Knocking at India’s gate Photos by Roxana Farca

They say about India that you either love it or hate it. After travelling there, I do not think it’s quite so. I did not felt in love with India, but I could not hate it either. When you are there, you cannot say NO to the amazing past time architectural beauties. But you cannot say YES to the shocking poverty and dirt that you witness on the street. The only true thing about India is also a cliché: India is a country of contrasts. The rest only your own experience and heart will tell. You can knock at India’s door, as I did, and see what happens.

These photos were taken in springtime, at the beginning of 2015, in a five days trip that covered the Golden Triangle and its main cities: Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. The place I enjoyed less was Delhi, although its monuments are quite impressing, including The Grand Mosque, Shanti Stupa, Rajghat – Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial, Qutb Minar or the wonderful Humayun’s tomb, the predecessor of Taj Mahal. The real Taj Majal in Agra is still an authentic jewel, with all its publicity and masses of tourists. I would have spent there much more  time, if it was possible. The Red Fort is a nice surprise to and a good place to admire again Taj Mahal, from the distance. But the most beautiful and enjoyable city in the Golden Triangle is Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, with its beautiful architecture in light warm tones, the delicate Window Palace (Hawa Mahal) or superbly decorated buildings in the old city. Amer Palace, close to Jaipur, is a must stop for any traveler.

All my photos were shot with a Canon G12, the only camera I knew how to use back then.

I wrote more about India in a series of letters published on LumeaMare, our Romanian travel blog. You can start reading them here.