November/December 2024
www.nitravelnews.com
BUCKETLIST INDIA | 25
be an ideal way of avoiding some of the less-official local operations that don’t necessarily protect the best interests of the tourists.
While the Taj Mahal is the ‘must see’ attraction in Agra, there are several other historical sites which should be on
your list too, such as the stunning red sandstone Agra Fort, which dates from the 16 th century. The hotel can also arrange ‘hidden gem’ experiences with its ‘Beyond the Taj’ tours. You can enjoy a Secret Taj High Tea featuring sunset views of the Taj and a selection of the finest Indian teas and coffees. Or you can opt for the
Ekaa’s Old City Heritage Walk, its Crafts of Agra experience, or its Rare Rover Safari. A further tour, taking in rural Agra, allows guests the privileged opportunity to visit a farmer’s home in a small village next to the river Yumuna, drink fresh Chai made on an open wood fire stove and visit a school that is supported by donations from this tour.
And we didn’t have the
hassle of finding good places to eat as we ate in the Ekaa’s restaurant, dining on traditional Agra specialities that have their
roots in the kitchens of the owners’ mums, aunts, grandmothers and local foodies, made with locally sourced, fresh ingredients. One trip that we organised through the
hotel was to Mehtab Bagh, a beautiful garden complex, located north of the Taj Mahal, overlooking the Agra Fort (also known as the Red Fort) and Yamuna river. Perfectly aligned with the gardens of Taj Mahal, Mehtab Bagh provides a picture-perfect view of the Taj from the fountain at the front of the entrance gate and it’s great for photo opportunities. Another site worth seeing is the tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, a minister in the court of Shah Jahan, which is also known as the Baby Taj. It was he first tomb in India made entirely of marble and is often regarded as a draft for its grander and more famous neighbour, yet it is almost as impressive and certainly worthy of a visit. But, of course, the Taj Mahal is what
every tourist visits Agra to see. Not only is it probably the most beautiful building you will witness, the timeless love story behind its creation is intertwined between every finely- patterned block of marble. It was built in 1631 by the fifth Mughal emperor, the aforementioned Shah Jahan, in memory of his third (but most favourite wife), Mumtaz Mahal, a Muslim Persian princess. She died while accompanying her husband in Burhanpur in a campaign to crush a rebellion shortly after giving birth to their 13th child. Despite being stricken by grief, Shah Jahan fulfilled his promise to his late wife that he would build a magnificent memorial to her as a testament of his undying love. There are many stories and legends surrounding the Taj Mahal and any guide worthy of the name will regale you with all of them. There is no doubt that the building is both a thing of intense beauty and an architectural masterpiece. We were advised
to book the first tour of the day, given the relative absence of the tourist crowds and the intense heat expected later in the day. So we left the hotel at 5am with our guide for the tour, the fantastic Mukesh
Kushwah, just as the sun was rising and the daily bustle of local workers was beginning. It was quite a long walk from the car park, through security checks and serpentine barriers, to reach the final entrance gate. But the first glimpse of the building itself was truly breath-taking and as we got closer, it was obvious why it had earned its place as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. It is possible to go inside to wonder at
the craftsmanship of the stunning marble and jewelled inlays of the mausoleum and cenotaphs which dominate the internal structure of the building, in addition to walking around the immaculate gardens and lakes outside. Of course, I couldn’t leave without joining
the queue to be photographed sitting on the famous ‘Diana Bench’. When Princess Diana visited in 1992, the iconic photograph of her sitting alone on the low, marble seat, also known as the VIP Bench, made headlines around the world. I’m not sure if I was able to recreate the same demure look of symbolic isolation captured by Diana, clad in her Catherine Walker- designed red and purple suit. Myphotos show me wrapped in a cotton shawl to ward off the sun’s rays and biting insects! But, unlike the Princess, I was wearing a grin as wide as the River Ganges, knowing that I had fulfilled a lifelong bucket-list ambition, as well as having just witnessed one of the most beautiful sights on earth.
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