India Travel Useful Resources

Cheap Flights To Bangkok Get cheap flights to Bangkok & last minute flights from London to any destination. We are having online reservation system and call centre which is running 24/7 for the whole 365 days.

India Travel Caper Travel offers travel destinations india, destinations guide india, tourist places india, india tour destinations, tourist places in india, tourist packages in india.

Rajasthan Tourism Wondersofrajasthan offers rajasthan tourism, rajasthan tourist places, rajasthan travel, rajasthan sightseeing, rajasthan holiday travel, rajasthan tourist destination.

Tajmahal Tourism Tajmahal India tours offer an array of tour packages like golden triangle tours, Tajmahal tourism, taj mahal agra tour, taj mahal tour, tours of taj mahal.




Kerala Tours Kerala india vacation provides you complete kerala tour packages such as kerala ayurveda, kerala backwaters tour, kerala honeymoon package, kerala wildlife tour, beaches in kerala, kerala travel guide, kerala festivals tour.

North East India Tours We offer various Tour Packages to north east india tours, north east india attractions, north east india monastaries, sikkim travel, gangtok hill station, darjeeling travel, north east india wildlife, festivals in north east india.

Ladakh Tours Ladakh Leh provides complete ladakh tour packages, ladakh trekking tours, Ladakh festivals tour, trekking in ladakh, Ladakh Monasteries tour, rafting in ladakh.

Microsoft Training Boot Camp : Microsoft Training, Cisco Boot Camp, Oracle Certification Boot Camp, Linux Boot Camp and lot more professional boot camps is offered by Bookmybootcamp.co.uk at 1/2 the prices in UK by vendor trained faculties at world class training facilities.

Microsoft Training In India : Mercury Solutions Limited is a Microsoft Training, Cisco Training, Oracle Certification Courses provider IT Training Company based at New Delhi, India. Mercury Solutions provide all courses at 50% the cost of course alone in US or UK.

Microsoft Training India : Microsoft Training Boot Camp, Cisco bootcamp, Oracle Certification Boot Camp, Linux Boot Camp and lot more professional boot camps is offered by Bookmybootcamp.com at incredible prices and at world class training facilities.

South India Tour South India Tours : Indian Rove offers- South India Tour Packages, which include South India Cultural Tours, & information about South India Classical Tour, South India Pilgrim Tour, South India Wildlife Tour

Leh ladakh Tour Leh Ladakh Tours: By Indianrove a premier tour operator of India offers Package Tours to Leh Ladakh Which include online booking of Leh Ladakh Tours & information about Leh Ladakh Holidays, Leh Ladakh Religious Tours

Golden Triangle Tours Golden Triangle Tours : by Indian Rove, a premier tour operator of India offers Golden Triangle Tour Packages, Golden Triangle Tours India , which cover a tour of three heritage cities New Delhi, Agra, Jaipur of India with full satisfaction of customers.

Jodhpur Rajasthan India Tour Packages At jodhpur India guide find the complete information about Jodhpur, the famous city of Rajasthan.

Famous Beach of India famous Beach of India and their holidays package in India. Also you will get to know about the indian beach resorts and Hotels in which you can spend your memorable time.

Rajasthan India Rajasthan India offering the best tour packages of Rajasthan at very affordable prices.


Kerala Tour Packages Avail Kerala tour packages and enjoy Kerala backwater India, get cutomized kerala tour packages at discount rates from us

Lombok travel agent, tour package, trekking package, hotels, fast boat and Komodo tours Travel information, tour package, trekking package, Lombok hotel reservations, fast boat booking from Bali island to Lombok island and Komodo Dragon adventure.

North India Tour & Travel Get Customize Tour Packages to India which covers all popular tourist destinations, tourist attractions in North India.

Hotels in India Get all types of accommodation in major to small cities of India on Hotel Bookings India. Book Deluxe classes to budget class hotels with all types of amenities and facilities which a visitor desires during his India Tour.

Adventure Tours in India Provide Online Information On Adventure Tours in India, Adventure Sports Activities in India Link Trekking, Wildlife, Camel Safari, Jeep Safari, Desert Safari, Whitewater Rafting, Water Sports etc, Adventure Travel Packages, Best Travel Deals in India.

India Sights India Sight is a travel portal which provides the information about the whole India and its tourist attractions. We also provide the information about the general facts about India including festivals, dances etc. We also provide tour packages for you covering almost the whole India

South India Tour & Travel Providing information about all the seven major states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andaman Nicobar, Lakshadwwep, Pondicherry and Andhra Pradesh and their tourist attractions. Also providing the tour packages which cover almost all the famous attractions of South India.

Honeymoon Suites in Goa Tangerine resorts offer best honeymoon suits in goa. Honeymoon couples can enjoy & relish Special Personalized Valentine rooms, floral decorative Limousine for pick up and Much more surprises beyond your expectations.

Best Rajasthan Tours,Best of Rajasthan Tours,Best of Rajasthan Tourism Best Rajasthan Tours Provides Information About - Best Rajasthan Tours,Best of Rajasthan Tours,Best of Rajasthan Tourism,Best Rajasthan Rajasthan Forts,Best Rajasthan Hotels,Best Rajasthan Tourism,Pilgrimage In Rajasthan,Rajasthan Travel Guide,Rajasthan Havelis,Rajasthan Palaces,Pilgrimage In Rajasthan,Rajasthan National Parks...

Travel to Ranthambhore, Rajasthan

Ranthambhore (Tiger Valley)
Ranthambhore is one of the best spotting tiger park ever build in India, nestling in the Sawai Madhopur district of south east Rajasthan, it nearly takes one an half hour drive from Jaipur to reach Ranthambhore. Its a midway between Bharatpur and Kota. The lush green belts of Ranthambhore were once the hunting ground of Maharajahs of Jaipur. The Chambal river in the South and the Banas in the North bound Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan. In the 19th century Ranthambhore became a prison fortress, where the prisoners were executed by hurling them down the fort walls after stuffing them with opium. Before Independence, the park was the preserve of Jaipur`s maharajah, who mounted elaborate big game shoots (shikars) here. The Queen and Prince Philip were the special guests of Maharajah Man Singh in 1960. They stayed in the luxuriously appointed shooting lodge Castle Jhoomar Baori, and the Duke of Edinburgh proved himself as a hunter, bagging a large tiger.

Ranthambhore National Park

Ranthambhore National Park is probably the best place in the world to see wild tigers and is the only dry deciduous tiger habitat in the world.

The Ranthambhore National Park, which is a part of the much larger Ranthambore tiger reserve, a Project tiger reserve, lies in the Sawai Madhopur district of eastern Rajasthan. It is the only forest reserve in Rajasthan state and in the entire Aravali hill ranges where wild bengal tigers still exist. The dry deciduous habitat of the reserve makes it much easier to find and observe tigers in their natural wild habitat.

The Chambal River forms a natural boundary of the Ranthambore national park towards the east, and on the eastern shore of Chambal lies the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. To the northeast of the Ranthambhore national park, flows the river - Banas, a tributary of Chambal. Across the river Banas, lies the Keladevi sanctuary, while the Sawai Man Singh wildlife sanctuary lies to the south of the Park. Both these sanctuaries, along with the Ranthambhore national park, are part of the Ranthambore tiger reserve. Today, this Project tiger reserve spans over 1334 sq. km of area, of which 282 sq. km is the Ranthambore national park.

The entire Tiger Reserve stretches in a North-East to South-West direction for a distance of over 70 kilometers. To the extreme North-East lies the Kela Devi Sanctuary, south-west of which (and across the river Banas) lies the Ranthambore National Park. The Sawai Madhopur Sanctuary, followed by the Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary and the Qualji Closed Area lies further South-West of the park.

Ranthambhore is where the Aravali and the Vindhyan hill ranges meet and this confluence is perhaps the reason for the rich bio diversity of the Ranthambore. The geological formations of Vindhyan system are characterized by flat table tops locally known as 'Dang' , while the Aravallis are characterized by sharp ridges and conical hill tops. An important geological fault line - the Great Boundary Fault - lies at the confluence of the Aravali and the Vindhyan systems - and runs right across Ranthambore national park.

All the Tiger safaris in the Reserve are conducted inside the National park. The park is open to tourists during October-June, and receives more than 100,000 wildlife enthusiasts every year from all over the world.

Ganesh Temple the biggest attraction of the fort is dedicated to Lord Ganesha is located about 12km from Sawai Madhopur. It is one of the most important Ganesha temples in the state and there are markets around the temple that attracts visitors and are worth meandering around.

Travel Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park Situated in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, the picturesque Kanha National Park was the inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling's unforgettable classic Jungle Book. The romance of the Kanha National Park has not reduced over time-it is still as beautiful.


If one were to point to the middle of India, chances are he will pick out the forests of the Banjar and the Halon valley, the two forming the western and eastern halves of the Kanha Tiger Reserve, which have long been famous for their wide diversity of wildlife.

The park was created in 1955 by a special law and, since then, it has dedicated itself in preserving a variety of animal species. Many endangered species have indeed been saved here. Today Kanha is among the few most scenic and beautiful wildlife reserves in Asia. This 'Tiger Country' is the ideal home for both predator and prey.

By far the most striking features of this region are the open grassy meadows, where sighting blackbuck, swamp deer, sambhar and chital is common. And, if one can transcend into time, a barefooted Mowgli would perhaps come padding along the dusty trail, for this is the land of Kipling's Jungle Book.

How many of you have seen a tiger before? Most of the answers will be ambiguous because everyone wants to see a tiger. Then where can one spot TIGER? Well, even if there are circuses and zoo's all over India, there's some kind of a thrill you experiences when all of a sudden you came across a TIGER roaming freely in the wilderness of its natural habitat: the fields and forests of India. There are numerous Tiger reserves in India, that are preserving this ferocious beast, but nowhere can you see them as often, and as regularly as in Kanha National Park.

Located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha national park cum Tiger reserve extends over an area of over 1,940-sq-kms. The major feature of this region's interesting topography is the horseshoe shape valley and the whole park area is surrounded by the spurs of the Mekal. The Surpan River meanders through Kanha's central Maidans, grasslands that cover the extensive plateau. Steep rocky escrapments along the edges offer breathtaking views of the valley.

Travel To Pushkar

Pushkar the sister city of Ajmer, is only 11 kms away from the city. Accounts of this city can be founded in the 4th century writing of the Chinese traveler Fa-Hien and also in the scripts writing during the era of Muslims invasions. Pushkar is famous for its fairs and festivals and for Brahma Temple. It is said that in a battle Lord Brahma killed the demon Vajra Nabh with a lotus flower whose petals floated down to earth and landed in three places in and Pushkar where Lakes sprang up. the bath at Pushkar is thought to be more important than at any other place. The holy dip in this lake on Kartika Purnima is thought to be salvation giving. Pushkar is very dear to Lord Brahma. The place is famous in His name. So it is blessed by Him in every way. In olden times the people who took a holy dip at Pushkar were relieved from all the sins and went to heaven after their death by the grace of Lord Brahma. According to another legend back in a legendary time Lord Brahma was flying over the Rajasthan desert on his swan when some petals fell from his hand and drifted down. Miraculously, blue lakes sprang up where the flowers had touched the soft sands. Just then, Lord Brahma realized that this was the auspicious moment to perform a fire sacrifice.

Jagat Pita Shri Brahma
 The Jagat Pita Shri Brahma Temple in Pushkar in Rajasthan, India is one of the most important places to see in Pushkar in Rajasthan, India. As the legend goes Lord Brahma was flying over this desert region and dropped three lotus petals that fell on three parts of the sands and three lakes sprung up, this prompted Lord Brahma to perform a religious rite, an important prerequisite for such religious rites in the ancient past was that the husband and wife sit together to perform the yagna. Since Lord Brahma's consort was not there with him, he married another girl so that he could perform the yagna, while the prayers were going on Lord Brahma's consort made an appearance and cursed him and declared that he would not be worshipped in any other part of the world ever. Ironically this is perhaps the only Brahma Temple in the entire world.

Mahadev Temple
The Mahadev Temple is another one of the important places to see in Pushkar in Rajasthan, India. This Hindu temple is noted for its massive 5-faced idol of the Hindu deity Lord Shiva. The pure white marble temple is known for its architectural beauty.

Numerous ghats run down the lake and the pilgrims are bathing in the lake's Holi waters. Photography is prohibited.

Pushkar Fair

The Pushkar Festival is celebrated for a period of seven days during the period of Kartik Purnima. The major attraction of the fair, the camel trade dominates for the first five days. The buyers and sellers flock in huge numbers to participate in the trading of camels. Smooth transaction is as common as heavy bargaining. Trading is not restricted to the camels as the sale of other animals like goats, sheep and horses are also carried on in full swing.

The importance of camels in the fair is demonstrated further when beautifully dressed, ornamented and even scented camels walk up to be a part of the camel pageant. There is absolutely no doubt that the camels, with all the decoration, draw more eyes than even the prettiest of women around. The best camel, ofcourse wins the coveted title.

However, this is not all about camels! There are camel race as well which has people shouting and encouraging their favourite camel. As the camels reach close to the finishing point, the noise first grows louder and then subsides as only the supporters of the victorious camels continue with their plaudits. The rest, though a little disappointed, know that they have plenty of things to cheer them up.

The women folk of the fair find a much better place to entertain themselves - the ornaments and garments stalls. The colourfully decorated stalls have so much of appeal that women are invariable drawn towards them. And then, there are tatoo stalls, the most loved stall of the women. The rural women may not have the same facilities as the urban women to look glamorous, nonetheless the tatto stalls give them a beauty mark for life that separates them from the rest of the clan. The fair has more entertainment in store for the visitors in form of folk dances, acrobats balancing on tight rope and cartwheels and competition for best display of fruits and vegetables.

The enthusiasm of the festival finally gives way to religious fervour. Pushkar is the only place in India where a temple dedicated to Brahma exists. During the Pushkar festival, a dip in the Pushkar Lake is considered extremely auspicious to wash away all the sins of human body and mind. Infact, it will not be wrong to say that many visitors come to Pushkar fair just to offer their prayer to the creator of the universe. In the night, thousands of oil lamps are floated in the water in respect of Lord Brahma. The entire atmosphere glows with not only the illuminations of the lamps but also with the deep faith of the devotees. This prayer ceremony gives a beautiful conclusion to the Pushkar Festival.

Travel to Jaipur

Jaipur is the city of princes and princesses, of tales of valour and courage, of romance and chivalry. Majestic forts, luxurious palaces, lively temples, colorful bazaars, vibrant streets and pink face, have given the city a unique and unmatched character that immediately endears itself to every visitor.Jaipur is 260 km from Delhi and 240 km from Agra and forms the golden triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. It a bustling capital city and a business centre with all the trappings of a modern metropolis but yet flavoured strongly with an age-old charm that never fails to surprise a traveller. The old Jaipur painted in Pink can grip any visitor with admiration. Stunning backdrop of ancient forts: Nahargarh, Amer, Jaigarh and Moti Doongari are apt testimonials of the bygone era and a reminder of their lingering romance and chivalry.

Albert Hall Museum

Rajasthan is known for its rich traditional and cultural heritage, so it should not come off as a surprise to anyone that it is the perfect place to find some of the best Museums in India. Being the land of maharajas and maharanis, the state of Rajasthan is such a rich treasure trove that one cannot help but be awe-struck at the extensive collection of antiques it holds. Jaipur, in particular, the capital of Rajasthan, has many of the Museums in the state, that house the rarities and objects of the past, that are today seen as a symbol of the rich heritage and cultural prosperity of India.

One of the oldest and the most famous Museum is the Government Central Museum or Albert museum was constructed under the supervision of a British Army officer, Lt. Swinton Jacob in the year 1876. Maharaja Ram Singh, who was then the king of Jaipur, wanted this building to be used as the town hall but his successor Madho Singh decided to convert the building to an art museum.

It is located in the Ramnivas Gardens and is the oldest museum in Jaipur. The Central Museum not only houses many rarities and beautiful objects but its own building is also a sight to behold. The Museum is in the Albert Hall and is inspired by the Indo-Sarcenic style of architecture, which uses the best features of both styles of building. It has many pillars, courtyards and arches that give it a very traditional yet elegant look.

The upper floor/level of the Museum mainly has portraits of royalty and Jaipur Maharajas. That does not in the least mean that the museum only showcases the royal and imperial relics, but it represent "all of Jaipur". It has an extensive collection of jewelry, metalwork and sculpture. There are also many objects made of brass, which display the skills of the expert hands that have hammered and chiseled them to perfection.

The Central Museum also has a huge collection of miniature paintings from the Udaipur, Jaipur, Bundi, Kota and Kishangarh schools of painting. There are also fine specimens of woodwork, metal objects and other arts & crafts. One can also see the old traditional ceremonial dresses of the Kings and the royal families besides a whole lot of pottery objects, painting and sculptures.

If you happen to be in Jaipur, do take a tour to the Central Museum, which is open from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm and enjoy the opportunity to be able to admire the antiques and the rarities of the royal past, which are bound to give you a better insight into the rich past of India. 

 

 Amber Fort

Amber is located at a distance of 11 kilometers from Jaipur and was the old fort of the Kachhwaha clan of Amber, which used to be the capital, till it was moved to Jaipur.

The construction of the Amber Fort began in the year 1592 and was started by Man Singh I, but it was finished by his descendant Jai Singh I. The exterior of the Fort is not in the least like its interiors. The outside is very imposing and rugged looking whereas the inside is a comforting and warm interior which is influenced by both Hindu and Muslim style of ornamentation. On the walls, are paintings depicting various hunting scenes, and there is also a lot of work on walls, which are covered with intricate carving, mosaic and minute mirror work that make the halls look very majestic and imperial.

The fort is built with white marble and red sandstone and look even more attractive because of the Maota Lake in the foreground. The fort in itself is a beautiful sight to behold but as one looks on the fort with its clear reflection on the lake in the front, one cannot help but wonder if it is a dream or a beautiful illusion.

Amber Fort also called the Amer Fort is a must-see if you are visiting Rajasthan. The tourists to this fort can either approach the fort by road or take an elephant ride, which though is quite slow yet is a lot of fun.

If you are in Rajasthan, do not miss the opportunity to tour the Amer Fort, which is one of the important forts of the city and one of the major attractions of Jaipur.

 

City Palace

Located in the heart of the walled city, the City Palace Complex gives you an idea about the farsightedness of the founder of Jaipur Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. He left behind a legacy of some of the most imposing and magnificent architecture in the city. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh built many buildings but some of the structures were also built by later rulers. The palace is a blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture and the ex-royal family still lives in a part of the palace.

On entering the complex and before the proper palace lies the Mubarak Mahal, the palace of welcome or reception. Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh built the palace in the nineteenth century. It was used as a reception centre for the visiting personage. The building now forms the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum and on display here are a wide array of royal costumes, some very exquisite and precious Pashmina (Kashmiri) shawls, Benaras silk saris, Sanganeri prints and folk embroidery. An unusual display is that of voluminous clothes worn by Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I (ruled 1750-68).

The Maharani's Palace, the palace of the Queen paradoxically puts on a display of the Rajput weaponry. The inestimable collections of weapons date back to even 15th century and are in a remarkable state of preservation. Remarkable amongst them is scissor-action dagger. This deadly weapon were so designed that the handles were released to spread the blades when thrust into bodies. The dagger was then withdrawn fatally tearing limb to limb of the body of the hapless victim. Other exhibits include protective chain armours, pistols, jewelled and ivory handled swords, a belt sword, small and assorted cannons, guns, poison tipped blades and gun powder pouches. The frescoes on the ceiling are amazing and well preserved.

 

Hawa Mahal

How often have we been told not to build castles in the air? Very often indeed, but if you are a dreamer and wish to see this 'palace of the winds' which is not just in your imagination but a real palace, then come to the 'pink city' of Rajasthan and see the Hawa Mahal. Each wall of the palace reinforces the idea that 'dreams truly can come true', and the whole structure is such a beautiful sight that you possibly cannot describe it in words.

The Hawa Mahal, which adjoins the famous City Palace wall, was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh and has now become one of the major landmarks of Jaipur. The palace is shaped like a pyramid and is a five-storied building, with number of small windows and screens, with arched roofs. As one looks at this building, one realizes that the rear side of the building is comparatively very plain and lacks much of ornamentation. One is rather surprised at the contrast, since in the front there is intricate carving and much attention has been paid to even minute details yet the backside is more a mass of pillars and passages. festivals in the city. Panoramic views of the city can be observed from this palace.

Since the Hawa Mahal was built at a time when women of the royal families had to observe strict purdah, many believe that the Hawa Mahal was built, just so these ladies could watch the processions and various activities taking place on the streets. This does explain why Hawa Mahal has such tiny windows and many screened balconies. The royal ladies could look below at the people without showing themselves and thus enjoy a sense of freedom.

The Hawa Mahal is a great example of the Rajputana architecture, which was strongly influenced by Mughal style of architecture. This particular style of building that we observe in Hawa Mahal, uses the best features of Mughal architecture with other features that could better adapt to the inhospitable weather conditions of Rajasthan.

The Hawa Mahal is a popular place among visitors to Rajasthan because of the amazing view it offers of the city and particularly Jantar Mantar (another tourist attraction). Many insist that the best time to visit Hawa Mahal is in the early morning, right when the sun is rising. As the palace bathes in the golden light of the sun, it looks like a fantastic image conjured up by the mind in a trance. The palace glows like an impalpable dream, which makes you feel that even if you dare blink your eyes, it will quickly dissolve into thin air.

If you want to see this beautiful palace up close, then pack your bags and come to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan and spend your holidays visiting Hawa Mahal and other numerous tourist attractions in an around the city.

Travel to Agra

Agra is one of the famous city of India not only because the city has an excellent cultural background but houses the world renowned Taj Mahal. Located about 204 km south of Delhi, Agra is the city of tombs and memorials. Famous for its Taj Mahotsav (Taj Festival, Agra is bustling with tourist in the month of February every year as thousands of tourists throng to it from all over the world. The Taj Mahotsav brings traditional Indian music and dance on a single platform for tourists to enjoy.

Tourist Attractions in India

 Agra Fort

Besides the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort is another wonderful monument that is a must visit on your tour of Agra. Unlike the Taj Mahal, which was built by one Mughal ruler, the Agra Fort saw continuous addition to its structure. The Agra Fort was started by Akbar (1556-1605) but the construction was continued during the rule of his son Jehangir and his grand son Shah Jahan. However most buildings inside the fort was built during the reign of Shah Jahan.

The Agra Fort is situated on the bank of river Yamuna. The Agra Fort is built in red stone and it stretches almost two kilometres on the bank of the Yamuna. The 69 ft high wall encircles the crescent shaped Agra Fort. The Agra Fort has two main gates, which is proof of its impregnable stature. The two gates of the Agra Fort are the Delhi gate and the Amar Singh Gate.

The Agra Fort houses a number of mosques and palaces. Most of the mosques and palaces inside the Agra Fort are built in red stone and white marble. Some of the wonderful monuments that you can visit inside the Agra Fort on your tour of Agra include Khas Mahal, Jehangiri Mahal, Musamman Burj, Moti Masjid, Sheesh Mahal, and Nagina Masjid. 

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the 7th wonders of the world, and some Western historians have noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed. The Taj is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughals, the Muslim rulers of India. Taj Mahal is built entirely of white marble. Its stunning architectural beauty is beyond adequate description, particularly at dawn and sunset. The Taj seems to glow in the light of the full moon. On a foggy morning, the visitors experience the Taj as if suspended when viewed from across the Jamuna river.

Shah Jahan (real name Khurram) was the fifth Mughal emperor and most prolific builder in Indian history. Son of Jahangir and grandson of Akbar, he became ruler in 1627 at the age of 35 years.

In 1612, Mumtaz Mahal (real name Arjumad Banu Begam) was married to Shah Jahan. This marriage was real love-match, and she was her husband's inseparable companion on all his journeys and military expeditions.

TajMahal, a dream etched in milky white pristine marble is the peerless monument portraying the beauty of eternal love! A commemoration of the memory of Shahjahan's beloved wife, Mumtaz. Taj Mahal is indeed India's rich tribute to womanhood. Renowned for its aesthetic beauty, this extravagant building of timeless beauty is the outcome of a unique combination of passion and architectural exuberance.

The most romantic tomb ever created, the Taj Mahal houses the tombs of the emperor Shah Jahan and his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal. This wonderful marble edifice took over 21 years to make and is the finest jewel of art and architecture of the Mughal period. Laid in the formal design of Islamic gardens, the tomb is set on the banks of the river Yamuna, its massive dome and minarets reflecting in the waters of the river aswell as the water channels of the garden.

The pure white marble of the tomb takes on the subtle changes in sunshine, and indeed moon light, and seems to change colour throughout the day and night. The tomb is usually open from morning till sundown, but during the full moon, the tomb and its gardens are left open to the public so that we can all enjoy the pearly white Taj in milky Moon light of the full moon. It is a marvellous sight to behold at any time of the year and is a magnet for lovers from around the world.

The Taj Mahal is a deserving resting palace for an Emperor's Empress. It stands on the banks of the river Yamuna, which otherwise serves as a wide moat defending the Great Red Fort of Agra, the center of the Mughal emperors until they moved their capital to Delhi in 1637. It was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in 1631 in memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a Muslim Persian princess. She died while accompanying her husband in Burhanpur in a campaign to crush a rebellion after giving birth to their 14th child.

Itmad-ud-daulah Tomb

 

The tomb of Itmad-ud-daulah in Agra is believed to have inspired the design of the Taj Mahal. The tomb Itmad-ud-daulah was built much earlier then the Taj Mahal. The tomb was built by Nur Jahan, wife of Jehangir for her father Mirza Ghiyas-ud-din or Ghiyas Beg.

The life of Ghiyas-ud-din Beg makes an interesting read. Ghiyas-ud-din Beg was a poor merchant from Persia (now Iran). On his way to India, his wife gave birth to a baby girl. Since he was extremely poor, he decided to abandon the baby. However wails of the baby made them to take her back. The baby brought good fortune to Ghiyas Beg, who found a caravan that took him to the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar. As time passed, Ghiyas Beg became the chief minister during the reign of Jehangir. He was honoured with the title of Itmad-ud-daulah, which means 'Pillar of the State'.

His daughter grew up to be a beautiful lady and was married off. But her husband died soon after her marriage and she came back to her father in the court of Jehangir. Jehangir fell in love with her and married and she was known as Nur Jahan. Ghiyas Beg died in 1622 and Nur Jahan decided to build a mausoleum for her father. The tomb of Itmad-ud-daulah is built entirely in white marble.