The Amazing Race 35 Recap – The Teams Head to India
Tonight’s episode of The Amazing Race sent the teams to Jaipur, India, where a series of balancing acts, puppetry and mural-matching challenges determined who would continue on and who would be sent home. Below is a full recap of the leg, including key tasks, strategic choices and the elimination at the Pit Stop.
The leg opened with all teams receiving their next destination: Jaipur. After flying in, teams took taxis to the Amber Palace, where their first on-foot task awaited. Each team had to carry a bundle of sugarcane into the palace courtyard before receiving the next clue. Once inside the courtyard, teams learned they faced a Roadblock that required one member to complete a short, choreographed dance routine while balancing three pots on their head.
A broad mix of competitors attempted the Roadblock: Ian, Ashlie, Anna Leigh, Corey, Morgan, Garrett, Chelsea, Andrea, Yeremi, and John. Many struggled with the balance element, and several teams required multiple attempts. Anna Leigh was the first to finish, allowing her and partner Steve to race ahead to the next location, Panna Meena ka Kund. John followed as the second finisher, and Morgan completed the Roadblock shortly after. Meanwhile, Todd expressed frustration that Ashlie had not yet started the challenge; she continued to practice the routine until she felt ready.
Once at Panna Meena ka Kund, teams encountered a Detour offering two options: All Dolled Up or The Big Picture. All Dolled Up tasked teams with creating two marionettes and performing a puppet show, while The Big Picture required teams to don costumes and match characters to a life-size mural. Steve and Anna Leigh elected to build the marionettes and perform the show.
Teams continued to trickle through the Roadblock. Yeremi, Ashlie, Ian and Garrett completed the balancing challenge before Corey, who needed multiple attempts and finally succeeded only after fifteen tries. With the Roadblock finished, many teams made their way to the Detour at Panna Meena ka Kund and split between the two tasks. Some teams formed temporary alliances to search for the mural-based Detour location, while others committed to the puppet-building challenge.
At the All Dolled Up stations, teams assembled marionettes and rehearsed short performances before presenting their puppet shows to receive the next clue. Steve and Anna Leigh delivered a smooth performance and grabbed the lead, proceeding to the designated Pit Stop at Gatore Ki Chhatriyan. Along the way Phil informed them of a U-Turn vote that would take place on a future leg, and Steve and Anna Leigh collected a $3,000 prize for finishing first on this leg.
Meanwhile, several teams struggled with The Big Picture Detour. The task demanded careful attention to small costume and prop details to correctly match characters in the mural. Morgan & Lena, Greg & John and others had trouble identifying the precise elements required, with Morgan & Lena being told twice that their attempts were incorrect. Greg & John eventually passed the mural challenge and moved up the leaderboard.
Rob & Corey recovered from their delayed Roadblock finish by choosing All Dolled Up and completing their puppet show, which allowed them to regain ground and avoid last place. Other teams who completed the mural task included Andrea & Malaina, Robbin & Chelsea and Liam & Yeremi. Joel & Garrett also finished their marionette performance and advanced to the Pit Stop.
As teams raced toward Gatore Ki Chhatriyan, a close contest unfolded between Joe & Ian and Morgan & Lena. After switching Detours to escape repeated failures at the mural task, Morgan & Lena completed the puppet challenge and left for the Pit Stop around the same time Joe & Ian finally corrected a mistake on their mural. On the road, Morgan & Lena’s driver appeared to find a helpful shortcut, while Joe & Ian encountered heavier traffic — a decisive factor in who would reach the mat first.
When Phil announced the race results at the Pit Stop, Steve & Anna Leigh were confirmed as Team #1. Greg & John took second, with Joel & Garrett and Andrea & Malaina following in third and fourth. Todd & Ashlie arrived fifth, and Rob & Corey secured sixth after their comeback. Robbin & Chelsea and Liam & Yeremi finished seventh and eighth respectively. Morgan & Lena managed to reach the mat in ninth place.
Shortly after Morgan & Lena’s arrival, Joe & Ian stepped onto the mat and received the elimination notice. Phil informed them they were the team departing the competition, bringing an end to their Amazing Race journey for this season.
Leg Summary
1st place: Steve & Anna Leigh
2nd place: Greg & John
3rd place: Joel & Garrett
4th place: Andrea & Malaina
5th place: Todd & Ashlie
6th place: Rob & Corey
7th place: Robbin & Chelsea
8th place: Liam & Yeremi
9th place: Morgan & Lena
Eliminated: Joe & Ian
That concludes tonight’s episode of The Amazing Race. The leg featured physical endurance, cultural tasks and strategic pivots that reshuffled the field, and a U-Turn vote was announced to loom over future legs. Check back next week for the next installment and another live recap of the race.