Caper Travel India Blog

It was a heartwarming experience to visit multi-cultural city Delhi and princely city Jaipur. My excitement level was increasing as now I was heading towards the world famous Taj Mahal. Located in the Mughal city Agra, Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world.
Agra is one of the most favored tourist destinations of India. Occupying a pride place in the hearts of tourists, both national and international, Agra was at one point of time the glorious kingdom of the Mughals. It earned international fame because of Taj Mahal, symbolizing love, which was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

After reaching Agra in the early morning we freshened up and had a delicious breakfast. Next we headed towards the epitome of architectural beauty ‘Taj Mahal‘. Its very first sight captured my heart. Built in white marble, this stunning structure has breathtaking architecture. My guide told me that at one point of time this structure was studded with precious and semi-precious stones. The interiors are amazing-the carvings and inlay work of floral designs and calligraphy. The guide showed us the place where the queen Mumtaz Mahal and later Shah Jahan were buried after their death.

Taj Mahal,the World Heritage Site reflects the perfect combination of Mughal, Persian and Central Asian architectural styles. It is steeped in rich history. I think if you have not seen Taj Mahal, you have not seen India. Well I had earlier read about this fascinating monument and I remembered that the great Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore affectionately dubbed Taj Mahal as ‘a teardrop on the cheek of eternity’. And the British Author and poet Rudyard Kipling called Taj Mahal as ‘the embodiment of all things pure’. I also wanted to say something- ‘Far from one’s imagination, a majestic creation enveloped in love’.

Post lunch we enjoyed a tonga ride to Agra Fort which is located around 2 km from Taj Mahal. It is a huge majestic structure which is also a World Heritage Site. Popularly known as the Red Fort of Agra, this structure was once the abode of the great Mughal emperors Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. Some of its attractions which I liked very much are Diwan-i-Aam (hall of public audience), the Diwan-i-Khas (hall of private audience), the octagonal tower known as Musamman Burj, Sheesh Mahal (the mirror palace) Khas Mahal and the Anguri Bagh (the Grape Garden).

After exploring this mesmerizing structure we went to Fatehpur Sikri, the red sandstone historic city founded by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1564 AD. There we visited the famous tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisthi, Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal, Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas, Jodha Bai’s Palace and Birbal Bhavan. It was such an overwhelming experience. In the evening we shopped for some marble handicrafts and this marked the end of my Golden Triangle Tour.

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The experience of Khajuraho tour always remains close to my heart because it is among the best places, which offers overwhelming glimpses of best of Indian arts and architecture. I love to travel and every month along with some of my friends I usually visit nearby tourist destinations. These short weekend breaks rejuvenate us by breaking the monotony of our life and provide us an opportunity to spend some quality time with our dear ones.

Inspired by the Discovery Channel special program on ‘Temples in Asia’ ,which we saw on Thursday night we decided to go on Khajuraho tour. According to the program the temples of this place are some of the most significant and most stunning of all Indian temples which symbolize the apex of Indian arts and architectures. This approval from the Discovery Channel was enough for us to spend our weekend in Khajuraho.

On Saturday morning I with my two friends boarded the Bhopal Shatabdi Express Train at 6:15 am from Delhi and reached Jhansi at 10:50 am and from there we hired a taxi and reached Kahjuraho around 5 pm. The distance between Jhansi and Khajuraho is 180 km and our taxi took 6 hours to reach this temple city of central India. After such a hectic journey we were completely exhausted and planned to rest the whole night in a hotel itself.

Next day early in the morning we reached the Western Group of Temples. The air was refreshing, the sun was about to rise, chirping of birds mesmerized us and rest of the spell was casted by the magnificent architecture of the Lakhmana Temple. This is a beautiful stone temple which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is among the best known and well preserved attraction of this place which was built by King Yasovarman in the 10th century A.D.

This temple is a five-shrined or panchayatana complex which stands in the centre of a raised platform along with its four subsidiary shrines positioned in the corners. Throughout the platform intricate sculptures depicting scenes of a war, battle, hunting, dances, religious preaching and elixir preparation amidst an orgy mesmerized us the most.

We were completely fascinated by the intricate rock carvings and at some places of this temple we stood still for a long time in order to decipher the hidden meanings behind the sculptures. Some passing by visitors praised these man made wonders while some appreciated their erotic features. But for me it was the best of human creations based on deep insight and complex life philosophy.

This was the supreme place where fantasies of sculptor’s artistic vision are showcased with profound profusion. Every inch of the outer wall of this temple was intricately carved touching various themes. The temple wall is divided into two zones, one zone depicting attractive celestial nymph, apsaras, snake goddesses and griffins, while the other portrays images of the different incarnations of Lord Vishnu. For me the most remarkable sculptures are on the southeast side, one of which depicts two males beatifically dancing with finger cymbals in their hands. This sculpture captivated our attention for long and after that we got involved in a long discussion trying to interpret the meaning behind it.

We stopped for a quick bite and then hurriedly explored Devi Jagdamba Temple, Chitragupta Temple, Chaunsat Yogini and Matanageswara Temple and Kandariya Mahadeo Temple. All these temples are equally impressive and are known for their astonishing beauty and delicate stone carvings.

After spending our evening at the backdrop of Western Group of Khajuraho Temples we returned to our hotel. After having dinner we hired a taxi and headed towards Jhansi.

While returning I was lost in the thoughts of this mystic place. I wish I could stay here for a longer duration. It’s a note for every Khajuraho tourist that at least two days are required in order to explore this land of exquisitely carved temples.

Truly, most of us come here to see eroticism of these temples but when you see the fantastic display of fantasies this feeling of eroticism disappears and you get lost in finding the hidden meaning behind each sculpture. Everyone who visited this land has his/her own interpretations and inspirations which remain in their heart and mind forever.

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“Don’t let your cares stop you from smiling now, today and forever”. This wonderful thought sank deep into my heart, comforting it to the hilt. Actually I was getting bogged down by the work pressure in my office. My worries were robbing me of my smile. After reading this quote I decided to keep smiling and not to be defeated by problems. And I felt that when my focus changed from worries to smile my environment started supporting me. Well my company organized a short trip to Kanyakumari,Tamil Nadu a South Indian state which is famous the world over for its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. Well for me it was the power of positive thinking.

My face was radiant with a warm smile because we were going to Kanyakumari, a destination I can visit a thousand times. Kanyakumari is truly a fairy-tale like destination located at the confluence of the three great oceans: the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. It is a paradise when it comes to natural beauty.

We were booked in the Sparsa Resort which is at a walking distance from the breathtaking Kanyakumari Beach. In the early morning I, with a heart waiting to absorb the beauty of Kanyakumari, and my colleagues walked up to the beach. I was completely engrossed in the cool, fresh breeze, swaying palms, multi-colored sand and the unfathomable waves hitting the rocks. Finally we treated our senses with the breathtaking sunrise.

I felt a different aura about this place. It is soaked in peace and beauty as if telling us to pause for sometime and enjoy everything about the nature. We sat there chatting about different things in life. This beach experience was such an antidote to the monotony of daily routine. While we were going back to the hotel for breakfast I bought some beautiful shells from a stall at the beach.

In the evening we again came back to the beach to see its other attractions. We visited the beautiful Kanyakumari Temple located on the shore. It is dedicated to a manifestation of Parvati, the virgin goddess who did penance to get married to Lord Shiva. We also saw the two rocks, near the temple, jutting out of the sea. One of the rocks is named Sri Padaparai as it has the footprints of the virgin goddess. The other one is the famous Vivekananda rock Memorial where the great spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda attained enlightenment. We also visited the Gandhi Memorial.

Now was the time to get bowled by the sunset. It was the most awaited moment and finally it was there. It was simply overwhelming! The reddish glow of the sun was cloaking the waters. The view was more than perfect and the feeling was more than breathtaking. The joy I felt here was truly beyond words. With that joy and a fresh attitude towards life I came back to Delhi.

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Love is a strong positive emotion of regard and affection which holds two souls together forever. It is the most fascinating feeling of a human heart which is expressed in various forms. Some express it with poems, some with songs, and some with gifts or surprises. But none have ever dared to immortalize their love, as the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan did by constructing Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal is the immortal tribute to love which was built in the 17th century by Shahjahan – the fifth Mughal emperor, as the mausoleum of his beloved Queen Mumtaz Mahal. The romantic aura of this 350 year old white marble edifice is still felt which makes it a romantic destination of the world. The everlasting charm of  Taj makes it  a popular world heritage  on the earth.

Last weekend I visited this symbol of Love with my Uncle and Aunty who came to India from New York. It was their wish that I accompany them during their Agra Visit. It was my third visit to this place and in each visit I learnt something new. Along with my uncle, aunty and their two friends I boarded Shatabdi Express from New Delhi in the morning and reached Agra by 08:15 am.

Taj Mahal is a synonymous of love and romance which is located on the bank of River Yamuna. It is set among the serene ambiance of a well-laid-out garden with the backdrop of Yamuna River flowing silently. The beauty of this monument is heart throbbing which makes it incomparable with any other monument in the world.

This incredible manmade construction is known for its architectural supremacy. Recognized for its symmetrical construction,it is raised on platform and surrounded by four minarets. Inside the Taj, the delicate mosaic work and intricate decoration with inlaid design of flowers and calligraphy engrossed me completely.

For me this is the finest example of Mughal architecture which is known for its construction and decoration pattern of Turkish, Persian, Indian, and Islamic styles. I was highly impressed by the mosaic design which covers the entire surface of this building.

Another most captivating aspect of this place is a pool that reflects the image of Taj Mahal. The inverted reflection of Taj in the pool is beyond description. Sometimes this stillness was disturbed by the ripples but its calmness was soon restored. As it happened during the Mughal Reign, when their empire  lost its stability for sometime but soon their legacy was restored and flourished for centuries.

After having lip smacking lunch I took my Uncle, Aunty  and their friends for shopping. During shopping they purchased several things as a souvenir of this place. After shopping we returned to the railway station, where we boarded Shatabdi Express and reached Delhi around 10:30 pm.

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