India is one of the world’s largest tourism economies for its historical gems, culture, boundless festival, crazy bulk shopping places, and much more. There’s nothing not to love about India except the part where Muslims were banned from buying a sim card at the airport (Some of the Muslim tourists had experienced this from our last visit, we have no idea why). Here are some places that will give you little bits and pieces of India.
Agrasen Ki Baoli
DELHI
Delhi is a place for shopaholics where they can find everything and anything here. Be it from accessories, sarees, carpets to furniture, you can always bargain for cheaper products. Besides shopping, most of the historical sites in India are under the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
1. Janpath Market.
Known as the craft market, Janpath Market is full of handmade products such as pouches, bags, tapestry, cushion cover, and more. This market is one of my favorite shopping places for bags and home products. At as low as $5, the famous beaded steel bags in India can be found here. You will be spoiled with choices for the hand embroidery cushion cover and tapestry at the lowest of $15 for three. Shopping in bulk is common in India if you want to get anything at the lowest price, your bargaining skills must be substantial.
2. Dilli Haat Market.
One of the biggest markets in Delhi is the Dilli Haat Market. You can find lots of bohemian carpets, jewelry, cooking utensils, and apparel selling at a slightly premium price here. My favorite would be their bohemian carpets which sell over a few hundred ringgit in Malaysia. The price range for the carpets at Dilli Haat can be as low as $15 up to a few hundred ringgits depends on the size and the quality preferred. Enjoy the local performance while you are here.
3. Sarojini Nagar Market.
If you are looking for a factory outlet in India, Sarojini Nagar Market is the best place to go. You will be spoilt with choices from rejected branded clothes such as Zara, Mango, and Tommy Hilfiger. Jeans, sarees, and bags are as low as $1. The market consist of four rows and entrances. Make sure to mark your starting point to avoid getting lost.
4. Qutab Minar.
Qutab Minar is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in India. With one hour drive from the city center, Qutab Minar is a tall tower that rises five stories and is 73 meters in height. The opening hours will be from 7.00 a.m – 5.00 p.m and a $7 per person entry fee for foreign tourists.
5. Agrasen Ki Baoli.
Just a short walk from the peaceful residential area in the middle of the modern high-rise building lies the old stone wall of the stepwell. The stepwell was being used as a water-harvesting place during ancient times. This particular stepwell is considered as one of the haunted places in town. It is due to the curses and suicidal activities that had been happening over the period. Just make sure to visit the place during daylight, and you’ll be fine.
JAIPUR
The city of Kings and Queens of India is called the pink city. The city has the most Instagram photos in India. Besides their famous palaces, the city is also famous for its cheap wedding sarees and accessories (well, if you compare it with Malaysia).
6. City Palace.
City Palace is one of the most famous palaces in Jaipur that made people dressed up for pictures. However, it has the most expensive entrance fees of $28 for students and up to $68 for a foreigner for the royal grandeur tour. The tour consists of the famous blue room, the four-seasons courtyard, Shri Niwas, the gold room, and end with the panoramic view from the rooftop terrace. The tour will end with them serving you teas and sweets before you leave.
7. Patrika Gate.
The entrance of the Jawahar circle is through the Patrika Gate that welcomes you to the city of Kings and Queens. The colorfully painted walls give you the idea of the vibrant culture of Rajasthan and a glimpse of Jaipur History. The entrance fee is free, however, you may need to come early in the morning to avoid the traffic and the crowd.
8. Hawa Mahal.
The famous pink palace of Hawa Mahal has always been the best-loved of most tourists. The view in the evening or even in the morning will still give you the epitome look. To get a proper landscape picture of Hawa Mahal, go to the opposite of the street and climb up to level one or two of the building where you can find a few cafes offering the best views of Hawa Mahal.
9. Amber Fort.
Located about 11 km from the city center, the architectural excellence and fabulous stone carving work at Amber Fort was accomplished manually around four centuries back. It is generally called Amer Fort. You will need to hire a jeep to take you there or you can get lost looking for directions to the palace. The cost of hiring a jeep will be $7 per jeep which can accommodate up to 7 pax. The entrance fee to the palace will be $3.
AGRA
Situated near the Yamuna River and founded in the year 1504, Agra is one of the main historical cities in India. The cities consist of one of the seven wonders of the world of the great Taj Mahal, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fatehpur Sikri, and the Agra Fort.
Taj Mahal
10. Taj Mahal.
The white marble structure of the Taj Mahal has continued to bring more than one million tourists annually. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial for his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. I’m sure I don’t need to explain it further as it is already well-known for its history to the world. The entrance fees of the Taj Mahal increased to $15 per person from our last visit.
11. Fatehpur Sikri.
The pride of the Mughal Empire is the Fatehpur Sikri located about an hour from the city center. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has not been one of the tourist destinations in Agra when I visited two years back. Now that it had gained more tourist attractions, the entrance fee has increased to $7 per person, not including the bus transfer of around $1 depends on which bus you would like to hop on. Two years back, the entrance fees were free.
12. Agra Fort.
Built in 1573 by Akbar, the Agra Fort is one of the must-visit palaces in Agra. The area of Agra Fort was so massive that it was called the walled red sandstone city. It consisted of the Pearl Mosque, Diwan-i I Khas, Diwan-i I Aam, Moti Masjid, and Jahangiri Mahal within the premise of the fort. The entrance fee is $8 per person. If you would like to get a slight discount on the entrance fee, don’t forget to keep your Taj Mahal ticket.
