India
Hey hey, Sof here!
I am going to spill all of the tea about my trip to India. My family and I visited this scenic country in September of 2019 for a wedding ceremony of our close family friends. So naturally, we turned it into a 10 day trip, and I missed the first week of my freshman year of college. Totally stress free! #NOT.
Needless to say, I enjoyed my time and want to pass on what I have gathered with all of you!
While visiting India, the first thing I noticed was how many people there were. If you are unaware, India has a lot of people. To put it into perspective India’s population is currently 1.3 billion and is predicted to surpass China’s population by 2027. Say what?
Overall, the trip was even more beautiful than anticipated. It is not your typical relaxing family vaca, but definitely one that will elevate your Instagram and VSCO profile. To recap my trip I have collected my main thoughts: this place is absolutely stunning, the VSCO opportunities are endless and wow I am sweating through my pants.
Below, I broke down which sites and cities are a must see and which are not as vital.
Taj Mahal
If you are going to India and the Taj it should be a must see on your itinerary.
This building is more grand and beautiful than imagined, and my photos do not do it justice. When I visited we went at sunrise which made the limestone bricks pop. I highly suggest visiting at this hour. It worked for us because our sleep schedule was already skewed from the day and a half voyage over. Worth it.
One of the main things to consider when planning to see the Taj Mahal is that; it is not located in the country’s capital of New Delhi. Instead it is located in Agra, which is not easily accessible - of course. The second is that there is a lot of poverty surrounding this site. Just something to watch out for.
When you travel to Agra, I highly suggest taking a cab organized by the hotel you are staying at. Strangely, flights are not accessible from New Delhi to Agra, and you have to plan train fares far in advance. Therefore, if your travel group is as disorganized as my fam, I suggest you opt for the cab.
Humayun’s Tomb
This is a beautiful site if you are looking for something to see or visit during your stay in New Delhi, but it is definitely not a must. This building similar to the Taj, was actually built for funerary purposes. It is a very extra, beautifully crafted building, that was made to hold a dead body. It’s kind of crazy to think about how over the top this concept is. On the other hand, it is so remarkable how much thought was put into the afterlife.
This site is a scenic one to say the least; the red stone and ground really popped in pictures. The gardens around the tomb are dope and well kept. There is a deck-like platform surrounding the building that can be accessed by a set of stairs. Visitors can climb the stairs and take pics looking out. Definitely a good photo op,, and I suggest having your VSCO account ready to go.
Dilli Haat
When we decided to visit this place, I was unaware of what to expect, because on Spadafora family trips, market trips are a staple. My parents are suckers for a bargain experience.
Once experiencing this market in New Delhi, I declared that this was a MUST. The Dilli Haat is the perfect spot to purchase Indian souvenirs to remember your trip and experiencing another pocket of the culture.
Now, for my fashion peeps. If you want to bring a dose of Indian ~ style ~ for your wardrobe back home. This. Is. The. Place. For. You. I have attached some of the key pieces that my sis and I bought on our visit. Cute metallic detailed bags? Yes Please! We also bought some fun statement earrings and funk fresh hand jewels.
Udaipur
This is the city and venue where we celebrated the wedding of our dear friends! Therefore, I am not as well versed regarding sites and things to see in this area. Needless to say, Udaipur is a beautiful place.
In comparison to the other cities we visited, Agra and New Delhi, Udaipur is more rural and relaxed. The views are immaculate. It is mountainous and covered in lush greenery. I was unaware of the lush vegetation that is present in India’s scenery, but man, that ish be lush! I have attached some photos of the scenes and damn! Get your VSCO out!
One activity that we did was a lake cruise on Lake Pichola. Similar to the rest of our trip, the scenery amazed me. There are #boujee marble buildings that line the water. Definitely a different lake vibe than what us New Englanders are used to.
Overall, if you are planning your trip to India and are near the area of Udaipur, definitely consider stopping in, as the scenery will have you dropping your jaw!
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!
Catch ya later in my next post
with love, Sof