-decker airliner designed for 500 people, on the second floor there is accommodation for business-class passengers with folding chairs and even a restaurant. But here’s what surprised me: the flight attendants were not very kind, there were no usual friendly smiles, they walked the whole flight with irritated faces, ignored the passengers (my husband waved his arms for a long time and pestered me with a request to give me a pillow, an hour later they brought me with such an angry expression that I thought now they will whip him on the cheeks with this pillow). To GOA flew about 7 hours. We waited a long time for luggage upon arrival. Indians right at the airport began to earn money on our tourists.
Here are their main tricks: they rush to help you remove a heavy and not very suitcase from the tape, even if you yourself intended to do it, they push you aside, remove your suitcase and then demand baksheesh; or they begin to remove all the suitcases from the tape that come to hand and put them aside, from the outside it seems that the airport employees are just trying to quickly release the tape for other luggage, but in reality, when you come to pick up your suitcase, you will frankly hint that he didn't bother for free. In this case, you can just calmly pick up your suitcase and thank him with a smile, pretending that you didn’t understand his hint. At the exit from the airport, Indians will rush to you to help carry your luggage to the car.
Before leaving, I read reviews and intimidated my husband, he was ready for the fact that on each suitcase he would have five Indians hanging from his hands, trying to snatch the luggage from his hands, or even bring it along with the luggage to the bus. Everything turned out not so scary. The husband drove away all the volunteers on the way to the bus (it’s enough not to let go of the suitcase, even though they are trying to snatch it, shake your head negatively, say “know” and they will fall behind, but will follow you all the way to the bus and make new attempts to earn money). At the very bus with the name of our company, an Indian rushed to us with the words “Minar” and gestures towards the bus, but snatched our suitcases. This husband bribed, he mistook him for a Minar employee, and loosened his grip.
Then a real bus driver came out, an Indian helped him load our suitcases onto the roof of the bus (yes, they are tied on the roof), and, of course, demanded baksheesh (although the bus driver mostly loaded things, and he only handed him the suitcases). We gave him 1 dollar, but the Indian in Russian with an accent demanded 100 rubles (of course, he almost overworked himself by taking two steps with our suitcases). We also read about this in the reviews, so we didn’t give him more than a dollar, but only said with a smile “yes, thank you” and stopped paying attention to him. He realized that there was nothing else to profit from and ran to look for those who did not take a change with them. Indeed, we saw that some tourists paid 100 rubles and 10 dollars in paper money.
Therefore, always and everywhere in India, take a change with you (at the airport and when you check in, so that there would be a change in dollars, when traveling in India, banknotes of 10 and 50 rupees - then in the course of my story you will understand why). Do not change the money at the airport at a very unfavorable rate, you can change it at the hotel (in GOA in hotels the rate is $ 1 = 42 rupees). The real exchange rate is 1 $ = 44-45 rupees.
We only got luggage for about an hour, then the whole bus waited for another tourist for about an hour, she waited for luggage for a long time (and on the way back, the woman alone complained that her gold earring had disappeared from her luggage upon arrival at GOA, so pack your bags away from sin protective tape - and the suitcases will be safer and your things). According to our program, we had to spend several hours in GOA in a 3-star Bollywood transit hotel, have breakfast there, relax, and only then fly to Jaipur.
But our guides announced to us that we no longer had time to get to this hotel and it would be better for us to stay at the airport, since our flight would be coming soon. We did not argue, otherwise we would only have had time to arrive at the hotel and immediately had to go back. But for themselves they noted the whole pointlessness of including this item in our program (breakfast and rest at the Bollywood hotel). It is well known that charter flights are delayed with periodic regularity, and in practice it is clear that the process of receiving luggage at the GOA airport is delayed by 1-2.5 hours. Therefore, including this service in the program and extorting money from tourists for it is simply impudent, because the probability of receiving this service by tourists is so unlikely that it is reduced to zero. On this, our unpleasant communication with the Minar operators at the GOA has not yet ended, but more on that later.
2) Flight GOA-Mumbai-Jaipur (continuation of the first day).
All these flights did not take much time and effort.
From GOA to Mumbai flew 1 hour 40 minutes. Transfer in Mumbai was not burdensome (waited about 1 hour 30 minutes). Flight time from Mumbai to Jaipur is 1 hour 40 minutes. Flights by local airlines pleased: comfortable, clean planes with smiling and helpful stewards, mostly wealthy Indians among the passengers, the only negative: they froze on planes because their air conditioners work hard - so take warm clothes on the plane (the Indians themselves did not notice the cold) . And on local airlines there are no free drinks and food, they bring a menu and you can order all this for money. Airports themselves: clean and spacious, toilets free and clean.
3) Jaipur (second day).
We arrived in Jaipur on the evening of the first day, we were met by a representative of Minar, they hung a garland of flowers around our necks, escorted us to the hotel, helped us to stay, agreed to meet on the next day. day.
I will immediately write a few words about the Minar employees in the central part of India (Jaipur, Agra, Delhi). In general, they left a positive impression (“Minar” is in the central part, not in GOA).
The Toyota passenger car that accompanies us all the way through central India (excursions, transfers between cities, transfer to the airport) is very comfortable with air conditioning and a large luggage compartment. The driver was also the same Indian all the way, we liked him very much. Just the perfect driver: attentive (always opened the door, gave me flowers on March 8), helpful (at our request, he brought us to places where you can buy inexpensive fruits, rum, drinks, an adapter for an outlet, exchanged money for us), modest ( mostly silent, and only spoke when asked - perfect!! ).
Guides: In Jaipur, an Indian man is five plus (he speaks Russian well, on all excursions he talks in great detail and interestingly about the places he visits, he took great pictures of my husband and me along the way, always put us up to date “there you will be offered souvenirs - this fakes, there you will be offered a photo - the maximum price is 50 rupees for each, there you can buy all the trinkets for a maximum of 150-300 rupees each, etc. ) In Agra, a woman is four plus (she speaks Russian well, she herself comes from from Uzbekistan, she also gave full and understandable material on excursions, but when asked questions about the country as a whole, she answered briefly and without content, but took her to inexpensive restaurants). In Delhi, a Hindu guy is five plus (not only speaks Russian well, but also talks well about places, and in the end we tortured him all the way about the country, about the inhabitants, customs and local religion - he told everything well).
Separately, I note: that the guides accompanied us from morning until evening (that is, it was paid), offered us to change money at a high rate (brought to places where the exchange rate is higher than the hotel, not 42 but 44 rupees for $ , don’t worry about changing - they didn’t cheat), at our request they took us to inexpensive and good Indian restaurants, helped us choose food on the menu, took us to the fruit market, mini-market, souvenir shops. We didn’t travel around the Golden Triangle in a group (it’s strange, but the group from Moscow didn’t get enough), but together with my husband: we didn’t regret it. Excursions for us were individual, adjusted only for us (on excursions of free time they gave us at our discretion, where we asked to go, we went there).
The only remark to all the guides who worked with us: dear guides, please do not limit yourself to stories about the sights you visit, tell more about the country itself, because we came to India not only to take pictures at the Taj Mahal, but also to learn more about such an unusual country and rich culture. We are interested in everything: customs, culture, religion, what is produced and grown in India, education, military service, how they get married and divorced, how much they get paid. , what are castes, why do women put a dot between the eyebrows, why our Indian driver has a braid below the waist ...everything. And I had to pull out the information with ticks. Thanks to the Indian guide guy in Delhi, he enlightened us on many points. I will not write - ask yourself - it's all very, very interesting.
In Jaipur, we stayed at the Fortune Select Metropolitan 4-star hotel, located in the very center, the rooms are good, the breakfasts are acceptable (you won’t die of hunger). On the second day in Jaipur, we visited: the Palace of the Winds - you have never seen anything like this, the Amber Fort with the fortress of Nagar Fort - a very exotic excursion, you ride elephants for about 20 minutes up the mountain to the fort itself (the view is amazing), then you walk around the large Ford area (there and gardens, and an observation deck, and various halls, for example, a mirror one was very impressive, the ford is surrounded by a wall that looks like a snake, winding through the mountains, reminiscent of the Great Wall of China in Beijing), the City Palace Museum (a beautiful door with a large territory), the Jantar Mantar Observatory (not impressed, oh, this is the definition of time by the shadow), a Hindu temple.
I note that in India, all Indians know English very well (from taxi drivers to cleaners in the toilet).
Jaipur city: a colorful town, left-hand traffic, there are a lot of mopeds and tuk-tuks on contracts, carts pulled by donkeys, horses or camels are often found, periodically in the most unusual places (near the shopping center, on the road, near the cinema) there are intrigued Indian cows (in fact, buffaloes, and intrigued because they look calm as if they are meditating), there are beautiful private houses, and gray rickety high-rise buildings for the poor, and huts for the poor, from time to time heaps of garbage are visible on the lawns, which no one cleans up and they are there accumulated over the years, there is also garbage on the sidewalks. But in the morning we drove, we saw how the owners of the shops were sweeping it (everyone was sweeping near their shops), but the guide explained to us that they swept it in a heap and did not clean it up, the wind swept everything away and the next morning again the garbage was everywhere, you can sweep it again.
We dined at the restaurants to which the guide brought us (for lunch or dinner in central India, we spent about 700 - 1.000 rubles for two in their restaurants with a tax for two, this included two second, local cakes, beer). Their local tax is included in the price (i. e. the menu is not full price, the tax will be added to the bill), so when they brought the bill they clarified that the service is not included, hinting that we would not forget to be generous with tips (we left from 50 -100 rupees). I want to note that the guides were not always taken to restaurants by the cheapest ones, there were also restaurants where a dressed-up doorman met us, the hall was empty and we understood that this was not the cheapest institution, but there were also restaurants where Indians themselves ate mostly with their families and there were not so grandiose - the price differed insignificantly.
At the expense of food in the central part of India: on the menu, dishes are always divided into vegetarian and non-vegetarian, the menu is in English without pictures, all dishes are conveniently highlighted (meat, chicken, fish, soup, salads). When choosing dishes, always ask the waiter "not spicy. " But keep in mind that not spicy does not mean that there will be few spices in the dish. They always pour a lot of spices, different and in all dishes. What is their special soup with spices masala worth - a spoon costs so many spices in it - very thick, but delicious! ! Here are some prices for dishes (chicken with rice - 250-300 rubles, lamb or goat with a side dish - 300-350 rubles, lentils (special dish) - 100 rubles, beer (0.6 ml) - 130 rubles). All dishes are very large! And do not look for alcoholic drinks on the menu - you will not find it, but it is behind the counter, tell them - they will bring it to you.
They do not write alcoholic drinks on the menu so as not to lose Muslim customers (it is a sin for them to drink and if they see alcohol on the menu, then turn around and leave). And the fact that visitors drink alcohol at every table, which is not on the menu, apparently does not bother Muslims. Indian tortillas are amazing (especially with cheese and garlic). Perhaps the guides take tourists exactly to such establishments so that they do not get poisoned, and not because the food is spoiled, it’s just that not all of our stomachs are adapted to eat such food. We never got poisoned in India, but ate everything. For example, once we ordered chicken with an unknown sauce for lunch in Agra - they brought a cup, we look, and there the chicken swims in a green liquid (as if the juice was squeezed out of a neighboring lawn). They closed their eyes and ate and nothing tasty, but so unusual. Although after what we ate in China, we are no strangers.
It is better to ask the guide to help you choose a dish - otherwise you will chew grass like we did (on the menu it was written chicken in sauce). I repeat, but each dish is practically strewn, stuffed and soaked in tons of spices. Here you have to be a special gourmet. Well, if you do not accept anything other than classic European dishes, you do not need to go here, but to Europe. My husband and I enjoyed Indian food very much.
As for souvenir shops in the central part of India: limit yourself to shopping there (everything is much more expensive than in GOA, even if you reduce the price by three times, you will still buy much more than you could buy in GOA). For example, for souvenirs in the central part they ask for 1300 rupees (a small bald wooden elephant, or a bronze statuette of shiva), we bargained for 700 rupees, and bought in GOA for 200 rupees (is there a difference? ? ) We didn’t buy much there and in GOA just rejoiced at it.
But here’s what you definitely won’t buy in GOA and it’s better to buy it in the central part: souvenirs with the names of Delhi, Agra, Jampur, Taj Mahal (t-shirts and baseball caps 140 rubles, plates - 600 rubles made of white marble with the Taj Mahal). This is what we just bought. And indeed, in GOA all T-shirts are only with elephants and with GOA, there was no Taj. All the souvenir shops where they brought us were not the cheapest, but the Europeans collected souvenirs there in baskets, and we all looked and asked the price and decided that these were unrealistic prices.
In the evening, it’s better not to walk on the street in the central part of India without a guide, you yourself will not find a cafe, a mini market, or a market, curious people, merchants and beggars can surround you and run after you for more than one block. Our guide was with us until the evening, he left in the evening, when we asked to be taken to the hotel (this was included in the accompaniment).
3) Agra (third-fourth day).
We drove from Jaipur for 6 hours, the roads are good, the terrain is exotic - not at all tiring. On the way to Agra, they picked up a new guide (a woman) and visited the dead city of Fatehpur Sikri. As the name suggests, we assumed it would be a couple of ruins along the way and were surprised to see a real big palace housed in a fortress. You can wander around it for hours and still you won’t get around everything. Previously, the ruler lived there with his wives. Many old buildings (bedrooms, libraries, bank, dining rooms, halls for dancing, recreation and reception of visitors), gazebos, gardens, pond, stables, and more. On the outskirts of the city there is a large square with several temples - tombs.
The city of Agra is much more exotic than Drypur, more fuss and houses for the poor, narrow roads and noisy traffic (there are even traffic jams).
In India, traffic lights practically do not work, sometimes traffic policemen stand at intersections waving their hands and whistling - regulating traffic. They have never heard of mutual respect on the road, everyone driving as they want and where they want, they don’t use the gates, they basically signal (thus saying where they are going to go, or warning that they are turning). Very similar to the movement in Cairo (Egypt). In Agra, about 4 years ago, all factories were closed, as this was reflected in the Taj Mahal Palace, white marble began to darken, many people were out of work, now they are mainly engaged in manual production, but they were exempted from paying taxes on income . It's funny: but often in Jaipur and Agra, while driving a car, you see peeing Indians. Everything is as we read in the reviews. They stand where need has overtaken them, and do their job without any embarrassment.
We counted a whole bunch of such pissing boys on trips to these two cities.
In Agra, we stayed at the Howard Park Plaza 4 star hotel, also located in the city center, not far from Taj, very comfortable rooms and reasonable breakfasts. In our agency in Russia, we were warned that even in a 4-star hotel in central India there might not be bed linen and towels in the hotel, but we had everything in all 3 hotels in central India: linen, towels, hair dryer , sets of shampoos, gels, brushes with paste (even face creams and powders for body freshness), a free safe in the room and everything else you need on the road. Thanks to the Planet-Tour agency in Tyumen for choosing hotels with amenities!
On this day, we still managed to visit Indian restaurants for lunch and dinner, souvenir shops, a mini market and a fruit market.
On the fourth day, the most unforgettable excursion awaited us - a visit to the Taj Mahal (the locals simply call it the Taj).
A chic building, just another wonder of the world - we were already there at dawn, we watched the Taj begin to shine in the first rays of the sun. All tickets for all the sights throughout the "Golden Triangle" we had already paid for along with the ticket, but at the rates of the travel agency it cost $ 70 per person. In Taj, water and shoe covers are included in the price of the entrance ticket. It is a pity that the Ruler Akbar (the Great) did not have time, as he wanted, to build on the other side of the river a second Palace of the same kind only from black marble, and across the river a luminous bridge made of precious stones - this would be the height of perfection.
In the afternoon we visited the Red Ford (there are many palaces, gardens and beautiful unexpected places on the vast territory of the ford). All excursions in the central part of us just subdued.
She thought that we just heard about this show somewhere and wanted to go to it additionally. I had to buy tickets - there was nothing to do anyway, since they arrived - they decided to go, but they insisted that she find out what kind of "inconsistencies in the program". The show was 4, similar to an Indian film only on stage, about the history of the construction of Tajda with dances and songs, the only thing that impressed me at the end was a laser show with a small copy of the Taj Mahal Palace. But less spectacular than a Bangkok theater performance with the largest stage in the world. The air conditioners worked very hard in the hall, and again only we covered it (oh, those hot Indians). But when the arctic wind constantly blows in the face, like at the North Pole, and the hands and feet are frozen, it is difficult to concentrate on the performance.
After the performance, the guide told us that she clarified that we didn’t have a show in the program, to which we thrust our program to her, where it was written in black and white (and no words about an additional service or additional payment). The next day, when another representative from Minar came to see us off in Delhi, we reflected our comments in their survey questionnaire. He had heard from the guide about our remarks about the magic show, so he asked us again in detail, copied our program. It turned out that our programs are different, in ours - the show is included, in it it is provided for an additional fee. fee. We were tired of procrastinating this topic, we asked to close it, but recommended that they correct the program, according to which either our agency in Russia gave us incorrect data, or Minar in India did not provide us with a full package of paid services.
We were surprised that no one had asked such a question before, we are not the first to travel along the Golden Triangle. Such are we Russians, or provide us with all the services that have been agreed. Or kindly do not indicate them, or write that they are additional. Everything is clear as day. In general, they made the Indian from Minar sweat.
We gave tips to the guides and the driver every day (although they did not hint or beg), but we really liked their work. Guides were given daily from 400-500 rupees (mostly 500 rupees), the driver from 300-500 rupees (on the days when he drove us from one city to another 400 rupees, on the last day 500 rupees). It was only a tip, the main salary. for our tour, of course, they were paid by the operator. Of course, they were very happy with the tip, and even such an amount is considered very good for them, given that the average salary. in the central part of Jaipur and Agra 6.000 rubles, in Delhi above 1.000-1.000 rubles.
All Indians are dressed in a simple way, often noted that the shirts are clean and ironed, local women are something special, full of multi-colored saris (often shiny and shimmering in the sun) and many bright jewelry. For example, a guide in Agra (a woman) kept trying to persuade me to dress in a sari, hinting that I looked unusual, she was embarrassed that the Indians were staring at us and constantly taking pictures. But here's what I'll tell you, in my plain dress with only open arms and legs below the knee, I clearly looked much more modest than even the most ordinary Indian woman in a bright sari with a shiny edging, a bare stomach and back, and tons of jewelry on all parts. bodies (they wear a lot of jewelry, if there are bracelets on the arm, then they are sure to be shiny on each arm from the wrist to the elbow, if the earrings are huge, shiny up to the shoulders and everything is in stones, I generally keep quiet about the necklace around the neck - it’s hard not to notice from afar.
Yes, and of course all the jewelry is real - gold with precious stones, not jewelry, which is so popular with us). Yes, I looked like a nun next to me even in my most elegant dress. So, dear women, don’t read reviews that say it’s better to dress in central India in everything closed and nondescript, to cover your head - you will still be a white woman in this spotlight, so dress as you want (but know the measure of course ).
Now I will write in more detail about the contingent of Indians, which you will definitely have to face on your journey.
Merchants: On all excursions in the central part, before entering or in line for the next attraction, as well as while you are sitting in a car in a traffic jam, you will be surrounded by local Indians - souvenir merchants. They will wave their goods in front of your nose (figurines, peacock feather fans, beads, etc. ).
), screaming that it's all real and very cheap. Moreover, there are usually several people around at once. The price will be very low, and while they occupy you, the price will go down and down. Keep in mind, if you start looking at their product, or God forbid, pick it up and ask for a price, they won’t leave you until you buy it from them, and other merchants will also come running. If you buy something from one, this merchant will never leave you, he will offer other souvenirs, and other merchants will flock to you like flies to honey. All your efforts to convince them that you do not need elephant souvenirs, since you just bought ten pieces, they do not care much, if you bought something, then you can fork out more.
If you want to go through this as painlessly as possible - just don’t look at them, briefly say “no” shake your head and continue to look at the sights, they will move away from you, seeing that you are not reacting, but from time to time they will still scour past you . If you decide that buying something cheap is also not a problem, the first thing to remember is that these are mostly low-quality goods (although the wooden elephant from sellers for $ 1 looked little different from the elephant in the shop for 1300 rupees), fakes (although in stores and in shops this is also not the real thing), keep the money with you so that they don’t pull it out, and having bought something, dump it immediately (they bought it and quickly got into the car, or went through the entrance to the territory of the attraction, they are not allowed to enter there, there they will take you won't get). For example, we bought key chains with the Taj (10 key chains for 70 rubles), other tourists a wooden elephant for 100 rupees, a hat for 150 rupees.
Guides can warn you in advance how much such souvenirs cost the maximum, but never consult with them in front of the merchants themselves, they will not answer you. They come here every day, so they have to be friendly with all the merchants (the guides can, smiling sweetly, take the goods from the merchants, ask you if you need it and answer them just as nicely that they say I'm sorry, his friend is not interested in this). For example, we read very interesting reviews before our trip: some wrote that souvenir merchants were very aggressive, 10 merchants stuck around them, grabbed clothes, beat drums, blew a pipe, hung beads, pulled in different directions, others wrote that their car was surrounded by a crowd of merchants, rocking it, shaking their goods, knocking on the glass while they were in a traffic jam. Everything is not as scary as it seems: no one pulls on clothes, it does not hang on the neck and arms.
Take it a little easier, relax and enjoy the ride.
Beggars: Again, on many excursions in front of the entrance or in line for the next attraction, as well as in traffic jams, you will encounter beggars. Basically, these are poorly dressed women with small children, disabled people or children. They will humbly reach out and ask for something. But there are fewer of them than merchants. And to be honest, of all the places we visited, we met them 3-4 times. Here is the same principle, give a change to one, other beggars, seeing this, will pounce on you like a pack of hungry wolves, and will no longer quietly ask, they will demand with all their might. Do not think that giving a little change, you will get off easy, this is a whole gang. Better try to ignore them and enjoy the sights (holding your wallet securely to yourself) - after all, that's what you came here for.
Toilet mafia: in all toilets in India in cafes, airports (except hotels), again they make money on tourists. Usually they guard at the booths or near the sinks in the toilets, and when you finish your business, they hand you paper for baksheesh. Therefore, be sure to have change and toilet paper (napkins) with you when you go to the toilet. A change (usually 5 or 10 rupees) for services, paper for the case (after all, they serve it when you are already out, they don’t realize that it will be more useful to you in the booth). It is customary for Indians to use taps with water in the toilet, so to speak, for washing, and I saw how it ended for one of our tourists, who decided to follow their example - she left the cabin with wet pants. My husband could not go to the free toilet for free, and at the end of the rest I pricked up: they hold out paper - you nod negatively and put yours under their nose, showing that you carry everything with you.
They show you a short number that you didn't even ask for, they let you take a picture, for which they ask for baksheesh.
3) Delhi (day five-six).
From Agra to Delhi it takes about 6 hours by car. In Delhi we stayed at the 4 star Oodles Hotel. The hotel surprised us. This is a brand new hotel, looks like the paint has just dried. Modern rooms with chic furnishings, ceilings under three meters, original design, king-size beds, and what a bathroom! Large and spacious, a full-wall glass door separates the bath from the shower, opposite the bath, a full-wall window overlooking the lawn (the lawn is fenced with a wall so that you cannot be seen from the street). Gorgeous! But the breakfasts were poorer than in another hotel, although the waiters did not leave us, it seems that we and 2-3 other Indian families were the only visitors to the huge hotel.
Delhi city: what can I say the real capital of India.
A huge metropolis with ground and underground metro, multi-level passages and roads, high-rise buildings and centers. There are already more good cars, fewer tuk-tuks and mopeds (in Jaipur and Agra, mostly mopeds and tuk-tuks). People here are dressed more decently, women are more modern (saris are less common, jeans are more common). More often there are rich mansions. But in Delhi, unlike the first two cities, wastelands with slums are more common, where the poor live. These are not small rickety houses (as in Agra and Jaipur), but structures made of cardboard, clay, and handy materials. The land under the slums belongs to the authorities, so the people who live in the slums pay absolutely nothing for their housing. And they have free electricity there, but the facilities are probably on the street. It's a common thing in Delhi: on one side of the road there is a luxurious three-story mansion, on the other side a quarter of huts for the poor.
- Antibacterial gel, wet wipes, toilet paper (on excursions, at airports, in cafes there is not always paper in the toilets),
- shoe covers (before entering the temples you need to take off your shoes, but it is better to put on shoe covers than pick up a fungus),
- a headscarf (before entering the temple, women need to cover their heads and the most bare places - shoulders, legs)
- a trifle (it is better to always have a trifle with you - more banknotes of 10 rupees and a little 50 rupees. They will be needed at every corner: in the toilet they will ask for paper - give 10 rupees, leave your shoes in front of the temple, come back and the locals carefully monitor it, not for free - give 10 rupees, in a cafe a boy in a turban will dance in front of you - give 50.100 rupees, before entering the tour in front of your car, a decorated cow, monkey, goat or camel will make a pretzel with the owner - you will also have to fork out, even if you did not order this show (give 50 rupees and don't forget to take a photo).
On the beach of GOA, all the local living creatures will also dance in front of you and tightrope walkers will walk, and sometimes children will run with their arms outstretched - you will have to fork out everywhere and it is better to have a change with you otherwise you will go broke).
- a flashlight (needed in GOA, there is no lighting on the beaches - it is difficult to get to the sheiks and back to the hotel in pitch darkness).
- mosquito repellent (nasty mosquitoes fly in a hotel in GOA),
- adapter for sockets (in the central part the sockets are different from ours),
- You don't need to get vaccinated before you travel.
- medicines (I have never needed them, but you feel safer with them),
- do not try unwashed vegetables and fruits in the markets, avoid eating salads made from fresh vegetables and fruits (they may not be fresh), eat mainly those foods that have been thermally processed.
Drink water only from sealed bottles (make sure it is tightly sealed, otherwise you can pour ordinary tap water and you will not get stomach problems). Do not put ice in cocktails - it is also from tap water. We followed these precautions and never got poisoned! But our guide alone at each stop did not climb out of the toilet))
- wear any clothes that are comfortable for you, you will still be the object of close attention (we were all photographed and examined as museum pieces).
4) holidays in GOA (Kenilworth Hotel 4 stars).
In general, I liked the rest and left only good memories, but instead of just exclaiming: “how wonderful everything was, ” I will write to the point.
Pros: Large area and swimming pool, well-equipped and furnished room, it has everything you need, breakfasts are not inferior to European ones, high-level service (daily cleaning, service at the reception, by the pool and in the restaurant).
Cons: The biggest minus is the bugs in the room (I think the administration has been aware of it for a long time), the hotel area is not landscaped enough and is poorly lit at night, lunches and dinners in restaurants are expensive, there is no shower and lighting on the beach in the evening, there are constant big waves on the sea - swim impossible.
Hotel grounds: score 4. Pool: score 5+. The hotel area is large, but somehow stupidly used (trees and green spaces mostly grow near the pool, and on the way to the beach, the rest is just a large green field). Large pool (it really looks like the largest pool in GOA), it consists of 5 pools, smoothly turning into each other, in the middle of the bathing area with a jacuzzi under the roof, there is an area with a water slide for children
It should be noted that if you were not in the central part of India, but rested only in GOA, you did not really see India. There is little information on the Golden Triangle on the Internet - so I would like to share my impressions about my trip.
1) Flight Moscow-GOA (day one)
It was decided in advance to leave winter clothes and shoes in the storage room of Domodedovo airport, otherwise it would take almost a whole suitcase, and there was no point in carrying it around the entire Golden Triangle tour. For two weeks they paid 2800 rubles. (payment at the end), but they did not worry about the excess baggage on the way back and did not carry extra cargo with them. We flew to GOA by Transaero, the flight was delayed by 2 hours.
The plane itself looked very impressive: a double-decker airliner designed for 500 people, on the second floor there is accommodation for business-class passengers with folding chairs and even a restaurant. But here’s what surprised me: the flight attendants were not very kind, there were no usual friendly smiles, they walked the whole flight with irritated faces, ignored the passengers (my husband waved his arms for a long time and pestered me with a request to give me a pillow, an hour later they brought me with such an angry expression that I thought now they will whip him on the cheeks with this pillow). To GOA flew about 7 hours. We waited a long time for luggage upon arrival. Indians right at the airport began to earn money on our tourists.
Here are their main tricks: they rush to help you remove a heavy and not very suitcase from the tape, even if you yourself intended to do it, they push you aside, remove your suitcase and then demand baksheesh; or they begin to remove all the suitcases from the tape that come to hand and put them aside, from the outside it seems that the airport employees are just trying to quickly release the tape for other luggage, but in reality, when you come to pick up your suitcase, you will frankly hint that he didn't bother for free. In this case, you can just calmly pick up your suitcase and thank him with a smile, pretending that you didn’t understand his hint. At the exit from the airport, Indians will rush to you to help carry your luggage to the car.
Before leaving, I read reviews and intimidated my husband, he was ready for the fact that on each suitcase he would have five Indians hanging from his hands, trying to snatch the luggage from his hands, or even bring it along with the luggage to the bus. Everything turned out not so scary. The husband drove away all the volunteers on the way to the bus (it’s enough not to let go of the suitcase, even though they are trying to snatch it, shake your head negatively, say “know” and they will fall behind, but will follow you all the way to the bus and make new attempts to earn money). At the very bus with the name of our company, an Indian rushed to us with the words “Minar” and gestures towards the bus, but snatched our suitcases. This husband bribed, he mistook him for a Minar employee, and loosened his grip.
Then a real bus driver came out, an Indian helped him load our suitcases onto the roof of the bus (yes, they are tied on the roof), and, of course, demanded baksheesh (although the bus driver mostly loaded things, and he only handed him the suitcases). We gave him 1 dollar, but the Indian in Russian with an accent demanded 100 rubles (of course, he almost overworked himself by taking two steps with our suitcases). We also read about this in the reviews, so we didn’t give him more than a dollar, but only said with a smile “yes, thank you” and stopped paying attention to him. He realized that there was nothing else to profit from and ran to look for those who did not take a change with them. Indeed, we saw that some tourists paid 100 rubles and 10 dollars in paper money.
Therefore, always and everywhere in India, take a change with you (at the airport and when you check in, so that there would be a change in dollars, when traveling in India, banknotes of 10 and 50 rupees - then in the course of my story you will understand why). Do not change the money at the airport at a very unfavorable rate, you can change it at the hotel (in GOA in hotels the rate is $ 1 = 42 rupees). The real exchange rate is 1 $ = 44-45 rupees.
We only got luggage for about an hour, then the whole bus waited for another tourist for about an hour, she waited for luggage for a long time (and on the way back, the woman alone complained that her gold earring had disappeared from her luggage upon arrival at GOA, so pack your bags away from sin protective tape - and the suitcases will be safer and your things). According to our program, we had to spend several hours in GOA in a 3-star Bollywood transit hotel, have breakfast there, relax, and only then fly to Jaipur.
But our guides announced to us that we no longer had time to get to this hotel and it would be better for us to stay at the airport, since our flight would be coming soon. We did not argue, otherwise we would only have had time to arrive at the hotel and immediately had to go back. But for themselves they noted the whole pointlessness of including this item in our program (breakfast and rest at the Bollywood hotel). It is well known that charter flights are delayed with periodic regularity, and in practice it is clear that the process of receiving luggage at the GOA airport is delayed by 1-2.5 hours. Therefore, including this service in the program and extorting money from tourists for it is simply impudent, because the probability of receiving this service by tourists is so unlikely that it is reduced to zero. On this, our unpleasant communication with the Minar operators at the GOA has not yet ended, but more on that later.
2) Flight GOA-Mumbai-Jaipur (continuation of the first day).
All these flights did not take much time and effort.
From GOA to Mumbai flew 1 hour 40 minutes. Transfer in Mumbai was not burdensome (waited about 1 hour 30 minutes). Flight time from Mumbai to Jaipur is 1 hour 40 minutes. Flights by local airlines pleased: comfortable, clean planes with smiling and helpful stewards, mostly wealthy Indians among the passengers, the only negative: they froze on planes because their air conditioners work hard - so take warm clothes on the plane (the Indians themselves did not notice the cold) . And on local airlines there are no free drinks and food, they bring a menu and you can order all this for money. Airports themselves: clean and spacious, toilets free and clean.
3) Jaipur (second day).
We arrived in Jaipur on the evening of the first day, we were met by a representative of Minar, they hung a garland of flowers around our necks, escorted us to the hotel, helped us to stay, agreed to meet on the next day. day.
I will immediately write a few words about the Minar employees in the central part of India (Jaipur, Agra, Delhi). In general, they left a positive impression (“Minar” is in the central part, not in GOA).
The Toyota passenger car that accompanies us all the way through central India (excursions, transfers between cities, transfer to the airport) is very comfortable with air conditioning and a large luggage compartment. The driver was also the same Indian all the way, we liked him very much. Just the perfect driver: attentive (always opened the door, gave me flowers on March 8), helpful (at our request, he brought us to places where you can buy inexpensive fruits, rum, drinks, an adapter for an outlet, exchanged money for us), modest ( mostly silent, and only spoke when asked - perfect!! ).
Guides: In Jaipur, an Indian man is five plus (he speaks Russian well, on all excursions he talks in great detail and interestingly about the places he visits, he took great pictures of my husband and me along the way, always put us up to date “there you will be offered souvenirs - this fakes, there you will be offered a photo - the maximum price is 50 rupees for each, there you can buy all the trinkets for a maximum of 150-300 rupees each, etc. ) In Agra, a woman is four plus (she speaks Russian well, she herself comes from from Uzbekistan, she also gave full and understandable material on excursions, but when asked questions about the country as a whole, she answered briefly and without content, but took her to inexpensive restaurants). In Delhi, a Hindu guy is five plus (not only speaks Russian well, but also talks well about places, and in the end we tortured him all the way about the country, about the inhabitants, customs and local religion - he told everything well).
Separately, I note: that the guides accompanied us from morning until evening (that is, it was paid), offered us to change money at a high rate (brought to places where the exchange rate is higher than the hotel, not 42 but 44 rupees for $ , don’t worry about changing - they didn’t cheat), at our request they took us to inexpensive and good Indian restaurants, helped us choose food on the menu, took us to the fruit market, mini-market, souvenir shops. We didn’t travel around the Golden Triangle in a group (it’s strange, but the group from Moscow didn’t get enough), but together with my husband: we didn’t regret it. Excursions for us were individual, adjusted only for us (on excursions of free time they gave us at our discretion, where we asked to go, we went there).
The only remark to all the guides who worked with us: dear guides, please do not limit yourself to stories about the sights you visit, tell more about the country itself, because we came to India not only to take pictures at the Taj Mahal, but also to learn more about such an unusual country and rich culture. We are interested in everything: customs, culture, religion, what is produced and grown in India, education, military service, how they get married and divorced, how much they get paid. , what are castes, why do women put a dot between the eyebrows, why our Indian driver has a braid below the waist ...everything. And I had to pull out the information with ticks. Thanks to the Indian guide guy in Delhi, he enlightened us on many points. I will not write - ask yourself - it's all very, very interesting.
In Jaipur, we stayed at the Fortune Select Metropolitan 4-star hotel, located in the very center, the rooms are good, the breakfasts are acceptable (you won’t die of hunger). On the second day in Jaipur, we visited: the Palace of the Winds - you have never seen anything like this, the Amber Fort with the fortress of Nagar Fort - a very exotic excursion, you ride elephants for about 20 minutes up the mountain to the fort itself (the view is amazing), then you walk around the large Ford area (there and gardens, and an observation deck, and various halls, for example, a mirror one was very impressive, the ford is surrounded by a wall that looks like a snake, winding through the mountains, reminiscent of the Great Wall of China in Beijing), the City Palace Museum (a beautiful door with a large territory), the Jantar Mantar Observatory (not impressed, oh, this is the definition of time by the shadow), a Hindu temple.
I note that in India, all Indians know English very well (from taxi drivers to cleaners in the toilet).
Jaipur city: a colorful town, left-hand traffic, there are a lot of mopeds and tuk-tuks on contracts, carts pulled by donkeys, horses or camels are often found, periodically in the most unusual places (near the shopping center, on the road, near the cinema) there are intrigued Indian cows (in fact, buffaloes, and intrigued because they look calm as if they are meditating), there are beautiful private houses, and gray rickety high-rise buildings for the poor, and huts for the poor, from time to time heaps of garbage are visible on the lawns, which no one cleans up and they are there accumulated over the years, there is also garbage on the sidewalks. But in the morning we drove, we saw how the owners of the shops were sweeping it (everyone was sweeping near their shops), but the guide explained to us that they swept it in a heap and did not clean it up, the wind swept everything away and the next morning again the garbage was everywhere, you can sweep it again.
We dined at the restaurants to which the guide brought us (for lunch or dinner in central India, we spent about 700 - 1.000 rubles for two in their restaurants with a tax for two, this included two second, local cakes, beer). Their local tax is included in the price (i. e. the menu is not full price, the tax will be added to the bill), so when they brought the bill they clarified that the service is not included, hinting that we would not forget to be generous with tips (we left from 50 -100 rupees). I want to note that the guides were not always taken to restaurants by the cheapest ones, there were also restaurants where a dressed-up doorman met us, the hall was empty and we understood that this was not the cheapest institution, but there were also restaurants where Indians themselves ate mostly with their families and there were not so grandiose - the price differed insignificantly.
At the expense of food in the central part of India: on the menu, dishes are always divided into vegetarian and non-vegetarian, the menu is in English without pictures, all dishes are conveniently highlighted (meat, chicken, fish, soup, salads). When choosing dishes, always ask the waiter "not spicy. " But keep in mind that not spicy does not mean that there will be few spices in the dish. They always pour a lot of spices, different and in all dishes. What is their special soup with spices masala worth - a spoon costs so many spices in it - very thick, but delicious! ! Here are some prices for dishes (chicken with rice - 250-300 rubles, lamb or goat with a side dish - 300-350 rubles, lentils (special dish) - 100 rubles, beer (0.6 ml) - 130 rubles). All dishes are very large! And do not look for alcoholic drinks on the menu - you will not find it, but it is behind the counter, tell them - they will bring it to you.
They do not write alcoholic drinks on the menu so as not to lose Muslim customers (it is a sin for them to drink and if they see alcohol on the menu, then turn around and leave). And the fact that visitors drink alcohol at every table, which is not on the menu, apparently does not bother Muslims. Indian tortillas are amazing (especially with cheese and garlic). Perhaps the guides take tourists exactly to such establishments so that they do not get poisoned, and not because the food is spoiled, it’s just that not all of our stomachs are adapted to eat such food. We never got poisoned in India, but ate everything. For example, once we ordered chicken with an unknown sauce for lunch in Agra - they brought a cup, we look, and there the chicken swims in a green liquid (as if the juice was squeezed out of a neighboring lawn). They closed their eyes and ate and nothing tasty, but so unusual. Although after what we ate in China, we are no strangers.
It is better to ask the guide to help you choose a dish - otherwise you will chew grass like we did (on the menu it was written chicken in sauce). I repeat, but each dish is practically strewn, stuffed and soaked in tons of spices. Here you have to be a special gourmet. Well, if you do not accept anything other than classic European dishes, you do not need to go here, but to Europe. My husband and I enjoyed Indian food very much.
As for souvenir shops in the central part of India: limit yourself to shopping there (everything is much more expensive than in GOA, even if you reduce the price by three times, you will still buy much more than you could buy in GOA). For example, for souvenirs in the central part they ask for 1300 rupees (a small bald wooden elephant, or a bronze statuette of shiva), we bargained for 700 rupees, and bought in GOA for 200 rupees (is there a difference? ? ) We didn’t buy much there and in GOA just rejoiced at it.
But here’s what you definitely won’t buy in GOA and it’s better to buy it in the central part: souvenirs with the names of Delhi, Agra, Jampur, Taj Mahal (t-shirts and baseball caps 140 rubles, plates - 600 rubles made of white marble with the Taj Mahal). This is what we just bought. And indeed, in GOA all T-shirts are only with elephants and with GOA, there was no Taj. All the souvenir shops where they brought us were not the cheapest, but the Europeans collected souvenirs there in baskets, and we all looked and asked the price and decided that these were unrealistic prices.
In the evening, it’s better not to walk on the street in the central part of India without a guide, you yourself will not find a cafe, a mini market, or a market, curious people, merchants and beggars can surround you and run after you for more than one block. Our guide was with us until the evening, he left in the evening, when we asked to be taken to the hotel (this was included in the accompaniment).
3) Agra (third-fourth day).
We drove from Jaipur for 6 hours, the roads are good, the terrain is exotic - not at all tiring. On the way to Agra, they picked up a new guide (a woman) and visited the dead city of Fatehpur Sikri. As the name suggests, we assumed it would be a couple of ruins along the way and were surprised to see a real big palace housed in a fortress. You can wander around it for hours and still you won’t get around everything. Previously, the ruler lived there with his wives. Many old buildings (bedrooms, libraries, bank, dining rooms, halls for dancing, recreation and reception of visitors), gazebos, gardens, pond, stables, and more. On the outskirts of the city there is a large square with several temples - tombs.
The city of Agra is much more exotic than Drypur, more fuss and houses for the poor, narrow roads and noisy traffic (there are even traffic jams).
In India, traffic lights practically do not work, sometimes traffic policemen stand at intersections waving their hands and whistling - regulating traffic. They have never heard of mutual respect on the road, everyone driving as they want and where they want, they don’t use the gates, they basically signal (thus saying where they are going to go, or warning that they are turning). Very similar to the movement in Cairo (Egypt). In Agra, about 4 years ago, all factories were closed, as this was reflected in the Taj Mahal Palace, white marble began to darken, many people were out of work, now they are mainly engaged in manual production, but they were exempted from paying taxes on income . It's funny: but often in Jaipur and Agra, while driving a car, you see peeing Indians. Everything is as we read in the reviews. They stand where need has overtaken them, and do their job without any embarrassment.
We counted a whole bunch of such pissing boys on trips to these two cities.
In Agra, we stayed at the Howard Park Plaza 4 star hotel, also located in the city center, not far from Taj, very comfortable rooms and reasonable breakfasts. In our agency in Russia, we were warned that even in a 4-star hotel in central India there might not be bed linen and towels in the hotel, but we had everything in all 3 hotels in central India: linen, towels, hair dryer , sets of shampoos, gels, brushes with paste (even face creams and powders for body freshness), a free safe in the room and everything else you need on the road. Thanks to the Planet-Tour agency in Tyumen for choosing hotels with amenities!
On this day, we still managed to visit Indian restaurants for lunch and dinner, souvenir shops, a mini market and a fruit market.
On the fourth day, the most unforgettable excursion awaited us - a visit to the Taj Mahal (the locals simply call it the Taj).
A chic building, just another wonder of the world - we were already there at dawn, we watched the Taj begin to shine in the first rays of the sun. All tickets for all the sights throughout the "Golden Triangle" we had already paid for along with the ticket, but at the rates of the travel agency it cost $ 70 per person. In Taj, water and shoe covers are included in the price of the entrance ticket. It is a pity that the Ruler Akbar (the Great) did not have time, as he wanted, to build on the other side of the river a second Palace of the same kind only from black marble, and across the river a luminous bridge made of precious stones - this would be the height of perfection.
In the afternoon we visited the Red Ford (there are many palaces, gardens and beautiful unexpected places on the vast territory of the ford). All excursions in the central part of us just subdued.
She thought that we just heard about this show somewhere and wanted to go to it additionally. I had to buy tickets - there was nothing to do anyway, since they arrived - they decided to go, but they insisted that she find out what kind of "inconsistencies in the program". The show was 4, similar to an Indian film only on stage, about the history of the construction of Tajda with dances and songs, the only thing that impressed me at the end was a laser show with a small copy of the Taj Mahal Palace. But less spectacular than a Bangkok theater performance with the largest stage in the world. The air conditioners worked very hard in the hall, and again only we covered it (oh, those hot Indians). But when the arctic wind constantly blows in the face, like at the North Pole, and the hands and feet are frozen, it is difficult to concentrate on the performance.
After the performance, the guide told us that she clarified that we didn’t have a show in the program, to which we thrust our program to her, where it was written in black and white (and no words about an additional service or additional payment). The next day, when another representative from Minar came to see us off in Delhi, we reflected our comments in their survey questionnaire. He had heard from the guide about our remarks about the magic show, so he asked us again in detail, copied our program. It turned out that our programs are different, in ours - the show is included, in it it is provided for an additional fee. fee. We were tired of procrastinating this topic, we asked to close it, but recommended that they correct the program, according to which either our agency in Russia gave us incorrect data, or Minar in India did not provide us with a full package of paid services.
We were surprised that no one had asked such a question before, we are not the first to travel along the Golden Triangle. Such are we Russians, or provide us with all the services that have been agreed. Or kindly do not indicate them, or write that they are additional. Everything is clear as day. In general, they made the Indian from Minar sweat.
We gave tips to the guides and the driver every day (although they did not hint or beg), but we really liked their work. Guides were given daily from 400-500 rupees (mostly 500 rupees), the driver from 300-500 rupees (on the days when he drove us from one city to another 400 rupees, on the last day 500 rupees). It was only a tip, the main salary. for our tour, of course, they were paid by the operator. Of course, they were very happy with the tip, and even such an amount is considered very good for them, given that the average salary. in the central part of Jaipur and Agra 6.000 rubles, in Delhi above 1.000-1.000 rubles.
All Indians are dressed in a simple way, often noted that the shirts are clean and ironed, local women are something special, full of multi-colored saris (often shiny and shimmering in the sun) and many bright jewelry. For example, a guide in Agra (a woman) kept trying to persuade me to dress in a sari, hinting that I looked unusual, she was embarrassed that the Indians were staring at us and constantly taking pictures. But here's what I'll tell you, in my plain dress with only open arms and legs below the knee, I clearly looked much more modest than even the most ordinary Indian woman in a bright sari with a shiny edging, a bare stomach and back, and tons of jewelry on all parts. bodies (they wear a lot of jewelry, if there are bracelets on the arm, then they are sure to be shiny on each arm from the wrist to the elbow, if the earrings are huge, shiny up to the shoulders and everything is in stones, I generally keep quiet about the necklace around the neck - it’s hard not to notice from afar.
Yes, and of course all the jewelry is real - gold with precious stones, not jewelry, which is so popular with us). Yes, I looked like a nun next to me even in my most elegant dress. So, dear women, don’t read reviews that say it’s better to dress in central India in everything closed and nondescript, to cover your head - you will still be a white woman in this spotlight, so dress as you want (but know the measure of course ).
Now I will write in more detail about the contingent of Indians, which you will definitely have to face on your journey.
Merchants: On all excursions in the central part, before entering or in line for the next attraction, as well as while you are sitting in a car in a traffic jam, you will be surrounded by local Indians - souvenir merchants. They will wave their goods in front of your nose (figurines, peacock feather fans, beads, etc. ).
), screaming that it's all real and very cheap. Moreover, there are usually several people around at once. The price will be very low, and while they occupy you, the price will go down and down. Keep in mind, if you start looking at their product, or God forbid, pick it up and ask for a price, they won’t leave you until you buy it from them, and other merchants will also come running. If you buy something from one, this merchant will never leave you, he will offer other souvenirs, and other merchants will flock to you like flies to honey. All your efforts to convince them that you do not need elephant souvenirs, since you just bought ten pieces, they do not care much, if you bought something, then you can fork out more.
If you want to go through this as painlessly as possible - just don’t look at them, briefly say “no” shake your head and continue to look at the sights, they will move away from you, seeing that you are not reacting, but from time to time they will still scour past you . If you decide that buying something cheap is also not a problem, the first thing to remember is that these are mostly low-quality goods (although the wooden elephant from sellers for $ 1 looked little different from the elephant in the shop for 1300 rupees), fakes (although in stores and in shops this is also not the real thing), keep the money with you so that they don’t pull it out, and having bought something, dump it immediately (they bought it and quickly got into the car, or went through the entrance to the territory of the attraction, they are not allowed to enter there, there they will take you won't get). For example, we bought key chains with the Taj (10 key chains for 70 rubles), other tourists a wooden elephant for 100 rupees, a hat for 150 rupees.
Guides can warn you in advance how much such souvenirs cost the maximum, but never consult with them in front of the merchants themselves, they will not answer you. They come here every day, so they have to be friendly with all the merchants (the guides can, smiling sweetly, take the goods from the merchants, ask you if you need it and answer them just as nicely that they say I'm sorry, his friend is not interested in this). For example, we read very interesting reviews before our trip: some wrote that souvenir merchants were very aggressive, 10 merchants stuck around them, grabbed clothes, beat drums, blew a pipe, hung beads, pulled in different directions, others wrote that their car was surrounded by a crowd of merchants, rocking it, shaking their goods, knocking on the glass while they were in a traffic jam. Everything is not as scary as it seems: no one pulls on clothes, it does not hang on the neck and arms.
Take it a little easier, relax and enjoy the ride.
Beggars: Again, on many excursions in front of the entrance or in line for the next attraction, as well as in traffic jams, you will encounter beggars. Basically, these are poorly dressed women with small children, disabled people or children. They will humbly reach out and ask for something. But there are fewer of them than merchants. And to be honest, of all the places we visited, we met them 3-4 times. Here is the same principle, give a change to one, other beggars, seeing this, will pounce on you like a pack of hungry wolves, and will no longer quietly ask, they will demand with all their might. Do not think that giving a little change, you will get off easy, this is a whole gang. Better try to ignore them and enjoy the sights (holding your wallet securely to yourself) - after all, that's what you came here for.
Toilet mafia: in all toilets in India in cafes, airports (except hotels), again they make money on tourists. Usually they guard at the booths or near the sinks in the toilets, and when you finish your business, they hand you paper for baksheesh. Therefore, be sure to have change and toilet paper (napkins) with you when you go to the toilet. A change (usually 5 or 10 rupees) for services, paper for the case (after all, they serve it when you are already out, they don’t realize that it will be more useful to you in the booth). It is customary for Indians to use taps with water in the toilet, so to speak, for washing, and I saw how it ended for one of our tourists, who decided to follow their example - she left the cabin with wet pants. My husband could not go to the free toilet for free, and at the end of the rest I pricked up: they hold out paper - you nod negatively and put yours under their nose, showing that you carry everything with you.
They show you a short number that you didn't even ask for, they let you take a picture, for which they ask for baksheesh.
3) Delhi (day five-six).
From Agra to Delhi it takes about 6 hours by car. In Delhi we stayed at the 4 star Oodles Hotel. The hotel surprised us. This is a brand new hotel, looks like the paint has just dried. Modern rooms with chic furnishings, ceilings under three meters, original design, king-size beds, and what a bathroom! Large and spacious, a full-wall glass door separates the bath from the shower, opposite the bath, a full-wall window overlooking the lawn (the lawn is fenced with a wall so that you cannot be seen from the street). Gorgeous! But the breakfasts were poorer than in another hotel, although the waiters did not leave us, it seems that we and 2-3 other Indian families were the only visitors to the huge hotel.
Delhi city: what can I say the real capital of India.
A huge metropolis with ground and underground metro, multi-level passages and roads, high-rise buildings and centers. There are already more good cars, fewer tuk-tuks and mopeds (in Jaipur and Agra, mostly mopeds and tuk-tuks). People here are dressed more decently, women are more modern (saris are less common, jeans are more common). More often there are rich mansions. But in Delhi, unlike the first two cities, wastelands with slums are more common, where the poor live. These are not small rickety houses (as in Agra and Jaipur), but structures made of cardboard, clay, and handy materials. The land under the slums belongs to the authorities, so the people who live in the slums pay absolutely nothing for their housing. And they have free electricity there, but the facilities are probably on the street. It's a common thing in Delhi: on one side of the road there is a luxurious three-story mansion, on the other side a quarter of huts for the poor.
- Antibacterial gel, wet wipes, toilet paper (on excursions, at airports, in cafes there is not always paper in the toilets),
- shoe covers (before entering the temples you need to take off your shoes, but it is better to put on shoe covers than pick up a fungus),
- a headscarf (before entering the temple, women need to cover their heads and the most bare places - shoulders, legs)
- a trifle (it is better to always have a trifle with you - more banknotes of 10 rupees and a little 50 rupees. They will be needed at every corner: in the toilet they will ask for paper - give 10 rupees, leave your shoes in front of the temple, come back and the locals carefully monitor it, not for free - give 10 rupees, in a cafe a boy in a turban will dance in front of you - give 50.100 rupees, before entering the tour in front of your car, a decorated cow, monkey, goat or camel will make a pretzel with the owner - you will also have to fork out, even if you did not order this show (give 50 rupees and don't forget to take a photo).
On the beach of GOA, all the local living creatures will also dance in front of you and tightrope walkers will walk, and sometimes children will run with their arms outstretched - you will have to fork out everywhere and it is better to have a change with you otherwise you will go broke).
- a flashlight (needed in GOA, there is no lighting on the beaches - it is difficult to get to the sheiks and back to the hotel in pitch darkness).
- mosquito repellent (nasty mosquitoes fly in a hotel in GOA),
- adapter for sockets (in the central part the sockets are different from ours),
- You don't need to get vaccinated before you travel.
- medicines (I have never needed them, but you feel safer with them),
- do not try unwashed vegetables and fruits in the markets, avoid eating salads made from fresh vegetables and fruits (they may not be fresh), eat mainly those foods that have been thermally processed.
Drink water only from sealed bottles (make sure it is tightly sealed, otherwise you can pour ordinary tap water and you will not get stomach problems). Do not put ice in cocktails - it is also from tap water. We followed these precautions and never got poisoned! But our guide alone at each stop did not climb out of the toilet))
- wear any clothes that are comfortable for you, you will still be the object of close attention (we were all photographed and examined as museum pieces).
4) holidays in GOA (Kenilworth Hotel 4 stars).
In general, I liked the rest and left only good memories, but instead of just exclaiming: “how wonderful everything was, ” I will write to the point.
Pros: Large area and swimming pool, well-equipped and furnished room, it has everything you need, breakfasts are not inferior to European ones, high-level service (daily cleaning, service at the reception, by the pool and in the restaurant).
Cons: The biggest minus is the bugs in the room (I think the administration has been aware of it for a long time), the hotel area is not landscaped enough and is poorly lit at night, lunches and dinners in restaurants are expensive, there is no shower and lighting on the beach in the evening, there are constant big waves on the sea - swim impossible.
Hotel grounds: score 4. Pool: score 5+. The hotel area is large, but somehow stupidly used (trees and green spaces mostly grow near the pool, and on the way to the beach, the rest is just a large green field). Large pool (it really looks like the largest pool in GOA), it consists of 5 pools, smoothly turning into each other, in the middle of the bathing area with a jacuzzi under the roof, there is an area with a water slide for children
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OTHER REVIEWS ABOUT THE HOTEL
- good hotel for the money
- Good hotel but old
- Nice, well-groomed territory and everything!!!
- Good hotel for families without children
- liked
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