India Travel Tourism

Moving upwards on the hills while sitting in a Pony and admiring the spotless

divine beauty of Mother Nature! This poetic description is, certainly, not taken from any of William Wordsworth poems – but is a part of my trip to Nainital, which made me realize that weekend gateways can also be memorable for a lifetime.

Seeking a break from the heat and dust of Delhi, I planned a weekend tour to Nainital with my friends. We were booked in a cozy resort suiting our budget, and it was located at a close proximity to various specialty restaurants. While spending a couple of house at leisure, I went through Nainital travel guide and came to know that this popular summer retreat, situated at an altitude of 1,938 meters, attracts innumerable tourists during the summer heat as it is blessed with gorgeous greens and majestic mountains.

Luckily, it was the third week of June, and our arrival in Nainital coincided with the sailing race that takes place in the Naini Lake every year. So we decided to start our exploration from there only. The lake was dotted with countless colourful yachts. The group of participants from the Nainital Boat Club was enjoying the environment with full enthusiasm. As decided, we also enjoyed a short boat ride there and moved for the Cheena Peak or the Naina Peak.

This was the place that let us enjoy the finest of panoramic views of snow-capped Himalayas and the Nainital Valley. We also paid a short visit to the View Point as well from where we clicked a few photographs of the Himalayas and Tibetan borders. After relishing a quick bite of spicy mommos at a restaurant, we headed towards the Hanumangarh temple. Close to the temple lies an observatory where the night view of the moon is considered unbeatable and incomparable. But being very tired and hungry, we walked down to our resort.

Next morning, we started with the St. John Church, which is one of the oldest buildings of Nainital. When asked for a short sightseeing trip, I asked everyone to pay a short visit to Sat Tal, which is 21 km away from Nainital. Believe it or not, we were actually transported to a paradise. A cluster of seven tals or lakes surrounded by fresh divine greens was there in front of us. We spent a couple of relaxing hours there and got back to Nainital to board our train in the evening. Our last halt in Nainital was the market street where we spotted plenty of handloom products and Kumaon woolens. This way, my short trip to Nainital was refreshing & rejuvenating and full of fun ‘n frolic.

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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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Traveling has always been my passion as it fills me with unsurpassed joy. In fact, it would be more apt to say that I love to be a traveler. It gives me an opportunity to be in rhythm with Mother nature, to explore the richness of various cultures and also to expand my horizon as a human being. There is so much to experience and explore in this world.

When it comes to traveling India has always fascinated me. Although I had not traveled to India before but I had heard and read a lot about it. I had whole one week in my hand so I thought of coming to India for the famous Golden Triangle Tour. So I began my search for the right Tour company which can provide me an enjoyable and hassle free tour. After browsing the Internet for quite some time I came across Caper Travel Pvt. Ltd. which offers a variety of India tours. To ensure its authenticity I checked whether it is government authorized or not. It is and I was completely satisfied when I saw that it is also a National Tourism Award Winner inbound travel company. Then I mailed my requirements to the company and withing a few hours the reply came. Prompt action! I was impressed. So finally I booked my Golden Triangle Tour.

Finally I landed in India to begin my affair with it. My experience began at the car that picked me up. The young chap escorted me to hotel Ramada where I was booked. On the way he told me that the Golden Triangle Tour is the most famous tour among foreigners as it offers glimpses of richness of Indian culture. It is a four-star property located in the center of Delhi. After dinner I retired to bed as the next morning I had to start the Delhi sightseeing tour at 9.

Delhi, Jaipur and Agra are the three enchanting destinations covered in the Golden Triangle Tour. We began with Delhi sightseeing tour. Post breakfast, I along with the guide named Shankar headed towards Old Delhi, a 17th century walled city of Shah Jahanabad. The first attraction I saw was the famous Jama Masjid built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. With history dating back to 1656 AD, it is the largest mosque in India. It was nice to see the mosque.

Enjoying the rickshaw ride we reached Chandni Chowk near Red Fort. It is a wonderful bazaar area( established in 1648) which is famous for a variety of dishes. I tried rabdi( a sweet dish made of milk) with jalebi( a sweet dish). It was yummy.

Our next halt was Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatama Gandhi. It was quite peaceful there. Then we further moved on to the picturesque and historic India Gate which was built in memory of the Indian soldiers who died in the World War I & the Afghan Wars. Then we visited President’s House (the official residence of the President of India). It is a magnificent structure.

Post lunch, we visited Humayun’s Tomb, memorial of Mughal Emperor Humayun. I found it really fascinating. The architectural beauty was arresting. Also it is a World Heritage Site. Now was the time to visit the bewitching Qutub Minar. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in the year 1206 and is the tallest minaret in the world. This was the end of my Delhi sightseeing tour and the next day I was slated to leave for the princely city Jaipur-Day 2 tour.

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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.

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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.

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As a travel writer, I admire every bit of nature. While going through the all India travel guide in search of beauty, adventure, spirituality and relaxation – I came across Sikkim. Our Hindu religious texts have called Sikkim as ‘Indrakil’, which literally means ‘the garden of Lord Indra’. I arrived at Bagdora airport in north Bengal, 124 km from Sikkim. I covered the rest of the distance by a taxi. Most of the people use Nepali, Lepcha Bhutia, Limbu and English as their official languages here. Still I came across some Hindi loving people.

I admired crystal clear waterways, chirping birds, pleasing greenery with dew drops and Buddhist chantings throughout the journey, which are some of the tourist attractions of Sikkim. People consider it as their heaven. I was booked in Orange Village Resort in Gangtok, the capital city of Sikkim. Well, Gangtok  Tour is a famous tourist attraction of Sikkim Tourism. My room offered superb views of the magnificent mountains, lush green vegetation and beautiful rivers. As an explorer of food, I attacked rice and meat during my lunch. The waiter offered me a local drink ‘Chang’, which was of made from fermented millet. It was served in a bamboo container with a bamboo pipe. I spend the evening at leisure.

As my exploration started the very next day, I came across the market area. Shops were loaded with a wide variety of wood crafts, woollen carpets and blankets, jewellery, and famous paintings called ‘Thangkas’. My sightseeing started with ‘Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre’, which houses some of the world’s rarest religious scriptures, manuscripts and articles. Belonging to the Kagyud order, it has over 300 centres in the entire globe. Similarly, the Labrang and Pemayangste Monasteries are a few other popular ancient Buddhist centres.

Considering myself as a daredevil, I also enjoyed the famous Gangtok Ropeway. I spent a few minutes at the Ban Jhakri Falls and the Energy Park attached to it. After capturing various ethnic sculptures and figurines of the Jhakri culture in my camera, I enjoyed my lunch at a roadside restaurant.

Next I headed for Pelling to visit waterfalls, trek routes and tranquil aura around. The best part with the place was the splendid snow-clad Kanchenjunga peak. After a half day excursion to Pelling, I left for Yuksam – the first capital of Sikkim. It boasts of being the gateway to Shangri-La or Ney- Pemathang. I hired a guide there and enjoyed trekking to Tshoka-Dzongri-Goecha. I also paid a short visit to the 300 year old Dubdi monastery that houses of some of the ancient Buddhist manuscripts. I enjoyed the traditional Lu Khangthamo dance there. Up to this destination, I had started loving this north east paradise. I got back to my hotel to take a tight sleep. A lot was left behind to explore in Sikkim.

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Tajmahal Tour, Agra

Different people, different perceptions and different are the ways of expressing love. Thousands of skilled artists and workers, millions of rupees and twenty two years of hard work, all combined together to erect a monument called Taj Mahal to express Shah Jahan’s love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. What an expensive way of expressing love!

For a short break from our hectic life, I along with my friends reached Agra at around 9 in the morning. Agra, synonymous with Taj Mahal, is a famous tourist destination of India. Once the capital of the Mughals, Agra occupies a very significant place on the tourist map of India. It is also a part of the Golden Triangle Tour Circuit, which is a big hit with tourists from across the globe.

The epitome of beauty, Taj Mahal is the most beautiful example of Mughal architecture. It incorporates different architectural styles such as

Indian, Islamic and Persian. Built in the year 1653, Taj Mahal is one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’ and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Located ideally on the banks of river Yamuna, Taj Mahal encompasses decorative elements such as stone inlays, carvings and stucco. At one point of time the walls and dome of Taj Mahal were studded with semi-precious stones and gems, which were looted in the wars. The passages from holy Quran were also used as decorative elements in this monument.

The five major components inside the Taj Complex are Darwaza(the main gateway), Bageecha(the gardens), Masjid(the mosque), Naqqar Khana(the rest house) and Rauza (the main mausoleum). Our guide Dheeraj pointing at the bronze spire on the top of the dome told us that once it was made of solid gold. Everything about the glorious Taj Mahal is enchanting and impressive.

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There are people who value their gardens more for being full of birds than of cherries. I am one among those. I love to give them fruits for their songs. Sometimes I consider them the inspiration of my poetry. I declared myself a bird lover when I saved one going to be killed by a cat. I was in 7th standard when this incident happened. Since then I am in love with these colourful and pretty creatures. Surprisingly, I got a chance to visit Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan with my colleagues.

While driving to the National Park, Munna – my driver – told me that over 300 species of birds have made this sanctuary their home. August to November is the period for resident breeding birds while October to February is for migrant birds. Munna also told me that the sanctuary was created 250 years ago and is named after a Keoladeo temple (dedicated to Lord Shiva) within its boundaries.

As I arrived my hotel, I found a guide book on Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary at the reception. I asked the manager if I could take that along with me in my room, to which he agreed happily. The guide book said that the entire reserved park was once a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Bharatpur. Stretching up to 29 sq km, this ‘Ornithologist’s Paradise‘ is the only man made wildlife sanctuary in India. Also known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharatpur was declared a national park on 10 March 1982, and accepted as a World Heritage Site in December 1985. I spent the entire day in leisure savoring the authentic cuisine of Rajasthan .

Next morning, I headed towards the park with Munna. The very first attraction we came across were nesting indigenous water birds. Facilities for a bicycle or rickshaw are also available for the tourists inside the park, but Munna asked me to cover the forest trails on foot. It was a nice way to have a closer look at the attractions of the park. Unfortunately I could not spot any of the migratory birds like Cranes, Pelicans, Shanks, Stints, Wagtails, Warblers, Wheatears, Flycatchers, Buntings, Larks and Pipits etc. that were mentioned in Bharatpur Travel Guide. In the afternoon I spotted a few Geese, Ducks, Eagles and Hawks near the small waterway.

What made my day was a closer view of wildcats, Sambar, Chital, Chinkara, Blackbuck, Nilgai and wild boar in the dense greens. I captured them all in my camera. Munna insisted me to pay short visits to Bharatpur Govenment Museum, Bharatpur Palace and Lohagarh Fort but I, being very tired, scheduled other attractions for the next day. I returned back to the hotel with a question: If God loved birds and made trees for them, why the hell we designed cages for them?

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“People are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true.” This quote by Richard Bach sits smug on all the Mughal Rulers who made some of the most remarkable and wonder monuments in India. Agra in Uttar Pradesh is one such destination that houses a number of architectural wonders that are listed as World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. After visiting the seventh wonder of the world – the Taj Mahal – I decided to explore the other fascinating attractions of the city.

I started with the Agra Fort, ‘Lal Quila’ of Agra. popularly known as the Serving as a walled palatial city, the fort was taken over from the Lodhis by Emperor Akbar. I wonder a monument built in red sandstone with white marble and intricate decorations can be so beautiful, so charming and spell-binding !! Legend says that the fort was also a site of one of the battles during the Indian rebellion of 1857 against the British. I also visited and admired the Jahangir Mahal, Diwan-i-Am, Diwan-i-Khas, Sheesh Mahal, Khas Mahal, Panch Mahal etc. inside the Agra Fort.

I stopped for a quick bite at a roadside restaurant and headed towards

Sikandra. Located about 10 km from the city centre, the Sikandra Fort was initially built by the Mughal emperor Akbar but the construction of the entire complex was completed by his son Jehangir. The garden of the fort is built in a typical Charbagh style with water channels running through it. The gateways of the fort, the tomb of Emperor Akbar, inlay marble work, massive piers & arches and elegant mosaic works are simply excellent and incomparable.

Post lunch, I hired an auto-rickshaw for Itmad-Ud-Daulah Tomb. Popularly known as ‘jewel box’ or the ‘Baby Taj’ , the tomb consists of numerous outbuildings and gardens. It was commissioned by Empress Noor Jahan (Jehangir’s wife) for her father Mirza Ghiyas Beg. The monument has white marble walls decorated with semi-precious stones. As I was running short of time, I paid short visits to Ram Bagh (Mughal garden laid by Baur in 1528) and Jama Masjid (one of the largest mosques in India housing the shrine of religious Sufi leader Sheikh Salim Chisti).

My last sightseeing in Agra was Fatehpur Sikri, the political capital of Mughal dynasty under Akbar’s reign. With a number of palaces and mosques, Fatehpur Sikri boasts of Akbar’s crowning architectural legacy. Due to its architectural beauty, it is also declared a World Heritage Site.

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I, happily, admit that I am a shopaholic. I am addicted to buy traditional artifacts and handicrafts. I do not have a tendency to stop shopping when the baskets became too full or too heavy. I consider shopping as a great investment. And luckily, on my tour to Agra, I was caught with shopping fever. After visiting the wonder monument Taj Mahal, I decided to flock the colourful market streets to carry something home.

I started my exploration with the Oswal Emporium. Since its inception in 1972, the emporium is known for the best of intricate inlay work on marble. The guard there told me that it is the largest of its kind in Asia. As I entered the gallery, I was amazed to see the world’s finest handcrafted marble products. My next destinations were the famous Kinaari Bazaar and Munroe Road. There I found some of the most amazing leather products. If anyone wants to replenish his/her leather wardrobe, there is no better place than Agra.

I hired a rickshaw and also paid short visits to the Loha Mandi, Civil Line, Tajganj, Dayal Bagh, Taj Mahal Complex and the Rakab Ganj area. These places are superb to buy some authentic souvenirs and zari embroidery work at reasonable prices. Streets were loaded with awesome sweet delicacies like ‘petha’ and ‘gazak’. The rickshaw-wala also insisted me to visit U. P. State Emporium, but I asked him to take me back to the hotel as I was running short of time.

On my way to the hotel, the rickshaw-wala told me that the markets in Agra were frequented by the skilled craftsmen even during the Mughal rule. They used to bring with them their best wares in the hope to get the patronage of the Emperor. People believe that Empress Noor Jahan took a keen interest in opulent and exquisite embroidery and textiles. Therefore she employed a number of female dress makers to stitch impressive and grand robes for all the courtiers.

One item that was common in almost all the shops in Agra was the marble replica of the Taj Mahal. It serves as the pride of every shop there.

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