The Chronicles of Golden Triangle: Rituparna’s Rajasthan Family Trip with Thrillophilia
The Taj Mahal, 5:30 PM
The sun was about to set when Rituparna, her brother, and her mother arrived in front of the Taj Mahal.
“You expect it to be just another monument... but then you see it. It’s like you can feel the love that built it,” Rituparna’s mother whispered as the family stood in front of the Taj Mahal, bathed in dusk light.
The quiet marble structure seemed to rise above as a silent ode to eternity. Her brother broke the silence with a soft “Wow…” and that was all anyone could say for a while.
A Few Weeks Earlier: Planning the Trip
As a software engineer, Rituparna’s work schedule was intense, and she rarely found time for travel. Three weeks before the trip, Rituparna’s brother, out of the blue, pitched the idea of going for the Golden Triangle trip.
“Imagine us, just roaming through centuries-old streets, feeling like we’re characters in a historical novel.”
Initially hesitant, her mother welcomed the idea after hearing about the itinerary. “Imagine, seeing the Taj Mahal in person,” she mused, and that sealed the plan.
Rituparna juggled between her work tasks and planning, but her excitement grew more with every detail that fell into place. She, with the help of Thrillophilia, curated a short trip to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, which felt like the perfect route to explore the history of India.
Delhi- “The stories here go deeper than the stones”
They started with the hustling and bustling city of Delhi. The chaotic energy of Chandni Chowk and the historical majesty of the Red Fort captivated them. Her brother, constantly snapping pictures, joked, “This place has more stories than all our history books combined!”
As they wove through the crowd, her mother held tightly to Rituparna’s arm. “The streets here literally make you feel like a festival is around the corner” she exclaimed.
Countless shops having colourful items, and vendors selling delicious food made every corner feel like a different era.
In the quieter corners of Humayun’s Tomb, Rituparna found a moment to breathe and rethink. Her mother looked around, remarking, “The city’s layers are like our family stories- overlapping, colourful, and endless.”
By the time they visited India Gate, the three of them felt they had already experienced so many of Delhi’s contrasting sides, and it was just day one.
Agra- “Each glance feels like a love letter”
The next day they headed towards Agra and stood in front of the majestic Taj Mahal, marvelling at its intricate marvel carvings. Rituparna’s brother pointed out the perfect symmetry and said, “How did they do this without any modern technology?”
Her mother, touched by the story behind it, said softly, “It’s a reminder that love can create something eternal.”
Fatehpur Sikri- “Stepping into a forgotten world”
The next stop was Fatehpur Sikri, a city built by Emperor Akbar but was left abandoned. As they wandered through the empty courtyards, Rituparna felt a chill, like stepping into a forgotten world. “It’s haunting, in a beautiful way,” she said, admiring the grand gateways and silent halls.
Her brother added, “Imagine what it must have been like when this place was alive!” The city, a testament to Mughal ambition and mystery, left them all with a strange sense of nostalgia for a time they’d never known.
Her mother shared, “It feels like these walls remember everything”... as if the place held onto memories of its former glory still.
Jaipur- “Royalty doesn’t fade; it just changes its form”
Jaipur greeted them with vibrant colours and a warm energy that was infectious. At the Hawa Mahal, her brother, gazing up at the delicate latticework, exclaimed,
“Looks like a giant honeycomb, doesn’t it?”
The iconic palace left them captivated, while Rituparna took photo after photo, determined to capture every intricate detail.
They also explored the City Palace, where the grandeur of Rajasthan’s royal past left them spellbound. Rituparna’s mother couldn’t stop admiring the elaborate artefacts and costumes.
“It’s like we’ve stepped into a different time”, she said.
The Amber Fort was the highlight of the day, and they climbed the hill on an elephant. The view from the top was breathtaking, with Jaipur sprawling out in the distance.
Rituparna’s brother, who had initially been nervous about the elephant ride, laughed, “That was way scarier than I thought it would be!” But the thrill added to the adventure, and they felt like they were embracing every part of the royal history around them.
They then went for a traditional Rajasthani dinner at a place called Chokhi Dhani. Folk dancers swirled around them, and the food was a feast of spices and flavours. Her mother, tasting the rich Dal Baati Churma, smiled and said, “This is what I imagined India tasted like.” Rituparna and her brother exchanged a look of satisfaction, seeing their mother so content and happy.
Back on the Road
Heading home, Rituparna sat by the window, letting the memories play back. Her brother nudged her and said, “Think you’ll be ready for another trip soon?” She laughed, knowing it was going to be true soon. Destinations had started lining up in her head and she was already planning her next escape by then.
Her mother leaned over, saying, “These memories are now a part of us.”
Her brother looked up from his book, nodding in agreement, “I think we just wrote our family’s own story.”
Rituparna knew she’d cherish not just the photos or souvenirs, but the laughter, the awe, and those quiet moments they experienced together, as a family. In that moment, she felt the entire trip summed up in her brother’s words:
“Sometimes, the journey itself is the destination.”
Read more: Rajasthan Reviews