the Triangle in India is comprised of Delhi, then to the southwest Jaipur, and then to the southeast of Delhi and more or less due east of Jaipur, Agra - this third city being the home of the famous [in my case, infamous] Taj Mahal.
here's a map of the Triangle:
Delhi is a big city. it's the capital of the nation and the seat of government. like any modern city, it has all the amenities - and traffic and poverty - that only a sprawling metropolis can offer to both its citizens and its visitors. nonetheless, there's tons to see there - the largest mosque in all of India [Jama Masjid], the Lal Qila, or Red Fort [both of these are in Old Delhi], the President's Estate, the India Gate [subcontinental equivalent of the US Vietnam Memorial, marking the deaths of some 90,000 Indian troops in World War I], and a few tombs. certainly enough for a touristy sightseer, but perhaps not enough to turn all of Delhi into a tourist deathtrap.
Jaipur is in eastern Rajasthan, that state in India synonymous with deserts, camels and turbans. a quaint but quickly up-and-coming city, it also has its fair share of historical sites - the Hawa Mahal [Palace of Winds], Jantar Mantar [the site of the Raja's ancient astronomical forays], and a number of old yet incredibly well-preserved forts up in the mountains. transportation in Jaipur, aside from the ubiquitous rickshaws, scooters and cows found all over India, include camels and elephants - both of which i was fortunate enough to experience first hand this past weekend.
Agra on the other hand, when compared to the two aforementioned cities, is a hellhole. all there is to do in Agra is see the Taj Mahal, one of the seven man-made wonders of the world and certainly the most beautiful. and it is precisely because of the Taj Mahal that the entire city and its inhabitants have become corrupt beyond salvation. no one visits Agra save to see the Taj Mahal. 'and who might go to Agra to see the Taj Mahal?' one might ask. answer: anyone and everyone NOT from Agra. locals have had their fair share of the Taj Mahal. it's on every billboard around town, graces the cover of countless magazines, has become the object of innumerable works of art, and is sold in every size, shape and form by local street vendors to passersby. therefore, there are only two types of people in Agra: locals who don't give a hoot about the Taj Mahal, and tourists - Indian or otherwise - who are in Agra for the sole purpose of seeing the Taj Mahal. so, with that said, every single person in Agra is out to get you if you're not from Agra yourself. this is not an exaggeration. the people you know you can't trust, you certainly don't trust - that's acceptable. but even the people you think you can trust - for example, the most elegantly-appointed, expensive and reputable hotel in the city and their partner private taxi company - end up sticking it to you.
without going into details, let me just say that Agra is, hands-down, THE WORST PLACE on God's green earth. if you enjoy getting bamboozled and swindled every two minutes, i'd suggest you live in Agra. otherwise, stay far FAR away from that place.
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