We Slept in a Royal Palace in India | Exploring Taj Mahal & Agra & Karauli

Summary

In this episode, Flying The Nest takes viewers on a captivating journey through India, highlighting their visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra and their stay in a royal palace in Karauli. The couple shares their experiences exploring the architectural and cultural wonders of India, including the stunning marble courtyard of a historic fort, the enchanting view of the Taj Mahal, and a memorable stay at a 400-year-old palace. Their adventure captures the vibrant essence and rich history of India, providing viewers with a vivid sense of exploration and discovery.

Highlights

• Touching both the Pyramids and the Taj Mahal makes for an incredible travel milestone. 🕌
• The Taj Mahal's beauty truly comes to life, leaving the visitors in awe. 😮
• Fun fact: The Taj Mahal was built by an emperor in honor of his favorite wife. 💏
• Exploring vibrant marketplaces in Karauli gives a taste of colorful Indian culture. 🌈
• Staying overnight in a royal palace adds a touch of luxury and history to the adventure. 👑

Key Takeaways

• The Taj Mahal visit is a perfect blend of history, beauty, and optical illusions that captivate visitors. 🤩
• Exploring Agra's marble forts and witnessing architectural wonders provides a deep dive into Indian history. 🏰
• Waking up early is a must to capture the Taj Mahal's beauty at sunrise. 🌅
• Karauli offers a unique experience with its vibrant marketplaces and authentic Indian life. 🛍️
• Staying in a 400-year-old untouched palace in Karauli gives a royal feel and historical exploration. 🏛️

Overview

Flying The Nest takes us on an awe-inspiring journey across some of India's most iconic locations. Starting with the exhilarating experience of touching the Taj Mahal, the couple also delves into the architectural grandeur of Agra's forts. Their journey is a mix of history, beauty, and personal milestones that showcase the splendor of India.

Their adventure continues with the enchanting beauty of the Taj Mahal, a symbol of true love, as the couple shares fascinating tidbits about its history. Capturing the mystique of sunrise at this world wonder, they emphasize the importance of early visits to soak in its serenity.

As they move towards Karauli, a vibrant local market entices with its authenticity. Their stay at a 400-year-old untouched palace enriches their journey, giving them a glimpse into royal Indian life. This unique accommodation adds a luxurious twist to their adventure, wrapping up their journey with an unforgettable royal flair.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction and Arrival in Agra The chapter introduces the anticipation and excitement of visiting the Taj Mahal. It begins with a sense of wonder as the speakers express their desire to touch the monument, similar to their experience with the pyramids. The chapter captures the unique experience and emotional significance of seeing one of the wonders of the world. After an eventful journey, they reach Agra with high expectations for an unforgettable afternoon.
• 00:30 - 02:30: Exploring the Agra Fort The narrator describes their journey to Agra, suggesting it took several hours to reach the destination. Once there, they plan to explore for the entire day and stay overnight. The first stop in their exploration is the Agra Fort. The narrator was initially unaware of its size and stature, describing it as a 'massive walled city.' They emphasize the enormity of the structure as they stand at the front gate, preparing to enter.
• 02:30 - 05:30: First Look at the Taj Mahal The chapter titled 'First Look at the Taj Mahal' explores the historical significance of a fort that served as the residence for emperors during the 1500s. As new emperors ascended to power, they expanded the structure, turning it into an impressive fortress. The narration highlights the architectural marvel of the fort, emphasizing its extensive use of marble in the walls, floors, and courtyard, reflecting its grandeur during the time Agra was the capital and the emperor resided there.
• 05:30 - 09:00: Visiting the Taj Mahal - Fun Facts and Sunset The chapter focuses on visiting the Taj Mahal, one of the most famous landmarks in India. The author describes the first glimpse of the Taj Mahal from a distance, emphasizing its immense size and beauty even from afar. The narrative conveys an excitement and anticipation about experiencing this architectural wonder up close. Additionally, the chapter mentions that the visit to the Taj Mahal is part of a larger itinerary known as the 'Golden Triangle', a popular travel circuit in India.
• 09:00 - 11:30: Sunrise at the Taj Mahal The chapter 'Sunrise at the Taj Mahal' describes a journey through India, focusing on the popular tourist route known as the 'Golden Triangle,' which includes Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. The narrator conveys their anticipation and excitement at seeing the Taj Mahal for the first time. They describe walking through a large gate and experiencing the breathtaking view of the Taj Mahal. No specific dress code is required to visit the landmark, emphasizing the experience's accessibility to all visitors.
• 11:30 - 16:00: Journey to Karauli and Exploring the Marketplace The chapter titled 'Journey to Karauli and Exploring the Marketplace' describes the experience of viewing the Taj Mahal. The narrator notes the surprisingly cheap entry fee of 26 rupees. As they approach the Taj Mahal, they pass through a red gate and notice a small opening through which they can glimpse the monument. The architectural design of the passageway creates an optical illusion, making the Taj Mahal appear to retreat as one walks closer, which the narrator finds difficult to explain but intriguing as they witness it.
• 16:00 - 19:15: Staying in a 400-Year-Old Palace The chapter explores the narrator's experience and awe while staying in a 400-year-old palace, described as a 'wonder of the world.' They express amazement at its majestic appearance and optical illusions that enhance its surreal experience.
• 19:15 - 21:30: Staying Overnight in the Royal Palace In the chapter titled 'Staying Overnight in the Royal Palace,' the narrator introduces a segment called 'Fun Facts with Jess.' Jess shares an interesting story about the Taj Mahal, explaining that it was built by an emperor who had three wives, with a particular fondness for his third wife. Upon her death, he constructed the Taj Mahal, a grand mausoleum, in her honor.
• 21:30 - 23:30: Morning in the Palace and Departure to Jaipur In the chapter titled 'Morning in the Palace and Departure to Jaipur', the narrator describes the experience of visiting the Taj Mahal. They note that her body is placed inside the beautiful building, which amazes them. Despite the crowd at sunset, the narrator discovers a less crowded spot on the shadowed side of the Taj Mahal, providing an opportunity for great photos. The narrator expresses their admiration for the location, calling it a beautiful photo spot, and compliments someone named Bobby, mentioning they are gleaming.
• 23:30 - 27:00: Conclusion and Next Destination The chapter concludes with the narrator expressing a deep affection for India. This feeling is underscored by musical moments, indicating a significant emotional connection to the country. The mention of 'having our booties on' suggests a readiness to move forward or embark on a new journey, hinting at an upcoming transition or 'Next Destination' as indicated by the chapter title.

We Slept in a Royal Palace in India | Exploring Taj Mahal & Agra & Karauli Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 [Music] i need to touch it we touched the pyramids and now we're touching the taj mahal oh my gosh this is like an afternoon i never forget good morning everybody wow you know today is going to be special when you're waking up to go see one of the wonders of the world we're going to see the taj mahal after quite the drive i think it took us
• 00:30 - 01:00 four or five hours to get out here we've finally arrived in agra and we're gonna be exploring it all day today and spending the night and the first stop that we've come to is at the floor it's basically like i didn't know much about it coming here it literally looks like a massive walled city like look at this we're at the front gate it's about to enter it's huge huge absolutely massive
• 01:00 - 01:30 this was basically the home for the emperor so back in the 1500s when they first had the emperor they built this fort and then as each emperor came into ruling they kind of extended and added more buildings and now it's turned into this amazing fortress and it was during the time that agra was actually capital so that's why the emperor actually lived here it's actually an architectural feat just how much of this is built in marble but the walls that are marbled the floor that we're walking on is marble basically this entire courtyard is made out of
• 01:30 - 02:00 marble what are you spotting through there guys it is our first look of the taj mahal we can see it in the distance oh my gosh if it's this big from this far away imagine how big it is when we go there look at this oh wow i didn't even see it before it's just over there it literally looks so much bigger than in the camera so the second half of our trip here in india we're doing something called the golden triangle which if you go online it's probably the most popular
• 02:00 - 02:30 route you can do in india because it starts in delhi you go across to agra then you go up to jaipur then back down to delhi so you pretty much do a golden triangle okay guys it is the moment we've been waiting for i haven't had a look yet there's actually like this gigantic gate we're going to walk through that and then we're going to see the taj mahal and i don't want to look until like the moment we walk through the gate and then i'm gonna look out okay so you can just get hit with it yeah also there's some so excited you guys are wondering there's no dress code to come to the taj mahal no you can wear whatever you want you're gonna wear yeah it's like 1300
• 02:30 - 03:00 rupees like 26 which to come and see the target hole that's a steal that's so cheap so before you can actually see the taj there's this red gate and also there's a bit of a hole so we can see a little bit of the taj mahal slowly opening up and the way the architects have designed this passageway is almost like an optical illusion you're walking in and it feels like the taj mahal is going further away from you as you walk in it's hard to explain but i'm seeing it right now
• 03:00 - 03:30 wow i can see why they call it the wonder of the world oh my gosh it's so cool it doesn't look real wow oh my gosh also that optical illusion walking through that it literally just wow into your face
• 03:30 - 04:00 [Music] you gave me the best of your heart so i'm taking over fun facts with jess if you guys want to know what the taj mahal is and why it was built so there was an emperor it was a bit cheeky he had three wives and his third wife was his favorite so he decided to build this mausoleum in her honor so when she died
• 04:00 - 04:30 they placed her body here and her body is still here so she lays inside this beautiful building this is so crazy guys so of course coming to the taj mahal at sunset it is so busy but for some reason if you come onto the side where it's more shadowed it like literally looks like there's barely anyone here and then you turn around and then you see everyone and we just got so many fun photos this is such a beautiful photo spot bobby you're gleaming i love it
• 04:30 - 05:00 i love india so much [Music] is [Music] we have our booties on
• 05:00 - 05:30 so we've just come up to the top so if you come to the top you have to wear your booties and you can go inside and we just did but you can't film or anything but you actually see her tomb inside but i can't i didn't realize you could get this close like i'm about to go and touch the taj mahal come on let's go touch her i need to touch it we touched the pyramids and now we're touching the taj mahal oh my gosh this this is like an afternoon i'll never forget this is super special
• 05:30 - 06:00 oh this spot is perfect for bed oh my gosh we are exhausted guys it was like an early it was late night last night with caro nate early start today getting here to agra but we're crazy because if we go to a place and we think it's worth getting up for the sunrise we do we do it and you cannot come to agra and not wake up early and go see the taj in the morning so we'll see you tomorrow morning bright and early at
• 06:00 - 06:30 sunrise back at the taj [Music] you can't rush a moment so don't even try don't even try wow [Music] look how beautiful it looks during this time of day it's like pinks and soft yellows so beautiful and it's not as busy as some set but it is pretty busy
• 06:30 - 07:00 still it's pretty do you think like gosh it is a popular spot but we were able to get some amazing sunrise photos so yeah it was definitely worth waking up for so just as an ending cap to the taj mahal it is said that the emperor wanted a mausoleum for himself it was meant to be black built just across the river and they actually had planned to build that one first if they'd built that instead of the white one i wonder if we'd be here today it will be just as popular as it is today so the place opens up at 6am
• 07:00 - 07:30 we got here basically 6 a.m it is now 7 a.m and look how busy it is this is like the famous diana chair just here as you can see probably the shot everyone once again so if you want to come to the taj i recommend waking up super early getting here at 5 30 so then you're near the front of the line and then once you get in take your photos at the front and then run over to the red mosque yeah and that is where you get the amazing photos i just turn around and then that's just the background like it's can't believe how busy it is
• 07:30 - 08:00 so we're now making our way to karuli
• 08:00 - 08:30 which is where we're going to be spending the night and we've just stopped off at a place for lunch and we just had the most amazing welcome ever we have the marigolds we have the colour on our head now we're going to go and have some lunch and tonight we're staying in a really really cool place guys we have just arrived we've just arrived in crawley and it is so hard to describe what it's like walking around these streets the sights
• 08:30 - 09:00 the smells it's like overwhelming we're currently walking through the marketplace and after saying this place is so vibrant you're so authentic as well so it's so different to deli definitely so different today really colorful here so many people are wearing their traditional dress as well [Applause] rickshaws
• 09:00 - 09:30 [Music] how friendly are the locals i know we're actually like excited that we're here have we found no you wouldn't expect this in this little town [Music]
• 09:30 - 10:00 i can't believe that we're currently standing on top of a 400 year old palace this is so cool and everything is original they haven't touched anything so the paint is 400 years old everything we went into the queen's room and now we are on the rooftop amazing cool spot to watch the sunset just look how intricate the paintings are on the courtyard yeah i didn't realize that every like area in india
• 10:00 - 10:30 has its own palace so this is the palace of this area definitely think you found the best seat in the [Music] all house ready to stay in our own palace that's gonna be cool [Music]
• 10:30 - 11:00 me [Music] we have arrived
• 11:00 - 11:30 i can literally hear the peacocks so tonight we're actually staying in the palace of the royal family so they live here they say sometimes they're like in and out of the country or in and out of the state but we have literally arrived and we're sleeping in a palace thank you thank you two zero one
• 11:30 - 12:00 okay so we have our own dining room what this place is humongous oh in our living room with family portraits and everything wow that's the bedroom oh yeah this is the bedroom and a four-poster bed we are literally staying at someone's house like there's their wedding photos this is a house oh this is a royal palace the royal palace
• 12:00 - 12:30 well thank you that's crazy what it keeps going oh so this is like the getting ready area what's that called like the dressing room would that be this i love the bathroom stick yeah have a look wow oh it is humongous got a massive shower wow this just keeps going and going alrighty we're going to show you more of this palace in the morning [Music]
• 12:30 - 13:00 wow i can't say i've ever stayed in a royal indian palace before but we can check that one off we spent the morning walking through the grounds and there are so many peacocks having coffee in the royal courtyard cheers cheers i'm kind of sad we're heading to our last destination here in india but it's like the top of our bucket list is
• 13:00 - 13:30 the next spot definitely we're just gonna grab something to eat and then we're jumping in the bus it's about five hours to get to jaipur we've got about two more videos left in india it's been incredible so far if you are new around here make sure you hit subscribe give the video a thumbs up if you enjoyed it see you guys next time we've landed in this field and we can't get the car in so all the locals have come now we're trying to they're all helping to get us up