Tweets from the Golden Triangle

By now you are all familiar with my strong belief in the narrative power of Twitter.

140 characters don’t do much on their own, but once they’re strung together over the context of days, something magical happens. They provide a real-time pulse that more thoughtful summaries can’t capture.

Sometimes I’ll carry an interesting anecdote around in my head, but when it comes time to write a post, I realize it would take forever to explain the back story. Or it has nothing to do with the rest of the post, and would completely disrupt the flow. So they get lost, or relegated to journals, or just bump around in my head until some inopportune moment.

That’s why I like to include tweets from the places I visit as an addendum to each related post: they get their just due, and provide a record of what life was like, in that place, at that moment. Sometimes they chronicle a journey and deserve a post of the very own, as was the case with Tweets from Southern India and Tweets from Northern India.

Not to be outdone, the tweets from my latest India trip – to the monument-packed Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur – also clamored for their own post. This time I included far more pictures, and while I can’t insert them all on this page for fear of dire consequences, I’ve included links to each.

Namaste!

Grounds of Fatehpur Sikri, once- Mughul capital

Anticipating a beef-free week for #FCIndia, Ben farewell-ed me with the best BBQd sirloin ever
Made it to my Delhi hotel! I’ve been here before, but nothing quite prepares you for that first taxi
Hair standing on end from all the energy filling a Sikh prayer room
Girl perks: less crowded, female-only cars make the Delhi subway so much more manageable
Delhi madness + Red Fort seen from India’s largest mosque http://twitpic.com/8q9e6b
A Sikh volunteer cooking for the hungry – sharing resources is a tenant of the religion http://twitpic.com/8q9hpj
A quiet afternoon in Delhi http://twitpic.com/8q9i30
G-Adventurers volunteering for the hungry at a Sikh templelook at those boys roll it out! http://twitpic.com/8q9j1u
If they tell you it’s worth rising before dawn to see the Taj Mahal…BELIEVE THEM!! http://twitpic.com/8qjyuf
I’ve always been a fan of experiences over monuments, but maybe that’s because I’d never seen the Taj Mahal
The only asymmetrical object of the #TajMahal is Shah Jahan’s tomb; his wife lies at the center
After 22yrs of construction, Shah Jahan gave lifelong pensions to all the #TajMahal artisans, ensuring its equal would never be built
Our hosts tonight are the friendliest of Indian families. We’ve been hanging out w the ladies, laughing and trying on saris
Can’t quite say I’ve ever worn mirrors before (house party in Agra) http://twitpic.com/8qo02r

Can’t quite say I’ve ever worn mirrors before (house party in Agra)

Off to Bharatpur, a small Indian town w/ a UNESCO world heritage bird sanctuary, stopping at a Mughul capital on the way
Driving thru country is fascinating: fields dotted w technicolor saris, circularly stacked dung patties, shrines in every village.
At Fatehpur Sukriya we learned Akbar the Great had 3 wives: Muslim, Hindu and Catholic. Plus 350 concubines.
We’re bedding down at a Ragasthani palace for the eve! No internet, but this country lives by mobile access so I’ll survive 🙂
So far we’ve seen monkeys, antelope, camels, and a ton of birds. Tomorrow we’re leaving for Jaipur in search of elephants…
Up late w fellow travelers-has it only been 3 days? Love when u gel instantly w ppl on the road
Rural school children take shifts in class; 3 classes to a room (just facing diff directions) http://twitpic.com/8reb8s
Saw family huts, buttermilk making, and-oh-an 8th c bath house! http://twitpic.com/8recv2
Thrilled to be in Jaipur, heading out for a bollywood movie and the best lassis anywhere!
Bollywood comes to life under the tinted lights of the Raj Mandir movie theater, Jaipur http://twitpic.com/8rj2vz
Unreal beauty at Jaipur’s City Palace-think I should reincarnate as either a dove or a majaraja so I can live there
G-adventurers rockin’ some serious bling Rambaugh Palace, Jaipur http://twitpic.com/8s24bf
The photo’s funny, but wait till you see the video! http://twitpic.com/8s88wm
Our last day of the (official) tour 🙁 Can’t believe we’re splitting up…it’s amazing that 15 strangers got along so well
Even more amazing: 1/2 the group changed their plans so we could travel together longer! How many tours can say that?
Could you resist this face? Child selling powders for the festival of colors http://twitpic.com/8scfzn
#AirIndia change fee was twice that quoted by the call center. My rickshaw driver commiserates, “Yes, this is India…”
Anyone on the market for large vats of clarified butter? #TTOT http://twitpic.com/8sn597
7 hr train journey to Udaipur beginning . . .now!
Our rickshaw driver had no fear. Way, way too close! http://twitpic.com/8sn645
Making lassi cups (so much cheaper than plastic) http://twitpic.com/8sn6ng
Stacked cow dung patties (biofuel)…strangely artistic http://twitpic.com/8sn79n
Migrating geese from Siberia at Kaladeo Nature Reserve http://twitpic.com/8sn7qg
Our royal palace/hotel outside Bharatpur – wow! http://twitpic.com/8sn86m
Arrival Udaipur- moonlight shimmering on palaces + lakes truly makes it the most romantic city in India
How many Indians can you fit in one tuk tuk? http://twitpic.com/8sn8qg

How many Indians can you fit in one tuk tuk?

*Welcome to paradise* morning view from Narayan Niwas hotel, Udaipur http://twitpic.com/8t1oxa
The once-seat of the Mughul Empire: Fatehpur Sikri http://twitpic.com/8sn9as
Rajasthani eld-eld-elder http://twitpic.com/8t1lkn
Last night we dined on our rooftop, bombarded by silence for the first time in a week #Udaipurhttp://twitpic.com/8t1ptj
The city of Udaipur as seen by boat http://twitpic.com/8tf4gt
G Adventurers buying colored powers for the big event: today’s festival of colors http://twitpic.com/8tf4xl
Our gAdventures group has survived #Holi – barely 🙂 http://twitpic.com/8tkdyq
Our guesthouse mascot gets in the #Holi spirit 🙂 http://twitpic.com/8tkakd
No matter how cute, don’t trust her – she’s armed! #Holihttp://twitpic.com/8tkfn9
Addicted to photographing Udaipur-my last day! On to Istanbul next wk http://twitpic.com/8tvp55
So curious about these village schoolchildren-were they rushing to finish homework? http://twitpic.com/8ty5dp
Is it just me, or does it look like this cow is praying? http://twitpic.com/8ty6p4
Makes your jaw drop-woman carrying a bundle as large as herself http://twitpic.com/8tyare
Roadside rest stop, India http://twitpic.com/8ty7vn
Even cows need a bath 🙂 http://twitpic.com/8ty9c4
Throw a stone and you’ll hit a water palace / Udaipur http://twitpic.com/8uyb1j
My long-haul flight seemed luxurious after enduring an Indian train. TY God for movies, seat cushions + flushable toilets
My post-India ritual never varies: 1. long hot shower; 2. big salad; 3. drink tap water, just because I can #littleblessings
Throw a stone and you’ll hit a water palace, Udaipur