Exploring India

This past summer our travel advisor MaryAnn Dillon had the incredible opportunity to travel to India to explore the culture, people, food and history of one of the places in her bucket list. Enjoy following along with her trip! (So many pictures! Part 1 of several blog posts).

This was on my way to India, flying Emirates. I flew Detroit to Newark, NY, then Newark to Dubai, Dubai to Delhi. Wow, look at the business class! This is the way to fly.

Business class on Emirates from Newark to Dubai
Flying business class on Emirates
Business class on Emirates from Newark to Dubai
Flying business class on a long flight is the way to fly!

Finally arrived in Delhi! I was greeted by my guide with this beautiful lei made from marigolds, and got to experience Indian traffic. I was informed that the lines on the roads are only decorations, not lanes. They love to keep switching lanes and use their horns.

marigold lei new delhi
Marigold Lei
Marigold lei
Marigold lei

First stop was at Sikandra, the Mausoleum of Akbar the Great. It’s sometimes called the mini Taj. Built in 1605, it’s a mixture of Hindu and Muslim design elements made of red sandstone and marble.

Sikandra
Sikandra
Sikandra
Sikandra
Sikandra
Sikandra, often called the mini Taj Mahal

Next stop was one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal. It took 21 years to build. It was built in 1653 by Shah Jahan to enshrine the body of his wife.

Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

I stayed at the Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra and had a beautiful view of the Taj Mahal right from my window.

View of the Taj Mahal from my room!

When I returned to my room after a day of sightseeing, the bathtub was filled with rose petals! This is an amazing hotel!

Oberoi Amarvilas
The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra

The next day I went to Agra Fort, a massive red sandstone fort on the banks of the Yumana River. This is one of the finest Mughal forts in India built by Emperor Akbar in 1565.

How about this for a room? This suite at the Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra is only about $15,000 a night! Let me know if you would like me to book it for you. You can even bring your own butler and he’ll have a little room off the kitchen 🙂

More pictures of Fort Agra. Some of the additions were made by his grandson Shah Jahan with his favorite building material of white marble and transformed it into a Palace.

Stay tuned for more pictures! You can contact me at [email protected].