Archive for the ‘india tour’ Category

Goa Beach Holiday: A Combination of Fun, Sun and Sand

How do you feel when suddenly you get a chance to explore the land of sun, sand and sea? For me it was amazing, when I got the news that this time we would explore golden sun, sparkling sand and blue sea and for that the best place was Goa. I, Father, Sushant and Jiya, we all took leave for a week from our respective jobs and packed our bags to hit the Goa, the land of beaches.

Church of St. Francis Assisi
Church of St. Francis Assisi

It was hard for everyone to wait, so we opted the air route and took a flight from IGI airport, Delhi. It took around 2 hours and 25 minutes to reach Dabolim airport, Goa. Form there, we hired a private taxi to reach our booked resort located at most famous Dona Paula beach. It was a sea-facing resort from where we could enjoy the sea view all the time. For that day we decided to enjoy the recreation facilities at resort itself along with the spell bounding views of the calm and beautiful sea.

Dona Paula beach view doubled our excitement. It was heavily crowded and most of them were newly wedded couples who were there to celebrate their honeymoon in Goa.

The next day, we all left the resort a bit early, just to make most of the day. To start the day, the first attraction was churches of the land. We moved towards old Goa in car hired by us. Our first Goa attraction was Church of St. Francis of Assisi. Amazing architecture and a sacred place were a good start of that day. After offering our prayers, we left the place and moved to explore the culture of the Goa, blend of Indian and western culture.

After exploring some street markets of the city, the time was to enjoy the cuisines of this gorgeous land. Be it Italian, Portuguese, Punjabi, Thai, Gujarati, Chinese, South Indian, Mexican, European or Korean, Goa serves everything. We tried only rice, fish curry and bhaji and they were delicious. The day was over, we came back to resort and took the rest.

In rest of the days, we covered four famous beaches of Goa, including Anjuna Beach, Baga Beach, Bogmolo Beach and Calangute Beach. Every beach has its own charm and that cannot be expressed in words.

Rave parties of Anjuna beach attract a large number of tourists every year and that was the reason it was on our must visit list. We spent a full day on Anjuna beach. While Sushant and Jiya were enjoying underwater diving at the beach, I and father explored Wednesday Flea Market.

Goa Beach Vacation
Goa Beach Vacation

Classical dance events and musical concerts organized at Calangute beach kept us occupied for an entire day. Where the days were dedicated to the sandy beaches, our nights were occupied in electrifying Goan parties.

In that week, we tried to explore the maximum but still a week was not enough to cover everything.

This is almost impossible to cover miles of golden beaches and green landscape in a week. So, we left the rest for our next Goa Beach Vacation and came back with golden memories and famous Kaju Feni of Goa.

 

Chram Dham Yatra: The Journey of Salvation

Char Dham Yatra
Char Dham Yatra

Char Dham means the four holy abodes or sacred seats of Hindus. And pilgrimage to this place is considered as the journey of self-realization where one accepts his deeds and seeks the blessings of the almighty before returning with peace of mind. According to Hindu mythologies Char Dham Yatra represents the journey of salvation where devotees come to pay their gratitude to almighty.

The name of four sacred place of Char Dham Yatra is Badrinath, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Gangotri. All of these four places are associated with many legends and religious values.

All the four religious destinations of Chram Dham Yatra are located amidst the Holy Himalaya in Garwhal region of Uttaranchal state. With the religious fervor, during Char Dham Tour tourists get an opportunity to experience the scenic beauty of Himalayan region, which is abundant in flora, flora and scenic landscapes. The Charm Dham is also known across the globe for its awesome natural beauty and calm serenity which inspired not only saints and sages since time immemorial but also tourists and pilgrims from several parts of the globe.

Last year with my two friends I have done Char Dham Yatra whose memory still refreshes my mind and rejuvenates my souls. It is among the memorable trip of my life because of its interwoven charm of religious fervor on one side and serene and scenic nature on another. Based on the experience I would advice to take Char Dham Tour Package for Char Dham Yatra from reputed travel company. It is because the customized Char Dham Tour Package offers hassle free journey.

Based on the choice there are several Char Dham Tour Packages are available at various competitive rates. These tour packages are one to two weeks long based on the destinations covered. The Charm Dham Tour Package which we took is of 16 Days and 15 Nights. In this comprehensive tour, we covered several beautiful tourist destinations of Uttaranchal like Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Shyamchatti, Hanumanchatti, Yamunotri, Uttarkashi, Gangotri, Uttarkashi, Triuginarain, Gaurikund, Kedarnath, Gaurikund, Rudraprayag, Badrinath and Rudraprayag.

All these destinations have their own charm and glory, which enthrall us during our tour. Our journey begins from Delhi, and Haridwar is the first destination of our tour. At this place, we visited various places like Mansa Devi temple, Sapt Rishi, Daksha Mahadev temple, etc. After enjoying evening Maha Aarti on the Ganga Bank we advanced towards Rishikesh. This place abounds in natural splendor and famous for its temples and ghats.

On the sixth day after visiting several beautiful destinations, we reached Yamunotri. There we took Holi Dip in Garam Kund and visited the shrine of Goddess Yamunotri. On eight days of our tour, we reached the second scared destination of Char Dham that is Gangotri. This place is the origin of river Gnaga. At this place, the holy river Ganga is known as Bhagirathi. After taking holy dip, we visited the shrine of Goddess Ganga. Though we have seen several beautiful places but the scenic vista of this place impressed us most.

On the tenth day, we reached Kedarnath. This is a beautiful destination situated amidst a wide plateau surrounded by snow covered peaks. It is said that the present temple was built in 18th century A.D. by Adi Shankracharya next to the site of an earlier temple which was built by the Pandavas. The inner walls of the assembly hall are decorated with fixtures of various deities and scenes from mythology. Outside the temple door, a large statue of the Nandi bull stands as a guard.

And finally on 13th day of our tour we reached Badrinath. It is situated in the lap of Nar-Narayan Parvat at an elevation of 3,133 meters above sea level. This place is considered to be among the most pious religious destination of Hindu. In many holy scriptures, it has been quoted that ‘there were many sacred spots of pilgrimage in the heaven, earth and the other world but neither is there any equal to Badrinath nor shall there be one’.

 

Experience the Charm of Nature with Goa Beach Tour Packages

Goa Beach Tour
Goa Beach Tour

Goa is the land of swaying palms, white sands and sparkling sea which calls on large number of tourists from several parts of globe to spend memorable holidays. The enthralling charm of Goa hidden in its interwoven beauty of azure water, sun kissed sandy beaches, pulsating nightlife, diverse flora & fauna and array of water sports activities. Goa Beaches are one of the most popular Beaches in India where tourists come to enjoy splendor of nature at its best.

I have heard and read about Goa several times but never visited it. But last weekend my two friends invited me to join their weekend break at Goa. This invitation was like a blessing to fulfill my long cherished dream of Goa Tour.

Our tour was customized so that we can enjoy Goa beaches to our hilt. And truly speaking beaches are the foremost attractions of this place. I reached Goa in afternoon from Delhi via flight where I joined my friends who were waiting for me at airport lounge. Form there we took a taxi and reached the Anjuna Beach Resort. After having quick refreshment we headed towards the Anjuna beach.

I was spellbound at very first sight of this beach. This is a picture perfect beach whose charm lies in its azure sea and silvery sand and palm fringed bays. The gentle sea breeze and sound of waves lapping the shore maximizes its scenic charm. The serene and scenic ambiances of Anjuna Beach engrossed me completely.

Evening at this beach was amazing. We saw the dramatic version of nature in which star studded sky slowly and swiftly enveloped the vast expanse of sea. Slowly and silently nature changed its colorful attire which makes me not only speechless but also thoughtless. It was really a sense stimulating experience which almost made me numb.

As the night fell the beauty of darkness had its own romanticism to reveal. I with my friends strolled around the beach watching star studded sky flanked over the vast Arabian Sea. The whimsical sound of sea waves molded with sea breeze hypnotized us like a black magic. We rested on the seaside till late night and then headed for our dinner in a beach side restaurant. Here we tasted lip smacking Prawns Masala and Crab Curry with peg after peg of alcohol. The food was so good that its taste is still lingering on my taste buds because it was made from the fresh sea fish and original spices.

Next morning when we wake up from our last night hangover we found that we were in our resort. We don’t know how we reached here but the jubilant we felt last night can’t be expressed in words.

After having refreshment we again went to the beach to enjoy our day in lap of serene and scenic ambiances. Through out the whole day we enjoyed the pleasure of swimming, sun bathing and beach strolling. Though each activity we enjoyed had its own excitement yet the thrilling experience of swimming in the sea is the most memorable one.

The whole day was full of fun, thrill, excitement and above all after long time we childhood friends were together sharing our memories. After spending whole day in leisure we return to hotel and packed our luggage and move towards airport, from there we took flight of our respective destinations. Before saying goodbye to each other we planned our next tour for Kerala Beaches to enjoy our holidays.

 

India Tourism: Suiting Your Needs – Suiting Your Desires

India Tourism
India Tourism

Delhi recorded a temperature at 47.8 degree Celsius. Scorching summers and rising temperature have always been a crucial factor for India tourism. But records indicate that the charm for incredible India is gaining high popularity throughout the world.

While going through the India travel guide, I came across various tourist places in India and noticed a wide array of India tour packages. Some of these are:

  • Golden Triangle Tour (Delhi – Agra – Jaipur)
  • Kerala Backwater Tour (Cochin – Alleppey – Kumarakom – Kovalam – Trivandrum)
  • Rajasthan Forts & Palaces Tour (Jaipur – Udaipur – Bikaner – Jodhpur – Jaisalmer – Mount Abu – Kumbhalgarh – Pushkar)
  • India Wildlife Tours (Periyar / Kumarakom / Ranthambore – Sariska – Bharatpur)
  • India Adventure Tour (Srinagar – Gulmarg – Sonamarg – Pahalgam – Ladakh)
  • India Pilgrimage Tour, and
  • India Relaxing Tours

While travelling to India, one can choose from a number of such India tour packages, and admire the divine beauty here in India. Indian Government is also realizing the great potential of India tourism that is attractions countless of foreign tourists every season. Ranging from adventure tour to cultural exploration, pilgrimages, deep – blue beaches and snow capped Himalayan peaks – India has it all!

I, personally, have witnessed live examples of geographical richness of India in states like Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Delhi and Rajasthan. Blessed with the finest attractions of the nature, India welcomes every guest with full enthusiasm and zeal. So pack your bags now and leave for the most remarkable holidays of your lifetime. Welcome to a land of diversity that offers a perfect blend of contemporary as well as traditional style of living.

 

Kovalam Beach: Perfect Destination to Discover Exotic Charm of Nature

Kovalam Beach Kerala
Kovalam Beach Kerala

Beaches are one of the marvels of natural wonders which are known for their perfect juxtaposition of dazzling white sands and azure blue sea. This romantic combination makes it a high flying destination where one can stimulate their sense of imagination. The amalgamated beauty of sun, sand and sea fringed by coconut trees make beaches a romantic destination where one can get relief from their weary thoughts and life.

Three day weekend holidays provided me an opportunity to spend a memorable holiday at beachside, as I was in Thiruvananthapuram Capital City of Kerala for my official work. This plan was in my mind so I wrapped up my work by Thursday and extended my guest house booking for two more days.

On early Friday morning I went to Kovalam Beach which is located around 13 km downtown from this place. The name of Kovalam Beach conjures up the images of boundless blue waters of the Arabian Sea and miles of white sands washed away by the surf along with stalwart palms trees and the rocky terrains. It is one of the most famous and most sought after Beach destinations of India which is visited by large number of tourists from various parts of the globe. The ambiance of blue sea, silvery sands and unending rows of palm makes it an enchanting destination and popular beach hangout in India.

When I reached near the beach I felt the magical charm of this place which I had only read in the magazines till now. The charming spell of this place is too overwhelming to be quoted in words. The bewitching feature of this place is enhanced by the rocky terrain that separates this crescent shaped beach into three parts. I took coconut water to quench my thirst and went atop the rock to have a bird’s eye view of the entire surroundings.

The views of entire beach at one go mesmerized me and helped me to identify the place where I can spend my maximum time in solitude, watching the natural panorama of rising and falling sea waves.

After enjoying my binocular vision from the cliff I went near the sea to enjoy its coming and going blue waves lapping the shore. For the first time in my life I stepped in the sea and the joy that I felt is beyond description. I was standing and sea waves lapped my feet which enthralled me and made me laugh as I felt as if someone is tickling me.

Every time I had to maintain my balance because of the thrust of sea waves and loose sand beneath my legs. Despite of being completely wet I enjoyed myself at my best. After spending an hour at this place I went to the nearby sea-restaurant to taste lip smacking Kerala Sea food for my lunch. The lunch was really good as it was made from the fresh sea fish and original spices from the backyard of the restaurant.

This internationally renowned bow shaped beach is made up of three beaches which are separated from each other by a rocky terrain. The largest beach is known as Light House Beach because of its 35 meter high lighthouse, situated on Kurumkal hillock. The second one is Hawah Beach. It was the first topless beach in India but now topless bathing has been banned here. And the third is Samudra Beach which is famous among the local fishermen of Kovalam as it is a center for fishing.

After satisfying my appetite I felt lazy and decided to rest for sometime in the shadow of palm tress. I purchased a plastic mat from a nearby hawker and climbed the cliff. In the shadow of palm trees I lied down facing sea. The cool sea breeze lapped me and its sound was like a lullaby which made me sleep.

The birds chirping woke me from my sleep, I saw the time it was 5 p.m. I slept for more than 4 hours, but it was one of the pleasant experiences of sleeping in the lap of nature. Even after I was awake I stayed here for more than an hour watching sea. I was captivated by the beauty of scenic ambiances which prompted several thoughts in my mind based on various subjects. I analyzed some of my thoughts which calmed down my mental anxiety because I pressed down the right issue with reasonable arguments. It is because of some issues related to my personal life I stayed here for two more days even after completing my official work. I got the answers of those issues which I was looking for a long time.

After unleashing my mental burden I walked down to enjoy the evening beauty of this place. The taste of lunch was so tempting that I headed to the same restaurant to fill my stomach. This time I took fried Crab with chilled beer and enjoyed the delighted evening from the rooftop of the restaurant.

As the night fell the beauty of darkness had its own romantic panorama to reveal. I strolled around the beach watching star studded sky flanked over the vastness of Arabian Sea. The whimsical sound of sea waves molded with sea breeze hypnotized me like a black magic. I rested on the seaside till midnight and then I headed for my guest house.

 

Khajuraho: A Land Where Human Fantasies are transcribed into Stone Sculptures

Khajuraho Sculptures
Khajuraho Sculptures

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.

 

Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu Tour

Kanya Kumari
Kanya Kumari

“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.

 

Taj Mahal Agra Tour

Tajmahal, Agra
Tajmahal, Agra

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.

 

Shimla: The City of Goddess Shyamla

Shimla City
Shimla City

Staying as a bachelor & working in a firm that provides offs on every Saturday & Sunday certainly has amazing benefits. The best among those is you can plan a short weekend trip with your friends, without having any prior notice! I enjoyed such a trip last week with two of my friends. On Friday morning, we made a plan to visit Shimla and surprisingly, we left for it the same evening! Shimla is about 370 km from Delhi and after a relaxing overnight journey we reached there Saturday morning comfortably.

A guide there told us that this beautiful hill station derives its name from ‘Goddess Shyamla’, who is supposed to be an incarnation of Goddess Kali. Like most of the hill stations in India, Shimla was also discovered by the British and it used to serve as their summer resort. I was completely amazed to see that the city still retains its age old colonial glory in its buildings.

Our exploration started with the Jakhu Hill that is located at 2 km from the town. Serving as the highest peak of Shimla, Jakhu Hill offers panoramic views of the town and the nearby mountains. The holy temple of Lord Hanuman is established on the same hill. Summer Hill is again a picturesque suburb of Shimla, located at a distance of 5 km from the heart of the city. It houses the esteemed Himachal Pradesh University.

We stopped for a quick bite at the Coffee House in Shimla, which is now run under a cooperative society. With simple decors and a few framed pictures, the Coffee House serves original flavours of coffee picked from the plantations. Our next halt was the State Museum at Shimla, which showcases various miniature paintings, costumes, textiles and jewellery of the region.

Lastly, we paid short visits to the Kamna Devi Temple, Tara Devi Temple, Kali Bari Temple, Christ Church etc. that are some of the highly revered pilgrimage centres in Shimla. I was not aware of the fact that this superb hill station could offer such beautiful theme based tours until I visited the same.

 

Jaipur Tour: A Majestic Experience of Amber Fort

Amber Fort
Amber Fort

Personally, I affectionately consider Jaipur as a royal affair. It conjures visions of things which are classy, royal and beautiful. And its royalty is epitomized by its majestic structures which were once the abodes of raja-maharajas of the bygone era.

Again I was in Rajasthan waiting for another ‘time-stopping’ experience. And my royal journey started with an elephant ride to the majestic Amber Fort. Elated, I was attentively listening to the guide about this classic structure which is majestically fashioned out of white marble and red-sandstone. Overlooking the beautiful Maotha Lake, the fort is ideally perched on a hill and it seems as if the exteriors of this structure are budding out of the hill itself. Raja Mansingh started the construction of the fort in 1592 and later more and more structures were added to it by the subsequent rulers.

The fort clearly reflects the lavish, capricious, classy and adventurous lifestyle of the then raja-maharajas. I was completely bowled over by the incredible architectural brilliance of this stunning structure. The interiors of the fort are adorned with paintings, mirror and semi-precious stone work. The must-see apartment is the stunning Sheesh Mahal. Its walls and ceilings are decorated with colorful mirror work. The arresting carvings are equally enchanting.

The other structure I visited inside the fort were Kali Temple famous for its silver doors and silver lions; Diwan-I-aam, the Hall of Public audience with double row of columns; Ganesh Pol which is beautifully painted with vegetable colors; Zenana (women’s apartment) which was made to facilitate the royal ladies to watch the proceedings of the royal court without themselves been seen. It is decorated with mesmerizing paintings of Krishna Leela scenes; the Hall of Victory, Jai Mandir boasting of mirror studded ceiling. There is so much to see and enjoy in the fort.