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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“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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India is perhaps the only land in the world that has no dearth

of tourist attractions. Ranging from history to adventure, medical (Ayurveda, Yoga etc.), spirituality, beaches, and hill stations – India has a category of tourism for every aspect. Whether you are on a business trip, or a honeymoon vacation or even a routine holiday with family/friends, India is famous for making the most remarkable memories. Being a travel enthusiast, I have covered almost all the prominent tourist destinations in India. The divine and unpolluted beauty is capable enough to leave you mesmerized.

The states in north India – Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal – boast of being the most frequented hill stations in India. They draw countless honeymoon couples, nature lovers, religious minded people and adventure enthusiasts from all over the world. The actual beauty of these states lies in ancient temples (Vaishno Devi, Amarnath Cave etc.), snow clad peaks, enchanting valleys, cool rivers, exotic flora & fauna (Corbett National Park, Rajaji National Park), and the rarest of adventure sports (trekking, skiing, white water rafting, paragliding, mountaineering, snow boarding etc.).

Rajasthan is one such state, which is the favourite among all the

history buffs and wildlife lovers. It is undoubtedly the most colourful and vibrant state of India that showcases royal history of the Rajput kings through ancient forts & palaces, colourful festivities, the rarest of wildlife and interesting camel safaris. Places like Amer Fort, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Mehrangarh Fort, Fateh Garh Palace, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary etc.  are major tourist destinations.

When we talk about historical places in India, the capital city Delhi and the wonder city Agra are considered the gems of Mughal dynasty. From the Red Fort, Old Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, and Qutub Munar of Delhi to the Fatehpur Sikri and Taj Mahal, the symbol of love in Agra – Mughals have created unbeatable monuments. The temples of Delhi (Lotus Temple, Akshardham Temple, ISKCON Temple) are important from religious as well as architectural point of view.

Apart from that, India has a long and beautiful coastline surrounded by the

Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. States like Goa, Tamil Nadu, Maharashatra, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka offer some of the best beaches in the world. These are specially meant for relaxing holidays and superb water sports/activities like sun bathing, swimming, surfing, water scootering, fishing, angling, canoeing etc.

Kerala is one such land that is full of divine greenery and is incomparable in its Ayurveda practices, temples (made in typical Dravidian style) and enchanting backwaters. Luxurious houseboats (traditional Kettuvalloms) here provide you with the unique opportunity of living on waters while exploring all the nearby islands.

Moreover, if you wish to explore the lifestyle of the interesting tribes of India, no other place can compete with the rural areas of the south and east India. Spacial tribal tours are organized to state like Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh etc. This way, India has something to offer to all kinds of tourists. You can choose your desired tour from a wide range of themes and can make your holidays memorable for a lifetime.

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