Jaipur- the Pink City

Rich with an effervescent past, narrating the dazzling accounts of valour and bravery, Jaipur is one of the most important heritage cities in India. The city with its wealth of palace complexes and stunning pre- modern architecture is the city of dreams for many ardent lovers of history, culture and vivacity.  It was my sheer love for palaces and medieval architecture that got me hooked to the city ever since I had my first Jaipur tour. It was a school trip and I still remember I stood awe struck at the first glance of the huge City Palace. The thought of a family living in such humungous houses always fascinated me. As a kid I would want to know what was the reason behind living in such big mansions, don’t they get scared of living in a palace, how wonderful it must feel to be owning such a gorgeous place with so much space and splendour. 

The palaces of Jaipur still make me think about the fine artisans and craftsmen of that era whose refined skills resulted into such fine artistry. In the past I have had several Jaipur tours and it almost feels like coming back to home now. 

Chandni Chowk

The undulated alleys of Chandni Chowk are also renowned for the street food joints creating sinful recipes. Making optimum usage of the spices of India, these eateries are located close by the monuments of historic and religious relevance in Old Delhi. Thus a tang of Indian cuisines while adoring these monuments takes the experience to an ecstatic level. Amongst the connoisseurs of street food the names that are most resplendent are Shree Balaj Chaat Bhandar- a gourmet’s heaven this place is truly for those who won’t mind experimenting a bit in pursuit to attain the perfect flavour. Bishan Swaroop, Lala Babu Chaat Bhandar etc are to name a few specializing in creating the Indian favourite street food better known as Chaat. Then there is the Paranthe Wali Gali, which happens to be enjoying the crowning glory amongst all the street food joints. A street in Chandni Chowk is termed as Paranthe Wali Gali for its series of shops selling parantha, a fried and mostly stuffed Indian bread. Once in the city a culinary rendezvous is what consolidates one’s union with the city and thus is an absolute must do thing in Delhi.

Shopping at Dilli Haat

Out on souvenir shopping the travellers will come across an abundance of opportunities to indulge in a shopping buffet. However, blessed are those who make their way to Dilli Haat. Conveniently located on the main road, Dilli Haat is a craft bazaar availing exquisite goods originally manufactured even in the smallest of villages of India. Vibrant colourful stalls here representing states of India bring forth the best of their creations. This noise free bazaar in Delhi is a rarity and is coupled with a treat of diverse Indian cuisines and art. Indian handicrafts and handlooms can be found in aplenty along with silk and woollen fabrics woven at Indian villages. The bazaar organizes various exhibitions to celebrate festivals or to promote the handcrafted products of India. Colourful dance and music presentation, with dancers performing in the middle of the crowds are organized often to enhance the gaiety of the atmosphere here and to introduce travellers to Indian art forms making it a popular sightseeing place in Delhi.

Visit to Red Fort

Encapsulating the characteristics of Persian, European, Mughal and Indian architecture, Red Fort exhibits best of Mughal architectural calibre. This profound specimen of Mughal architecture exudes opulence and splendour. As the fort was earlier part of Shah Jahan’s capital it was enclosed by a stone wall with bastions, turrets and elaborately carved gates. Inside the stunning Diwan-i-Khas hall of private audiences is decked in astounding beauty. The hall of public audiences, Diwan-i-Khas focuses more on size to be able to accommodate all the common public beneath one roof that of justice. The imperial aura of Red Fort has sustained the testimony of time and continues to make the nation proud by making its place in the list of UNESCO compiling the World Heritage Sites.

Pay Homage to ‘Father of the Nation’ at Raj Ghat

During his lifetime, Mahatma Gandhi inspired an entire nation to strive for freedom, infusing the morals of truth and non-violence in the hearts of millions of Indians and people world over. His resting place is not just a memorial, but also is a reminder of his values and his vision that have the quality to inspire even the troubled world of today. Amidst a divinely peaceful ambiance a black marble platform lays that is built to mark the spot of the cremation of the Father of the Nation. In the front it has “Hey Ram” engraved, the name of the lord that were Mahatma Gandhi’s last utterances. Flanked by gorgeous lawns the entire ambiance echoes sublimity. One of the best things to do in Delhi surely would be a visit two of the museums here dedicated to Gandhi that displays fabulous memoirs of the journey of this great legend.

Visit to Jama Masjid

The Friday congregational mosque, Jama Masjid is another of the masterpieces of great Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan of Taj Mahal glory. The humongous gateway of the mosque is very striking and never fails to impress the onlookers. More than its magnificent architecture it is the eternally sublime ambience of the mosque that shifts the devotees into a phase so pious that they can virtually feel the presence of the almighty. The twittering of peace lover pigeons at the front yard and the masses gathering to bow together in the lord’s court makes this largest mosque of India a must visit place in Delhi.

Delhi: Things to do...

Like a phoenix evolving from its own ashes, Delhi the national capital was intruded and sacked several times and yet never did it failed in regaining its lost glory. Thus chosen the capital not once but nine times by successive rulers the city, in the current times is a charismatic place with a rich history. The city tells a saga of opulence, destruction and royal elegance and all this can be seen through its plethora of magnificent monuments and enticing museums. Over the years the recurrent inward flow of diverse populations towards the city has made it a dynamic place constructing perfect symphonic surroundings for a multi-ethnic populace. Thus from a effervescent scene of performing art to the spic and span places to eat those curries, one will come across absolutely incredible things to do in Delhi.

This multidimensional metropolis at first may appear a bit chaotic, but as one discover beneath the surface it turns out to be a miniature of India encapsulating all the colours of the nation in it. A Delhi sightseeing tour is sure to impress, bedazzle and even stun you with its juxtaposition of absolute paradoxical scenes. Thus travelling via a highly advanced metro train one drops at the heart of the city developed by British in early 20th century. Further one comes across the tree lined avenues around the bungalows of dignitaries and soon the scene changes to an undulated alleys of Old Delhi the 17-century walled city. While in Delhi one must experience all the flavours of this cocktail, high on cultural dose.

The city with a rich heritage and diverse cultural backdrop is brimming with opportunities to explore. For each Delhi may reveal a new character trait and thus each interpretation may differ from others. However the city remains home to possibly the widest range of cultures and creeds and thus is very close to its natives’ hearts. A visit to the place only can tell what surprise it has in store for whom. So travel across and make your own list of things to do in Delhi.

The Taj Mahal

Finally, I  made it to the eternal emblem of love- The Taj Mahal on my recent Agra tour. Accompanied by my spouse and friends I visited this monument on one Sunday. My Agra tours journal will have one big chapter allocated to the swanky Yamuna Expressway. The recently inaugurated highway is a 200 km long-stretch which expedited the journey and we covered the distance in 2 and a half hours. To top it we were blessed with Monsoon showers on our way and we could see people jumping-off driving seat and enjoying themselves getting drenched in the downpour.

When we finally reached the city the view in front was celestial, the white marble tomb built in memory of Mumtaz Mahal, the favorite wife of the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan talks in lengths about the era of Mughal empowerment. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a fusion of Persian, Turkish, Indian and Islamic architectural styles. The Taj Mahal, built in Mughal era has rich content of that genre with regard to its formation; it is built on the banks of River Yamuna and has beauteous gardens under its peripheries.

Outside Taj complex we encountered several touts selling miniature versions of the stunning monument however we made our way to the local market and found much exquisite replicas there. After the drizzle the heat and humidity had taken its toll over and we were now. That was a bit of a hassle, but it couldn't refrain us from relishing the beauty of the fabulous monument most rightly called, "ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD".

P.S. Will be returning in no-time.

Diwan-i-Khas: Agra Fort

Agra Fort has a gigantic hall for private audience known as Diwan-i-Khas. On my visit to Agra Fort I entered this hall after viewing Diwan-i-Am. This hall was used by the emperor for holding cultural events and meetings of important guests such as kings, ambassadors and nobles in private. The hall is exquisitely decorated with carvings and flat wooden flat ceiling which used to be covered with gold and silver leaves. This hall is open at on three sides and we entered it through one of the arched openings which were supported on double columns. The hall represents the royal accesses and thus the interior hall has Persian inscriptions inlaid in black stone. The chambers here are profoundly decorated with refined inlay work in floral patterns. The work done on the hall is selected very meticulously keeping in view the status of the royalty.

Marvelous Agra Marble Handicrafts Emporium

Agra Marble Emporiums has a reputation of creating finest marble inlay artwork and our visit to the place provided me a closer view of marvelous Agra. It is situated at the centre of Agra and is close to the ultimate marvel of art- Taj Mahal. Various showrooms have most excellent and prized pieces which are constructed by very skilled artisans. This diverse collection of crafted marble and inlay work attracted me a lot and I ended up purchasing various pieces. Owners of these showrooms have established this exquisite art through long period of time preserving the old tradition. First on our arrival at one of these emporiums they gave us a small demonstration of the marble inlay it was quiet interesting to watch these artists at their art of creating exquisite pieces. At these emporiums the best part was that we could also order them for creating our own type of marble piece. These pieces have delicate size semi precious stones inlayed into the marble crafts and if you know the tact you can bargain great deals for your personal favorites.
Address: 289, Fatehabad Road, Agra.

Getting Around Agra: Drive Through!!!

Visiting the splendid Mughal monuments at Agra one can’t miss the bustling roads of the city which are always full of life. The area starting from Taj Mahal to Jama Masjid provides a stark disparity between the splendid edifices and the raw and rustic streets of the city. We spent an entire morning driving through these old streets of the city and thus we got opportunity to view the real life in the city. The small tea shops, restaurants at every corner and people busy with their daily routine work is all we got to see in the city. The city is decked with numerous spectacular Mughal buildings on one hand and on the other side it has a perfect contrast of its rustic streets. Unfortunately the city is in a bad condition due to ignorance of the state government still the city contains its own charm with interesting sites and friendly people. Thus one must surely stop at one of the local tea shops for catching a full view of the city.

Jama Masjid

Entering the gigantic Buland Darwaza, a grand gateway we proceeded to Jama Masjid which is also known as Jami Masjid. This huge gateway is 40 meters high was built to commemorate Akbar’s victory. Thus, we entered the marvelous edifice of Jama Masjid in Fatehpur Skiri. This is a red sandstone mosque with marble décor and blue colored painted walls and ceilings. This mosque is situated right in the middle of a bustling market and is the place for worship for Muslims of the state.

This mosque also has a Madrasa, Koran School where we spotted little kids busy with their daily schedule of studying rhythmically. For entering the mosque we first had to remove our shoes, which is a common practice followed by many religions as a sign of respect to the residing deity. Every mosque has a separate area for women and this one had a marble screen to separate women’s side of the mosque. We also visited the shrine of Sufi religious leader Sheikh Salim Chisti inside the mosque. Jama Masjid was originally decked with inscriptions and colorful tiles however today the mosque is in a very bad state due to lack of Government funds.

Marble Carvings of Taj Mahal marble carvings of the Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal is surely one place where I would love to visit over and over again this monument is not just a mausoleum but is a complete architectural marvel. Starting from the exterior decorations to the interior detailing the standard of art and architecture is worth all the praises it is given. The exteriors of Taj Mahal are refined proportionally with first applying stucco and stone inlays. The walls of Taj Mahal are craved with calligraphy which needs a lot of artistic capability. The plinth, minarets, mosque and gateway are decked with abstract forms and the domes are worked with exquisite geometric forms.

 The interior chamber contains splendid traditional decorative elements. This section of the tomb is decked with beauteous gemstones, built in white marble the entire interiors appeared a very peaceful and tranquilizing space to me. The entire tomb is decked with the patterns of flowers craved on the stunningly beautiful white marble. This exquisite and fine work of art required trained and skilled labor and thus it is said that emperor Shah Jahan had got hands of the labor amputed after its construction.

Fatehpur Sikri:Mughal Architectural Extravaganza

Fatehpur Sikri is an erstwhile capital of India’s Mughal Empire under Akbar’s reign and was abandoned due to lack of water. Fatehpur Sikri in the current scenario is most deservingly designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its awe inspiring site of architecture. The entire palace complex has influences of Hindu and Jain architecture along with Islamic elements added to it. Some of the beauteous buildings in the city include religious and secular monuments. Out of which Diwan-i-Am, Hall of Public Audience caught my eyes while driving through the city. It was the place where the emperor used to hear the public cases and used to caste his verdict of justice.

In the same complex lies Diwan-i-Khas which was the Hall of Private Audiences such as ministers and high officials. This hall had a circular platform the seat of Emperor Akbar. The royal accesses can be guessed from the fact that the Kings had several palaces for various reasons similarly Fatehpur Sikri also has a spectacular Palace for the erstwhile Queen, Jodhabai. Today the city lacks human populations but is an ideal place for us travelers to take a journey back to the era of Mughal regency.

Sikandra: Akbar's Tomb

My guide at Akbar’s Tomb informed us that Akbar started building his own mausoleum near Agra because he wanted to have a very royal and splendid one according to his own liking. Truly this mausoleum is a perfect amalgamation of Hindu, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist and Jain architectural styles which speaks of Akbar’s secular views. However it was later completed by his son Jehangir . Later on Jehangir also incorporated some alternations which are symbols of Mughal architecture which can be seen in the fort in the current times as well.

This three storeyed tomb is built with red sandstone and displays an exquisite inlay work of marble inside the buildings. While strolling in the gardens of the tomb we encounters various Langurs who have made the gardens their second home and thus, one should take good care of one’s self while taking a walk. The tomb exhibits very beautiful floral and geometric designs form of art which is very typical of Mughal art form. The main gateway into the tomb is also very tastefully decorated and constitutes of four tall white marble minarets and thus while passing through it I could actually feel the air of royal riches.

Itmad-Ud- Daulah's Tomb

Driving through the city of Taj our eyes stopped at a monument that appeared like Taj Mahal from a distance, but when we enquired we got to know that it was Itmad-Ud-Daulah’s Tomb which is also known as Baby Taj. This is a mausoleum which is often described as ‘Jewel Box’ and a ‘draft’ of the world renowned Taj Mahal. The structure consists of scenic gardens around it where visitors like to lay back for enjoying the sight of this picturesque edifice.

Primarily built of red sandstone and marble décor this mausoleum is decked with pietra dura inlay. To enter the fort foriengers were to pay around 200 Rs while for us Indians the cost is very much lesser. This palace is one of the less explored sights in Agra and thus wasn’t all that populated when we visited. This made my visit even more enjoyable and peaceful. On a whole it was fairly enjoyable experience and thus I would recommend it to those looking forward to an extended Agra tour.

Red Fort: A Jewel of Architecture

This UNESCO World Heritage Site in Agra is also known as Agra Fort. I visited this magnificent monument during one of my recent Agra tours- the city which is best known for magnificent architectural marvels of Mughal era. It is the erstwhile home of great Mughal emperors such as Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. The first words that I uttered on the very first sight of this massive edifice were “Wow!!! Long live the King”. This fort is formed in semi-circular plan, and is situated on the banks of a River. This monument has four gates out of which my favorite was Khijri Gate which opens to the river; others are Delhi and Lahore Gate. Exquisite carvings and elegant architecture provide a peep into the Mughal extravaganza. Red Fort has various spectacular edifices such as Angur Bagh, Diwan-i-Am and Diwan-i-Khas. The entire palace complex is decked with beautiful gardens which further adds to the regal ambiance of the fort.