Explore The Great Forts of India’s Golden Triangle

India’s royal Mughal monoliths are definitely spectacular, in particular the forts – or fortified palaces – that can be found in the Golden Triangle between Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Adam Ford checks in following a visit to the Red Fort, the Agra Fort and the Amber Fort … To me it’s little a misnomer. When I think about forts I believe of video games as a kid playing cowboys and Native Americans around a makeshift barrier of dining-room chairs and bed sheets- or F-Troop. Now I’m really revealing my age. The forts of India’s Golden Triangle are far more like castles– and they’re an absolutely enthralling appearance back at the complexities of Indian society and royal lifelong prior to the British Empire’s ‘civilising’ tendrils pressed eastward. Total with royal homes, battlements, ramparts and soldiers’ barracks, for more than three centuries India’s forts supplied sanctuary for the ruling elite. Today they offer sanctuary for the tourists. As we walk the premises and check out the grand halls, we’re all too mindful of the pernicious keepsake promotes waiting simply outside the gates. And unlike the Mughal emperors who built these architectural work of arts– the touts understand we’ll have to come out in the end! 3 forts of India’s Golden Triangle that you need to not miss out on are the Red Fort in Delhi, the Agra Fort and the Amber Fort (noticable Amer) outside Jaipur. There are lots of others however these are the standouts. Delhi’s Red Fort is really simply a shell of its previous self, but still a must-see. Established by Mughal emperor Sha Jahan in the mid 1600’s, the Red Fort was later commandeered and essentially gutted by the British for use as military barracks. Today the skyrocketing 18 meter high ochre-coloured parapets and guard towers have actually lost none of their power to impress, as they continue to stand quiet sentinel over the turmoil of the medieval Chandi Chowk market listed below. On to the Agra Fort– maybe the very best protected of the 3. Here you actually begin to appreciate the perfect symmetry the Mughal emperors demanded. We invest about 3 hours checking out the expansive red sandstone castle. A variety of emperors called the Agra Fort home. Each of them left their mark- consisting of the afore-mentioned Sha Jahan- best remembered for the construction of the neighboring Taj Mahal in memory of his precious partner Mumtaz. Somewhere along the line Sha Jahan plainly established a penchant for white marble. It’s not apparent in the Red Fort to my understanding, but it certainly is in the Taj Mahal and in his changes to the Agra Fort. The white marble courtyards and apartment or condos appear strangely incongruous next the red stone utilized throughout the remainder of the fortress. Sha Jahan was later locked up in the Agra Fort by his own boy, and could just gaze at his reward development– the Taj- from afar. The Mughals were a busy bunch. When they weren’t constructing spectacular forts they were preparing for their immortality by constructing fitting lodging for their eternal rest. While in Agra we check out Emperor Akbar’s mausoleum on the outskirts of town at Sikandra. Once again, ideal balance and balance. I’m beginning to question if these guys had an early form of OCD. The Amber Fort was constructed by Jaipur’s warlord Rajputs and served as the capital of the region till the population outgrew the fort and the city was transferred to the plains below. The gorgeous honey-coloured stone is charming and modifications colour depending upon the weather condition and time of day. On a clear day the reflection of the fort in the lake below is definitely sensational. Hop aboard an obliging elephant for the trek as much as the fort. The sight of these mild giants getting in the Jaleb Chowk Square through the Sun Gate in their beautiful livery and painted faces is a sight I’ll always remember, evoking pictures of the maharajas of old.