Travel to India

Uttranchal

Uttaranchal is a wonderland of India where tourist attractions galore. It is a beautiful state where tourists come from across the globe. This destination is a big hit with adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers. It is famously known as the land of Gods as it is peppered with many pilgrimage centres. The major attractions of Uttaranchal are staggering natural beauty, snow-covered mountains, beautiful valleys and enchanting wildlife. A variety of adventure sports can be enjoyed here.

Some of the famous attractions of Uttaranchal Tourism are:

Rishikesh
It is one of the holy cities of India which is blessed with sheer natural beauty. Located on the banks of the holy river Ganga, this city is famous for yoga and meditation and adventure sports. It is popularly known as the place of sages. It boasts of glorious history. It is known for adventure sports activities such as river rafting, trekking, mountaineering and canoeing. The beautiful temples and ghats are among its major attractions.

Joshimath
It is another enchanting destination of Uttarnachal. It is a wonderful hill station where nature lovers come from far and wide. It offers pleasant climate and sheer natural beauty. The legend goes that the sage Shankaracharya established one of the four piths (centres) for sanyasis at this destination. It is believed that lord Vishnu resides in Joshimath during winters. The temple of Narshimha and Naina Devi national park are the must-see attractions of Joshimath.

Valley of flowers
Visiting the valley of flowers in Uttaranchal is like visiting heaven on earth. It is extremely fascinating and refreshing. It is a famous national park roosted in the Himalayas. It is known for arresting meadows of endemic alpine flowers and sheer natural beauty. It boasts of more than 500 species of flowers. It is also a home to a variety of wildlife including some endangered species such as Asiatic black bear, snow leopard and blue sheep.

Nainital
It is a renowned hill station of North India steeped in mesmerizing natural beauty. Located in the Himalayan foothills, it is popularly known as lake paradise. Nainital attractions include Naini lake, Bhim Tal, Naini peak and snow view point.

Mussoorie
It is another famed hill station of North India. Gifted with picturesque surroundings, it is located at an altitude of 2,000 m. It is very popular among honeymooners. Kempty Fall, Gun hill, Lake Mist and camel’s back road are some of the famous attractions of Mussoorie.

Uttaranchal tour is the best bet for rejuvenating holidays. Travel to Uttaranchal and you are bound to come back completely mesmerized.

The incredible country like India can be best described by the phrase ‘Unity in Diversity’. India is a land of rich cultural heritage which beautifully reflects in its various attractions. The various states of India have their own unique culture. Although there is so much diversity in culture of India but still there is unity among Indians. Fairs and festivals are among the most colorful part of Indian culture. They are also the perfect means of getting acquainted with the culture of India.

It would be no exaggeration to say that India is a land of fairs and festivals as its calender is full of various fairs and festivals commemorating various occasions. Fairs and festivals of India attract tourists from across the globe.

Some of the most famous fairs and festivals of India are:

Diwali
It is the festival of lights which is celebrated with great flavor

Diwali

throughout India. Symbolizing the victory of good over evil, this festival commemorates Lord Rama’s return to his kingdom after 14 years of exile. On this festival people illuminate their houses with earthen lamps and lights, distribute sweets, burn crackers and worship Goddess Lakshmi. This festival falls in the month of October or November.

Navratri
This festival is celebrated for nine days in honour of the goddess. The goddess symbolizes power. During these nine days nine forms of the goddess are worshipped and devotees observe fast for nine days. The goddess is known by several names like Durga, Laxmi, Bhavani, Kali, chandika, Maha gauri, Ashtabhuja and Siddhiratri. All the nine forms signify various traits that the goddess influences us with.

Holi

It is a festival of colours which is celebrated with great enthusiasm

HOli

especiallyin North India. During this festival people play with powdered colours and water. Huge bonfires are lit on the evening of Holi. This festival also symbolizes the victory of good over evil. There is an interesting legend associated with it.

Pushkar Fair
It is the largest cattle fair in the world. Held in Pushkar City of Rajasthan it is marked with several cultural activities like dance, music, competitions and many more. It is celebrated in October/November.

Pongal
It is an important festival of South India which is celebrated for four days. It is a harvest festival. During the festival cattle, Sun god and Rain god are worshiped.

Eid-ul-Fittr
It is an important festival of Muslims which marks the end of Ramzan, the Muslim month of fasting. During the festival people exchange greeting and sweets and offer prayer in mosques. Feasting is the main feature of this festival.

Desert Festival
This is a famous festival of Rajasthan which is celebrated with great enthusiasm in the city of Jaisalmer. During the celebration the desert comes alive with cultural activities. Folk dance, puppet shows, turban-tying competition, camel race etc are the main highlights of the festival.

River Rafting

Adventure means different things to different people. For me exploring any part of this world is in itself an adventure and for my best friend Shivani adventure is synonymous with adventure sports like river rafting, trekking, biking and much more. So we decided to take an adventure tour of India to enjoy the beauty and adventure of several tourist destinations of India. We enjoyed river rafting, trekking, skiing and many more activities. We were rejuvenated to the hilt.

India is an incredible land offering a slew of adventure sports facilities for adventure lovers who come here from across the globe. Some of the famous adventure sports of India are:

Rock climbing
This interesting adventure activity can be best enjoyed at Manali in Himachal Pradesh, Mysore, Ramanagram in Karnataka, Bangalore, Mount Abu in Rajasthan, Panchmarhi in Madhya Pradesh and Gangotri gorge in Uttar Pradesh.

Mountaineering
This challenging activity is meant only for the brave hearts and physically fit people. The Himalayan range of India is perfect for this sport and several other adventure sports. Kamet and Dunagiri (7088) and Nanda Devi (7800 m) are the most popular destinations for mountaineering in India.

White water rafting
Full of thrill and adventure this adventure sport can be best experienced at the following destinations- River Ganges,tons, Bhilangana, Yamuna, Mandakani, Kalisor, Zanskar, Beas, Alaknanda and Mandakani.

Trekking
This is one adventure activity which can be enjoyed by almost all tourists. Some of the best places for trekking are Kullu, Kinnaur, Ladakh, Spiti, Lahaul, Garhwal, Kumaon and Sikkim.

Angling and Fishing
The lakes of Kashmir, streams of Kerala and the lakes of the upper Himalayas offer great opportunities for fishing and angling.

Safaris
Travel to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan for enthralling camel safari on the unfathomable sand dunes. And if you wish to enjoy elephant safari, Kerala is the best place. The wildlife destinations of India also provide facilities for elephant safari.

Paragliding
For enjoying the thrill of paragliding visit the places such as Darjeeling, Solang valley, Auli, Gangtok, Sansar and Goa.

Skiing
A big hit with tourists skiing can be best enjoyed at Gulmarg, Kufri, Manali and Mundali.

Motor biking
It is an interesting way of exploring some tourist destination of India like Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Bikaner and Mandawa.

There are several more adventure sports and activities which India offer. Adventure sports options galore here!

Indian Wildlife Tour

The fascination of my heart towards wildlife made me plan India wildlife tour. I along with some of my friends decided to cover some of the National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries of India. We short listed the following wildlife destinations- Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandhavgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Panna National Park and Sundarbans wildlife sanctuary.

Since we were going to some of the finest and popular wildlife destinations of India I had high expectations. I had always cherished a desire to visit all the famous wildlife sanctuaries and national parks of India and here was my chance to visit at least a few.

Well, almost all our wildlife safaris went great and we could sight a wide variety of wildlife species such as lion, leopard, jungle cat, ratel, hyena, porcupine, crocodile, wolf, wild dog, caracal, hyena, Chinkara and nilgai. The guides were also good and experienced and acquainted us with valuable information about the wildlife destinations and their enchanting creatures. In all the wildlife destinations we were booked in the guest houses inside the forests which in itself was a great experience.  We got perfect opportunity to experience the wilderness.

Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat

It is the only natural habitat of the pure Asiatic Lions and was established to protect the last wild population of Lion outside the African regions. Located in Gujarat, this Park boasts of around 300 Asiatic lions. It also has around 210 leopards. Its landscape is also picturesque. It has three water reserves where a variety of water birds can be sighted.

Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

This national park is famous for its Royal Bengal Tigers. Located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, this park is known for housing the highest tiger population in India. At present the park has around 50 tigers and a variety of other wildlife species. Bandhavgarh is also known as the White Tiger Jungle as white tigers were discovered in the jungles of Bandhavgarh. However in the last 50 years no white tiger has been spotted here. The park also has an ancient fort which is worth a visit.

Panna National Park, Madhya Pradesh

It is another famous wildlife destination of Madhya Pradesh. It is a Tiger Reserve attracting tourists from far and wide. Panna is the district in which Panna National Park is located. This place is also known for its diamonds. There are around 200 bird species found inside this park.

Sundarbans wildlife sanctuary

It is a National Park, Tiger Reserve, Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Sundarbans delta in the state of West Bengal. The region of this park is densely covered by mangrove forests. It provides shelter to a variety of animals, birds, reptiles and salt water crocodile. It boasts of around 200 Royal Bengal Tigers.

A visit to all these wildlife destinations was an overwhelming experience for us. I came back home with my own record of golden memories which I will cherish for the rest of my life. Each of the above wildlife destinations had its own wonderful attractions to offer. I was overwhelmed, overwhelmed to the hilt.

Palace on Wheels

Stepping into the world of luxury, comfort and royalty I was soaked in the feeling of traveling back in time to the era of raja-maharajas. With a desire to taste the royalty of the raja-maharaja era and to explore the enchanting destinations of Rajasthan in a royal style I and my friend Pallavi boarded the Palace on Wheels, one of the most luxurious trains in the world. We boarded the train at 4 pm in the evening from Delhi Cantt Railway Station and set out on our dream journey. The moment we boarded the train we could see and experience luxury and royalty in plenty which was making us feel like ‘queens’.

It would be no exaggeration to say that Palace on Wheels is an epitome of luxury and royalty. This train is a fascinating attraction of Rajasthan Tourism. Once used by the raja-maharajas of the bygone era, this train is now open for tourists. Palace on Wheels tour is the best way to explore the rich cultural heritage and other attractions of Rajasthan. It offers 7 nights/8 days tour to several enchanting destinations of Rajasthan and North India. You will travel to mesmerizing destinations starting from Delhi to Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Chittorgarh, Ranthambore National Park, Udaipur, Keoladeo National Park and Agra. Each of the above destinations has its own unique attractions to offer.

The luxury train Palace on Wheels boasts of 14 air conditioned deluxe saloons named after the princely states of Rajasthan. There are four cabins in each saloon which are well appointed with facilities such as bath and shower, satellite phones, intercom, channel music, wall to wall carpeting etc. Each cabin is majestically decorated. And to take care of your every need a khidmatgar (attendant) is always at your service.

Dine at the two wonderful restaurants named as ‘The Maharaja’ and ‘The Maharani’ on the train. Feed yourself with a variety of delicious Rajasthani, Indian, Continental and Chinese dishes. And if you want to refresh yourself with a drink in the evening then scan the bar on board which serves Indian and International alcohol brands. Shopping facility is also available on board. Cultural activities like puppet shows and traditional dance and music programs are the other highlights of the Palace on Wheels tour.

Luxury train tours are among the famous attractions of incredible India. India offers several luxury trains covering different regions of India. Some of the most famous luxury trains of India are Palace on Wheels, Deccan Odyssey, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, The Golden Chariot, Maharaja Express and Indian Maharaja Express.

I and Pallavi thoroughly enjoyed our journey on Palace on Wheels and also enjoyed the attractions of Rajasthan and Agra. From wildlife to palaces, forts, havelis, monuments and culture, we enjoyed so much on this tour. From the wilderness of the dense forests to royalty and charm of the stunning palaces, history history of the forts, beauty of the architectural monuments, colorfulness of the culture and much more, this tour has a lot to offer.

Our hearts were filled with enchantment and golden memories after exploring and experiencing the charm and glory of the forts and Palace of North India. There was some more enchantment awaiting us in South India. Our next destinations which we had to cover were Golconda Fort in Hyderabad and Mysore Palace in Karnataka. These are among the famous attractions of South India. No wonder South India and its attractions boast distinguishing features that give them world-wide popularity.

Golconda Fort, Hyderabad
Hyderabad was once the princely city which was founded by Muhammad

Golconda Fort

Quli Qutb Shah in the year 1591. Golconda Fort is one of the magnificent forts of India whose history dates back to the 13th century. Standing amidst rustic surroundings the fort is now in ruins but still holds its old world charm. The most distinguishing feature of this fort was the perfect acoustical system by which a hand clap sounded at the fort’s main gates was heard at the top of the fort.

Initially the Golconda fort was made of mud and later it was reconstructed in stone. Several additions were made to it by several rulers over the centuries. Located on a hill the fort looks very picturesque. It has 8 gates and the main gate is known as Fateh Darwaza, Gate of Victory. The door is dotted wit steel spikes for protection against charging elephants during an attack. The fort complex houses a palace, a parade ground, a mosque, an armory and several other buildings. The light and sound show held here unfolds the glorious history of the fort. This show is presented in English, Hindi and Telugu.

Mysore Palace
Mysore is affectionately dubbed as the city of palaces. The Mysore

Mysore Palace

Palace is the most famous attraction of this royal city. The palace was built for the Maharaja of Mysore in the year 1897. The majestic exterior and breathtakingly lavish interiors of the palace leave the onlookers awe-struck. The architecture of the palace is a perfect amalgamation of traditional Dravidian and Indo-Saracenic styles of architecture. The majestic domes in pink, huge pillars, beautiful cupolas, arches and minarets and exquisite carvings of the palace are some of its attractions. The palace looks staggeringly beautiful on Sunday nights when it is illuminated with thousands of bulbs. It is one of the most splendid palaces of India.

The palace has been transformed into a museum which houses royal articles like paintings, royal costumes, jewelry etc. This palace displays the largest collection of gold items.

In the evening we hit the colorful bazaars of Mysore and bought some wonderful handicrafts. We also bought some Mysore Pak( a sweet dish) which is a specialty of this city. Mysore is also famous for its sandalwood, silk sari, perfumes, incense sticks, brass ware and rosewood items. Shopping in Mysore marked the end of our journey to South India forts and palaces tour.

Gangotri

Early morning we set out on our journey to Gangotri. After reaching there we went for a holy dip in the holy river Ganga which is known as Bhagirathi at its origin. Gangotri is a revered Hindu pilgrimage which is also a source of sacred river Ganga. According to the legend king Bhagirathi spent several years in penance of Goddess Ganga to land on the earth. Hence the origin of river Ganga is called Bhagirathi.

We were completely mesmerized by the pristine beauty of Gangotri. Its beautiful and peaceful aura captured our hearts. Our guide told us that this destination is at an altitude of 3140 m above sea level. After Gangotri darsham we came back to Uttarkashi.

The next morning we drove to Rudraprayag and on the way we stopped at Tehri Dam where we enjoyed for some time. Rudraprayag is around 175 km from Uttarkashi. Rudraprayag is the confluence of river Mandakani and Alaknanda. We also visited the Chamunda Devi temple and Koteshwr temple which are 3 km from Rudraprayag. In the evening we checked in the hotel for a night stay.

The next morning we headed towards Kedarnath which is 75 km from Rudraprayag. We reached Gaurikund and from here one can either go on foot or by pony/Doli to Kadarnath. We opted to go by pony and the ride was enjoyable. At Gaurikund we took bath in the hot water pond and visited the Gauri temple. Gaurikund is the place where Goddess Parvati meditated to attain Lord Shiva.

Kedarnath Yatra

Kedarnath Shrine is one of the 12 jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. It offers breathtaking views of the majestic Kedarnath range. Kedarnath town is staggeringly beautiful place flanked by snow-capped mountains. In the early morning we visited the Kedarnath shrine and then trekked down to Gaurikund. Then we drove to Rudraprayag via Guptkashi and stayed in a hotel at Rudraprayag.

The next morning we drove to Badrinath via Joshimath. It took us around 9 hours to reach Badrinath. At one point of time Badrinath was dotted with wild berries. Thus it got the name Badri Van meaning forest of berries. The next morning after taking a bath in the Taptkund at Badrinath we went for darshan of Lord Badrinarayan at Badrinath temple. It is a mesmerizing pilgrimage center located at an average elevation of 3,415 m. After attending the puja we took a stroll around the temple and photographed the blissful surroundings. The other nearby attractions (within the range of 3 km) here are Mana, Vyas Gufa, Maatamoorti, Charanpaduka, Bhimkund and the ‘Mukh’ of the Saraswati River.

After covering the Char Dhams we returned to Delhi with golden memories in our heart and peace in our mind. We were completely mesmerized by the celestial beauty of these four destinations. They are beautiful beyond words.

Red Fort, Delhi

One of my friends from New York had come to India for her cousin sister’s marriage. I was so delighted to see her after almost 20 years. She is an Indian but went to New York when she was only 10. She has always been fascinated by the cultural heritage of India and wanted to explore its attractions, especially its forts and palaces. The day after the wedding ceremony I and my friend set out on the Indian Forts and Palaces tour. Visiting all the forts and palaces of India was not feasible in such a short span of time so we visited the famous forts and palaces of North India and South India.

The forts and palaces of India which we covered in North India are:

Red Fort in Delhi
It is a major attraction of Delhi steeped in glorious history. Built in red sandstone by great Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century, the fort is a marvelous architectural piece. The fort boasts of huge audience halls, stunning marble palace once studded with precious stones, a bustling bazaar where the royal ladies used to shop, a mosque and refreshing gardens with fountains and flowers.

Red Fort in Agra
A wonderful attraction of Agra, this fort houses amazing structures such as Jahangir Palace, Khas Mahal, Diwan-e-aam, Diwan-e-Khas and two beautiful mosques. This magnificent fort was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar as a stronghold of the Mughal Empire. This majestic red sandstone structure has 2.5 km long enclosure walls. Located at a close distance from this fort is the world famous Taj Mahal. We also visited Taj Mahal which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This stupendous white marble structure is a mausoleum built by the Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal in the 17th century. Representing the perfect combination of different architectural styles, it mesmerizes the onlookers with its architectural beauty.

City Palace in Jaipur
This splendid palace, the landmark of Jaipur, is located in the capital city of Rajasthan. Rajasthan is the most colorful and culturally rich destination of India. One must visit Rajasthan to get the real taste of India. Aptly called the land of raja-maharajas, this destination boasts of the best palaces and forts in the country. The City Palace is a fine blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture built by Maharaja Jai Singh II. Located on a hill it is famous for its architecture, lavish use of marble and mirror work, frescoes, wall paintings, silver doors and crystal gallery.

Hawa Mahal, Jaipur
It is the famous landmark of Jaipur known for its unique architectural design. Built in 1799 in red sand stone it is pierced with more than 900 small windows. Representing a honeycomb structure it was especially built to allow the royal ladies to see the street processions through the windows without themselves being seen.

Lake Palace, Udaipur
Udaipur is an enchanting city of Rajasthan and Lake Palace is the most enchanting attraction of Udaipur. Located amidst the Lake Pichola, this palace is built in white marble boasting of several royal apartments inside it. It is one of the finest heritage hotels of India.

Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur
Once the largest royal residence in the world, Umaid Bhawan Palace is now a famous heritage hotel. Its stunning architectural beauty will surely sweep you off your feet. Sprawling across acres of land, it is a magnificent structure. It has 98 rooms offering royal facilities and services. Once can see period furniture here. There is a museum here which displays a variety of articles belonging to the erstwhile royal families.

Badrinath

This time I and my friends were thinking of planning a tour which could be different from the rest of the tours which we had already taken. I mean we were looking for a destination which can offer natural beauty, adventure, pleasure, peace, knowledge and much more-all rolled into one. I was sharing this with my mom and she suggested the Char Dham Tour. Not taking her suggestion seriously I smilingly said ‘we are too young to go for a tirth yatra’. But then later when I saw the destinations of Char Dham Yatra on internet I was speechless. They are extremely beautiful promising much more than what we wanted. I immediately shared this idea with my friends and finally finalized this tour.

According to Hindu mythologies it is believed that Char Dham Yatra is a journey to moksha. Char Dham consists of four wonderful pilgrimage sites namely Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. It is one of the most holy tours of the Hindus. These four destinations are located in the staggeringly beautiful Himalayas. We booked the Char Dham tour with great excitement.

Starting from Delhi we reached Haridwar in the afternoon. After refreshing ourselves we visited the Mansa Devi temple and participated in the evening aarti at Har ki Pauri. Haridwar is another famous pilgrimage site of India. Its evening aarti was very uplifting. There we had an overnight stay at Hotel Haveli Hari Ganga. This place is a doorway to the Char Dham Yatra.

The next day in the morning we drove to Barkot via Mussoorie. We halted for some time in Mussoorie to see the wonderful Kempty Fall. We continued our drive to Barkot and reached there in the evening and spent the night in a hotel. Barkot is 215 kms from Haridwar.

In the morning we left from Barkot for Janki Chatti via Hanuman Chatti and Fool Chatti. Hanuman Chatti is the confluence of Hanuman Ganga and Yamuna River. After reaching Janki Chatti we started the trek of 6 km for Yamunotri, one of the Char Dhams. Yamnotri is located at an elevation of 3,235 m above sea level. The views of the surroundings were mesmerizing. After reaching Yamunotri we took a holi dip in Garam kund and then headed towards the shrine of Goddess Yamnotri. After darshan and Pooja we trekked back to Janki Chatti and drove back to Barkot.

Our Guide Shankar told us that Yamunotri is the the source of the Yamuna River and the seat of the Goddess Yamuna. Yamunotri Temple was built in the 19^th century by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur.

We saw several thermal springs flowing into the pools near the temple. The guide told us that among all Surya Kund is the most famous. We also worshipped at Divya Shila, a rock pillar which is worshipped before entering the Yamunotri Temple.

From Barkot we left for Uttarkashi in the morning. It is 82 km from Barkot. En route we visited Prakateshwar Cave. The journey from Barkot to Uttarkashi was very pleasurable as the road was flanked by pine trees and the path was very picturesque. It is a natural cave found around 10 years back. There are limestone formations inside the cave which resemble Shiv Linga because of which it holds religious importance. Cold water flows inside the cave making their way into a small pool. The water here is considered sacred.

We reached Uttarkashi in the afternoon and after refreshing ourselves we visited Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Later in the evening we participated in the aarti of Goddess Ganga at the Ganga river ghat. Uttarkashi is a gateway to Gangotri. Uttarkashi is located on the bank of river Bhagirathi. There are several temples located here. We also strolled through the town of Uttarkashi and retired to the beds late. The next day we had to drive to Gangotri. Till now our journey had been great, very beautiful, very uplifting.

TajMahal

Agra has always fascinated tourists from across the world with its extraordinary ‘Taj Mahal’ and I am no exception. In fact, it is one place in India where I can go millions of times. The beauty and aura of Taj Mahal and other places of interest near this Mughal city have something special about them which bring me here time and again. This time I had come to this world famous city with my colleagues. They were visiting Agra for the first time and I for the fifth time.

After an easy train journey of two and a half hours we reached Agra from Delhi in the late evening. Agra is the most visited tourist destination of India and is also a part of the Golden Triangle Tour (the most famous tour of India). The Golden Triangle Tour is very famous among international tourists. We were booked in the Mansingh Palace Hotel which is one of the finest hotels here. This hotel got its name from the Rajput Emperor Sawai Mansingh who was a very close associate of Mughal Emperor Akbar. We visited Taj Mahal in the early morning to catch the glimpses of this incredible monument in the first gleam of morning rays.

Taj Mahal is considered the finest masterpiece of Mughal architecture and is recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is also a World Heritage Site. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is a mausoleum located on the west bank of river Yamuna. This grand edifice was completed in 20 years and around 20,000 workers worked day and night to make it what it is today.

The interiors of this majestic monument were studded with more than 28 types of precious and semi-precious stones. The architecture of Taj Mahal is a fabulous synthesis of Indian and Persian styles. Its lattice work, inlay decorations, calligraphic representations and incised painting deserve special mention. The calligraphy of this monument mainly consists of the verses and passages from the holy book of Kuran.

After admiring the beauty of Taj Mahal we sat in the garden surrounding the monument for some time. It was truly such a refreshing experience to visit Taj Mahal. We enjoyed eating at the local shops in the market. We also bought petha, the famous sweet of this city. And then we shopped for leather ware, marble statues, carpets and artificial jewelry at bargained rates from the bazaar. It was such a delight!