Naldehra

Naldehra is mostly preferred by travellers from Delhi, Chandigarh. The go to destination for types of travellers, be it family, kids and couples, Naldehra is, however, mostly preferred by Couple, Group. The best season or months to visit places in Naldehra are March, April, May, June, September, October, November. There are 7 tourist places in Naldehra, which can be explored by travellers. Local attractions can be visited at any time of the day, be it early morning, afternoon, evening or night, as suitable for travellers. Sightseeing in Naldehra can be done by travellers, which will take half a day or one day, but to see all sightseeing places, travellers need to  stay in Naldehra for 2 days to 3 days.
Tattapani is located at an elevation of 655 m above sea level. This hot water spring is at a distance of 4 km from the Hindu temples and the Shiv Goofa (Shiva Caves) located at Saraur. Tourists also come to this place to try their hand at rafting along the Sutlej River.
Most of the devotees come here in the month of January, to take dip in the holy water of Tattapani. Tourists also come here on the 13th April, which is celebrated as a festival of agriculture in India. The hot spring water vanishes in the month of June and July and reappears by the months of November and December. Tourists come here in large numbers on the auspicious days of Tara Ratri, Lohfi and on the 26th January, every year.
As per the historical records, the temple was built in 1664 by Raja Shyam Sen, who was a great devotee of Lord Karna. The temple is crowded on Sundays. Every year, a fair is held here on the day of Sankranti. The temple offers views of the Karsog Valley on one side and the northern Himalayas on the other.
Admission Fees: Free, INR 100 - 150 (Pony Charges)

Located at distance of 22 km from Shimla, Naldehra (2044 m) is a heaven for tourists. It boasts of the oldest 9 hole golf course in the country. The well groomed Golf Course is a lovely verdant, perhaps one of the finest and sporty in India. Crowned with a springing turf the Golf Course was suggested by Lord Curzon. He was so enchanted by the place that he gave his daughter Alexendra, "Naldehra" as her second name. It is the venue of many competitions. The Nag temple is also situated here and Naldehra derives its name from it.

ACCESS : The closest airport is at Jubbar-Hatti, 45 km away. The nearest narrow gauge railhead is at Shimla, 23 km away. By road Chandigarh is 139 km, Manali is 282 km and Delhi is at a distance of 392 km.

CLIMATE : In winter, the temperature can drop to below freezing point when heavy woolens are required and in summers light woolens / cottons are recommended.

PLACES OF INTEREST

GOLF COURSE: The golf course of Naldehra, built in 1920, is one of the oldest gold clubs in India and is maintained by the Himachal Tourism Department. It is a well maintained 9-hole golf course and offers nine-hole championship courses at par with 68 and 3791 Yardage. This course is affiliated with many golf clubs in India including Golf Club Delhi, the Airforce Golf Club Delhi and ARTRAC Golf Club Shimla. The course is open from April to November, depending on the weather.

TATTAPANI: Tattapani is a popular attraction of this place, located at a distance of 30 km from Naldehra and 56 km away from Shimla. Tattapani is famous for its hot water springs and every year, many people come to this place to take a dip in this water. It is known for its sulphurous spring water,  which is believed to cure many ailments like joint pain, fatigues and certain skin diseases. The springs are situated on the banks of River Sutlej, spread over an area of 1 sq km.

Kogi Mata Temple: The temple of Kogi Mata is located in the village of Kogi, situated near Naldehra. The temple is dedicated to the Kogi Mata. Traditional Himachali houses around the temple and the chowka (Seat of the elders) sculpted in wood, attract many tourists here.

Mahunag Temple: Mahunag Temple is located in the midst of the famous Naldehra Golf Course, at a distance of 25 km from Karsog in Mandi District, Himachal Pradesh. The temple is lying at an elevation of 1830 m above sea level, on the Shimla-Mandi Highway. The temple of Mahunag is built in the Pahari style and is dedicated to Lord Karna, locally known as Mahunag. According to local people, Lord Karna’s blessings help them to solve legal matters and family disputes.

Chabba: Chabba is a village located at a distance of 18 km from Naldehra in the Shimla District. Chabba is a point from where, an 11 km river rafting stretch starts at the old hydroelectric power house on the Sutlej River and ends at the sulphur springs at Tattapani Village. Chabba provides parking for vehicles and trained river rafting guides as well. The season for rafting lasts from May to June and from September to October.

Shaily Peak: Located at a distance of 23 km from Naldehra, Shaily Peak is a popular attraction of this place.  It is a steep peak, covered with forests and has rocky trails that are used by trekkers to reach the peak. One can also hire ponies to reach the top of the peak. Shaily Peak is situated among the Himalayan hills near Mahakali Lake. For those who are unable to trek, there is a motorable track to reach the peak. From the base of Khatnol, it is an 8 km climb to reach the peak.

Mahakali Temple: The temple of Mahakali is located on the bank of Mahakali Lake. It is situated between Gudial and Sano in the Chamba District, near Naldehra. The temple is dedicated to Maha Kali, also known as Goddess Kali Devi. The temple is visited by tourists during the festivals related to Kali Devi.

Ranthambhore

Ranthambore National Park is one of the biggest and most renowned national park in Northern India. The park is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeasternRajasthan, which is about 130 km from Jaipur. Being considered as one of the famous and former hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur, today the Ranthambore National Park terrain is major wildlife tourist attraction spot that has pulled the attention of many wildlife photographers and lovers in this destination. - See more at: http://www.ranRanthambore National Park is one of the biggest and most renowned national park in Northern India. The park is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan, which is about 130 km from Jaipur. Being considered as one of the famous and former hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur, today the Ranthambore National Park terrain is major wildlife tourist attraction spot that has pulled the attention of many wildlife photographers and lovers in this destination.

Ranthambore National park is spread over an area of 392 sq km. along with its nearby sanctuaries like - the Mansingh Sanctuary and the Kaila Devi Sanctuary.The park is majorly famous for its tigers and is one of the best locations in India to see the majestic predators in its natural habitat. The tigers can be easily spotted even during the day time busy at their ordinary quest- hunting and taking proper care of their young ones.

Ranthambore is also counted as the famous heritage site because of the pictorial ruins that dot the wildlife park. Certainly, a visit to Ranthambore National Park is a treat for every wildlife and nature lover. The time spend on watching tigers roaming around, verdant greenery, a gamut of other species of chirpy birds and animals is priceless and worth enough to be explored at least once in a life.

Ranthambore National Park in every sense is the ideal destination for exploring the real wilderness. A trip to this amazing land is really a bountiful experience when you include some more interesting places to your Ranthambore Trip. There are some refurbishing destinations across the Ranthambore National Park that can lead you to the most investing exploration. These destinations include Agra- home to the famous Taj Mahal, Jaipur- the pink city and Bharatpur- the birds' paradise. These three destinations are simply extravagant to bring the maximum exciting surprises along with the wildlife tour. When you are on your way to these three destinations along with Ranthambore, you will meet something extraordinary and special like heritage, cultural and birding tour. So, come and enjoy a magnificent tour to Ranthambore and also visit these three destinations for a complete leisure trip that will help you to learn the culture, heritage, wildlife of India; all in a single trip

Agra : Agra has long been renowned as the city of the Taj Mahal. This has often overshadowed the fact that this royal Mughal has, in addition to the legendary Taj,

Bharatpur : An erstwhile princely, Bharatpur is also often called the "Eastern Gateway of Rajasthan. Keolodeo Ghana National Park is an important international bio

Jaipur : Jaipur was founded by Maharaja Jai Singh II (1693-1743), is the capital ofRajasthan. It is a major attraction for the first-time visitor. Jaipur

Machali (T-16), the royal tigress is the most famed in India and is exclusively the pride of Ranthambore National Park. The glorious palaces, lakes and fort of Ranthambore are the major strong hold of Machali. It is the most photographed tigress in Ranthambore and is also being known as the "lady of the lake" since it can mostly be found along the water territory of the jungle. The tigress Machali has long been under media spotlight and has gained tremendous attentions amidst the vast ranges of animal and tiger lovers. There could be many reasons behind her fame but the one and only thing that has captivated many attentions are her muscular and majestic look and her dominance at the whole Ranthambore jungle. Films books and even life time awards are such accolades that have lifted her name to greater extent.

The most noticeable thing in Machali is in her name. It is named so since she has the fish shaped marking on the left part of her face. Her legendary fight with 14 foot long crocodile has really created a history and it was the first time since such an encounter has been recorded and filmed. Interestingly, Machali has been photographed many times and have gained a lot of popularity amidst the wildlife lovers. Many documentaries and short films have been shot for her and she had been the star of the wild tiger world. In addition to this many books have been written on her and her park; and even received a TOFT Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to conservation and the wider Rajasthan economy.

This renowned tigress was first witnessed during monsoons in 1997, probably in July and this was the time when people impressed with her majestic look and flexible movements. She gave birth to three cubs, one female and the other two male by mating with a large male tiger called "Bamboo Ram". The female one was being named "Sundari (T-17)" and the cubs were named "broken tail" and "slant ear".

By the end of December 2001 both these cubs separated from Machali. Soon after Broken Tail and Slant Ear separated from Machali, she mated again with another male tiger called "Nick Ear". Bamboo Ram had died of old age when Broken Tail and Slant Ear were still with Machali and Nick ear had taken over his territory. By April 2002, Machali had given birth to her second litter, the two cubs named Jhumru (male) and Jhumri(female). By the end of 2004 Machali mated with another male tiger known as X-male and around March 2005 she again gave birth to two cubs namely Sharmeele (which means shy in Hindi) and Bahadur (Brave).

Machali became popular due to its muscular strength and was always being noticed for saving her cubs from other animals and male tigers. It is so interesting to learn that the male tigers really got afraid of her and upon intimidating they use to run away from her and her cubs. Since her common territory was the lakes around the Ranthambore Fort and so she had great encounters with many crocodiles; the legends of which are so popular even now.

Machali, the queen of the tiger dynasty is now in her devolving stage; a painful fact to be accepted. The royal tigress that once used to conquer the whole dipso environment of Ranthambore for over a decade with her muscular hunks and impressive strength is now a toothless tiger that really needs feeding unlike the royal battle she won with 13 foot long crocodile at her enduring stage.

Certainly the elegance in her royalty still illuminates with her every movement and the grace is still clung with her every growing muscle. Perhaps this can easily be realized when she moves. Her inevitable legacy will survive forever. In fact, two of her daughters are now being shifted to Sariska Tiger Reserve when the reserve lost all its count so as to continue the dynasty of the tigers to rule in the whole jungles ofRajasthan.

Today, Machali has grown old and has lost almost all of her teeth and most of her territory as well. But still her royalty resounds at every nook andcorner of Ranthambore.

On October 2006, this grandeur of Ranthambore was first observed; the Sundari (T-17) tigress is simply like her mother, Machali. Out of all the three sisters namely "Sundari or Satara", "Athara" and "Unnis" (or 17, 18 and 19 in Hindi) who were born during the monsoon months (July to September) of 2006, Satara is the dominant litter from the very beginning. Majestically by December 2007, she started exploring her own territory while her other sisters stayed with their mother.

By the early 2008, Satra established her own perfect territory and that majestically was the base of Ranthambore Fort. Like humans, she occasionally used to visit her family despite being capable of hunting on her own. By summer 2008, Satra became totally independent but her two sisters taking another few months to separate from their mother.

Like her mother she too loves exploring territory and in the rage of such efforts she had expanded her territory to greater extent. Quite amazing but she even fought with her mother Machali to overtake her territory and finally won too. Machali had to leave her territory, the area of the lakes and eastablished her base in Lakkarda, which is her current territory.

Gradually, Satara overtook almost all the territories of Machali except Lakkarda region and some parts of Mandoop, which was overtook by her sister Unnis (19). Her other sister, Athara (18) had established her territory recently in the area of Phoot Kot.

Since then Satara is ruling the areas of the lakes for the last three years. The interesting part of this tigress is that she is not shy of vehicles coming to the reserve and makes the tourists comfortable while roaming around.

Satara is often been found to mate with other male tigers but ironically had not been able to bear any litter out of them. She always shared her territory with three different males (T12, T25 and Sitara earlier, and now Sultanpur, following T12's move to Sariska).

Satara later expanded her area into the Kachida valley during summer 2011 after the dominant female there (T5) died and has one of the largest territories among the females in Ranthambore National Park - a territory rivaled in size only by that of her sister Unnis (T-19).

Finally after much speculation Satra bore three cubs in early May 2012 and it is assumed that Dollar (T-25) is their father.

Dalhousie

Dalhousie: Geography

The Dalhousie Town was named after Lord Dalhousie who was the British Governor-General in India while establishing this place as a summer retreat. Dalhousie is a beautiful hill station in Himachal Pradesh. Established in 1854 by the British Empire in India as a summer retreat for its troops and bureaucrats, the town was named after Lord Dalhousie who was the British Viceroy in India at that time. It is built on and around five hills, Kathalagh, Potreyn, Terah, Bakrota and Bhangora. Located on the western edge of the Dhauladhar mountain range of the Himalayas, it is surrounded by snow-capped peaks. Dalhousie is situated between 6,000 and 9,000 feet (2,700 m) above sea level. The best time to visit is in the summer, and the peak tourist season is from May to September. Scottish and Victorian architecture is prevalent in the bungalows and churches in the town.

Dalhousie is a gateway to the ancient Chamba Hill State, now Chamba District of the state of Himachal Pradesh of India. This hill region is a repository of ancient Hindu culture, art, temples, and handicrafts preserved under the longest-running single dynasty since the mid-6th century.Chamba is the hub of this culture. Bharmour, the ancient capital of this kingdom, is home to the Gaddi and Gujjar tribes and has 84 ancient temples dating from the 7th–10th century AD.

Tourism

Dalhousie being a beautiful tourist spot, plays an important role in the economy of the state. The major industry is tourism. While Dalhousie has a large number of hotels to accommodate the visiting tourists, the town also offers several non-hotel stays like independent villas and bungalows, which offer an alternative to typical hotels, Anadam Spa at Hotel Mount View is also a great place to be when in Dalhousie. There are just over 600 hotels, which provide temporary jobs to about 5,000 to 8,000 individuals every year. This town alone counts for almost 13% of the GDP of the state.

Major Attraction

Dalhousie has many places to visit. A favorite spot for tourists is the area near Alla. It is a potato field and it offers mesmerizing scenic landscape. Another popular spot is the area of Karelanu. It is famous for its precious water which healed a great leader, Subhas Chandra Bose. He was suffering from tuberculosis and he regularly drank the water from the natural spring in Karelanu and was healed. Some of the major tourist attractions of the town are:

• Dainkund Peak
• Khajjiar
• Bakrota Hills
• Village Lohali
• Gandhi Chowk(G.P.O)
• Bakrota Hills
• Dalhousie Cantonment
• Sadar Bazar
• Tibetan Market
• Panchpula

  

 

  

 

 

Ooty

Ooty, short for Ootacamund (an anglicized name for Udhagamandalam), is a popular hill resort in the state of Tamil Nadu in Southern India.

Located in the mountainous range called the Nilgiris ("Blue Mountains"), it draws swarms of tourists every year. The weather is quite pleasant at a mean of 15-20°C around the year, dropping to lows of 0°C during winter. The landscape is marked by rolling hills covered with dense vegetation, smaller hills and plateaus covered with tea gardens, and eucalyptus trees. Many portions of the hills are preserved as natural reserve forests, and special permits will be needed to camp in noncamp sites. *Ooty, is not the destination in itself, as much as it is the focal point of attraction. Auto touring the surrounding country side is certainly a must do. Unfortunately, the hill town suffers from overcrowding and erosion of natural resources. Tourism has placed an enormous strain on the natural resources resulting in pollution, water shortage and roads.

The hilly region also houses smaller towns like Coonoor and Kotagiri. These smaller towns are a better choice to visit and spend time in, since they are off the beaten path, yet less than 1 hour away from Ooty. They enjoy the same natural climes and prices are a lot cheaper.

Distance from Ooty to various cities: 

• Coonoor (17 km)
• Kotagiri (28 km)
• Coimbatore (89 km)
• Coorg (225 km)
• Kodaikanal (236 km)
• Munnar (282 km)
• Bangalore (297 km)
• Calicut (187 km)

Get Around

Taxis, tourist cabs, auto rickshaws are available in plenty. There are no standard rates except tourist cabs. Rickshaws charge a minimum of Rs 30. Town buses are also available to all important places. Conducted sight seeing tours are arranged by the private operators and the Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC). There are around 3-4 different day trip routes/packages available. Bus day-trip cost around Rs 125-150 and taxi day-trip cost around Rs 900-1100. Even if you arranged the taxi through the hotel (even TTDC), please verify with the hotel and operator before the trip that there are no hidden costs. Because the taxi drivers demand high parking fees extra and lunch, which is already paid for. The bus/taxi drivers get commission from remote restaurants and shops and they are overpriced, try avoiding such restaurants. Both bus and taxi will take tourists to some remote high-priced restaurant for lunch, try not to eat in such places because the food is cold, overpriced and place is not clean beyond the facade, and you will end up paying for taxi driver's lunch too.

Also avoid auto drivers recommendation they will take you to the hotels for accommodation where they get 20% commission which will be already added in your room tariff without your knowledge.

Tourist Attraction In & Around Ooty

Ooty Botanical Gardens

If you are on a sightseeing tour to Ooty, you might want to visit the Government Botanical gardens, which were laid out in 1847.The picturesque gardens that are maintained by the Horticulture department of the state, cover an area of about 22 hectares. The Gardens have well over 650 species of plants and trees, including a fossil of a tree, which is believed to be more than 20 million years old. The garden is very popular with nature lovers and those who long to walk among greenery and see rare ferns and shrubs up close. If you are in Ooty in the month of May, then you can also be a part of the summer festival, which is held here annually. The festival holds flower shows and various cultural programs showcasing the talent of the locals and the renowned artists.

Doddabetta peak

The Dodabetta Peak stands at an altitude of 2,623 meters. It is the highest point in the district, making it possibly the best vantage point around Ooty. It is merely 10km from Ooty so you can simply grab your camera and head straight to the peak, and click amazing pictures of he valley below. Many say that on a clear day, which is honestly not that often, one can see far off areas, even the plains of Coimbatore and the flat highlands of Mysore.you can get there by catching a bus from ooty bus stand which will just charge you 10 Rs. but will have to walk about 3 km. from the stop where the bus will drop you. you will enjoy the way up the peak ,if you love walking.

Annamalai Temple

Annamalai Temple is a situated about 20 km distance from Ooty. This place has grown as a famous temple of Lord Muruga, known as 7th Hill house of the lord. The view from the Temple is really awesome. There is an observatory at the top of hill for the public to enjoy the magnificent panoramic view.

Ooty Rose gardens

its an amazing and very large area garden. You can enjoy varieties of roses there. The roses bloom only for 2-3 months a year (not sure when), so going there off-season is not very interesting. If interested can buy the seeds and plants also.

Wax World - (Wax Museum)

Its a private investment not supported by Govt. Don't expect much like other foreign wax museum which are helped by tourism authorities for advertisements and promotions. But for sight seeing its good. More attraction is the very old house, where the museum is set up. Candles are available. But it is suffering from funds for expansion so they request tourists to visit so that they can get help from them, which is the only form of support.

Sims Park (Coonoor)

Similar to ooty botanical garden, very rare plants and trees are present. The park is famous for the fruit show it hosts annually during summer festivals.

The Tea Factory

Several tree gardens and factories are there. On the way you will get lots of them. They will approach you with free tea taste and offer some tea packets to buy. But be cautious if you don't have much knowledge about tea, better not to buy from them as the packet tea has not the same taste as they gave you to taste.The spices quality is not so good.

Boating at Pykara

it's an awesome experience. Though the rate of boating is little bit high but still it is worthy. Fresh air, good feeling and good view

• Falls at Pykara

• Historical Dam with Power station at Pykara

• Hidden Valley

• Echo Rock

Some called it as 'Lambs rock" naturally took the shape of a lamb. Go through a very small forest and then you can see the rock.

• Shooting point One very nice place is that. Don't miss it. The view is very pleasant.

• Pine forest Its a natural beauty. After the end of the forest a lake is there. Be careful while walking as the path has slope.

• Dolphin's Nose

Must Do in Ooty

Most travel agents / hotels conduct guided tour packages that will bundle you into a bus, and tick off the most important and hence crowded "tourist" spots in the area. Some hotels also arrange for private cars like Indica, TATA Sumo.

• Enjoy the weather.
• Travel on the railway. The charming Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR), blue and cream with wooden coaches and large windows, is widely regarded as a marvel of engineering.
• Go for long walks and hikes.
• Visit a tea plantation and if possible a tea factory.
• Ooty is famous for its choclates, and the best place to have them is at King's Star. They have around 4 outlets in Ooty and are the first chocolate makers in ooty. (the shops are run by the 3rd Generation of the family)
• Travel the country side in a 4x4.
• Catch a round of golf at the Gymkhana Golf course (membership or introduction required)
• Visit the local Army cantonment - the Madras Regimental Center and the DSSC (Defense Services Staff College).
• Visit terrace farmed cabbage fields around Ooty.
• Visit the Mudumalai forest sanctuary (1-2 days minimum).
• Visit the Needle industries which is around 6km from maintown Ooty in Ketti.
• Visit 9th mile and also the 6th mile where lot of movies are shot:-)
• Visit the Municipal Market and shop for fresh local fruits.
• You can get farm fresh carrot on the way.

• Horse back riding. It's popular here. In one hour you can go around the lake or longer rides you can visit countryside around Ooty. Some knowledge of horses would be good as the guides are local men who don't speak too much english, teaching is minimal. On top of the price you have to pay for guide. usd 4/hour.  edit
• Bakasura Malai. Some say that this was the place where Tipu sultan hid himself during the time of war. One can see all the three states from this point. Though you will to reach the place, the entire walk could be the most memorable in your life. It is usually not recommended by taxi/cab drivers as the place is remote and most of the distance needs to be covered by walk.

AGRA : The City of TAJMAHAL

Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, some 200 km from Delhi.

Agra has three UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort in the city and Fatehpur Sikri nearby. There are also many other buildings and tombs from Agra's days of glory as the capital of the Mughal Empire.

The city has little else to recommend it. Pollution, especially smog and litter, is rampant and travellers are pestered by swarms of touts and hawkers at every monument, mosque, temple or palace. That said, the sites are some of the wonders of the world and no trip to India is complete without at least one visit to the Taj.

Get In

Agra is 200 km southeast from Delhi and is one of the points of the tourist's Golden Triangle of Agra-Delhi-Jaipur. Agra is also very well connected via rail and road with other nearby cities and tourist destinations.

Get Around

Tongas, electric buses and electric tempos are readily available, and the best way to get to the Taj where no cars are allowed. Auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws are available every where, remember to agree on fares clearly in advance. In case you are a foreigner, please ensure that you bargain everywhere and bargain hard! Generally things are available at 40% of the initially quoted fares.

The best way to experience the city is to take a walk on the Mall Road (Sadar). The street is full of handicraft and leather goods shops. You will also find plenty of food items quite unique to the city. Indian palate is generally very spicy. Please ensure that you carry antacid tablets in case you are not habitual to the spicy foods

As a guide, an auto rickshaw from Agra Cantonement station to the Taj Mahal is about Rs 80 (at least in off season); and a cycle rickshaw from the Taj Mahal to Agra Fort is Rs 40.

An air conditioned taxi for the day should cost around Rs 1200. They will charge slightly more if you want to go to Fatehpur Sikri as it's a bit further out. Be warned that the drivers will probably try to make unscheduled stops along the way at marble and textile shops for which they receive commissions. Firmly tell them that you're not interested in shopping - though this might not get you anywhere so try to just go with the flow - you won't be pressured into buying anything but if you have a tight schedule it can be annoying.

Tourist Attraction

Tajmahal

Please note that the Taj Mahal is closed every Friday

The Taj Mahal is an immense mausoleum of white marble, built between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife. Taj Mahal means Crown Palace; one of the wife's names was Mumtaz Mahal, Ornament of the Palace. The Taj is one of the most well preserved and architecturally beautiful tombs in the world, one of the masterpieces of Indian Muslim architecture, and one of the great sites of the world's heritage.

Grand Entrance Building to the Taj Mahal Complex

The Taj Mahal has a life of its own that leaps out of marble, provided you understand that it is a monument of love. The Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore called it a teardrop on the cheek of eternity, while the English poet, Sir Edwin Arnold, said it was Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor's love wrought in living stones. It is a celebration of woman built in marble and that is the way to appreciate it.

Although it is one of the most photographed edifices in the world and instantly recognisable, actually seeing it is awe-inspiring. Not everything is in the photos. The grounds of the complex include several other beautiful buildings, reflecting pools, and extensive ornamental gardens with flowering trees and bushes, and a small gift shop. The Taj framed by trees and reflected in a pool is amazing. Close up, large parts of the building are covered with inlaid stonework.

There is an apocryphal tale that Shah Jahan planned to build an exact copy out of black marble on the opposite side of the river. His plans were foiled by his son, who murdered three elder brothers and overthrew his father to acquire the throne. Shah Jahan is now buried alongside his wife in the Taj Mahal.

If you are taking a camera, beware that because the Taj is white your camera may underexpose your photos. If it is a film camera you will not find out until it is too late. Overexposure by 1 or 2 stops is recommended.

The Taj is open from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM (sunset) every day except Friday. Entry costs ₹750 for foreigners and ₹20 for Indians. Get there as early as possible to beat the crowds, crowds are the worst during the weekend when people overshadow the grandeur of the Taj (but note that the gates won't open until at 6AM at the earliest - often a few minutes later, so don't bother getting there at 5AM), and plan to visit the Taj at least two different times during the day (dusk and dawn are best) in order to experience the full effect of changing sunlight on the amazing building. It is also utterly stunning under a full moon. You can also get very good views from Mehtab Bagh (see Gardens section below).

To buy tickets, you can go to the South gate, but this gate is 1 km far away of the entrance and the counter opens at 8:00 AM. At the West and East gates, the counters open at 6:00 AM. These gates also have smaller queues in peak times as the big tour buses drop groups off at the South gate. Alongside the ticket counter, you can also purchase a self-guided audio tour (allows two to a device) for ₹100 in English and foreign languages and ₹60 for Indian languages.

The Taj is located pretty much in the middle of town. Expect a line to get into the grounds. There are three gates. The western gate is the main gate where most tourists enter. A large number of people turn up on weekends and public holidays and entry through the western gate may take hours. The southern and eastern gates are much less busy and should be tried on such days.

There are night viewing sessions on the nights of a full moon and the two days before and after (so five days in total). Exceptions are Fridays (the Muslim sabbath) and the month of Ramadan. Tickets must be purchased 24 hours in advance, starting at 10am, but do not always sell out, so it can be worth looking into it when you arrive even if well after 10am. Tickets only allow viewing from the red sandstone plaza at the south end of the complex, and only for a 1/2 hour window. Make sure to wear mosquito repellent.

It is a good idea to bring a flashlight, because the interior of the Taj Mahal is quite dark (even during the day) and to fully appreciate the details of the gem inlays, you need a good light.

Taj Mahal can also be seen during Night 2 days before and 2 days after full moon in all 5 days including full moon, the booking has to be made 24 hours in advance from Archeological Society of India office situated at 22, Mall Road, Agra. Ticket fare is Rs. 500 for Indian Nationals and Rs. 750 for Non Indians. The viewing hours for night viewing is from 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm and 9:00 pm to 9:30 pm. A visitor has to reach 30 mins prior to viewing hours for security check at Taj Mahal Ticketing counter on East Gate of Taj Mahal or he may loose his/ her chance. The Night View is not worth spending as the visitors are kept quite far from Taj Mahal nearly 200 Mts away and there in no light so it could hardly be seen during night hours at viewing hours. Cameras also do not give images with near zero flux can easily be avoided for night viewing.

Agra Forte

The fort is similar in layout to the Red Fort in Delhi, but considerably better preserved, as much of Delhi Fort was razed by the British after the Mutiny. As much as palace as a defensive structure, it is also constructed mainly from red sandstone.

Emperor Akbar, king at 14, began consolidating his empire and, as an assertion of his power built the fort in Agra between 1565 and 1571, at the same time as Humayun's Tomb in Delhi. Emperor Shah Jahan added to the fort and ended up a prisoner in it. The fort has a beautiful view of his masterpiece, the Taj Mahal, on a clear day.

You can get to the fort by Rickshaw from Taj Mahal for around ₹25-30. Entry to the fort is ₹250 (plus levy of ₹50 if you have not already paid the ₹500 fee for Taj Mahal).

There are left luggage services at Agra Fort where you can stow your bags at no cost. A fine of ₹5,000 applies if you lose your luggage ticket.

There are also audio guides available at Agra Fort which you can rent for a cost of ₹100 in English and other foreign languages (German, French, Spanish, etc) or ₹60 in Indian languages such as Hindi or Bengali.

Gardens

• Soami Bagh, (10 km north of Agra). The white marble samadhi of the Radha Soami religion is currently under construction. It was started in 1904 and is not expected to be completed until sometime next century. You can see pietra dura inlaid marblework actulally being worked on. Soami Bagh is 2km north of Agra and can be reached by bus or cycle.

• Ram Bagh. The first Mughal gardens, built by the first Mughal Emperor Babar, 500 m North of the Chini Ka Rauza.

• Mehtab Bagh, (directly across the Yamuna River from the Taj Mahal, the trip takes about 30 minutes from the centre of town by autorickshaw and will cost about ₹200). Sunrise to Sunset. These botanical gardens give you an opportunity to view the Taj at a remove from the crowds of tourists.. Alternatively, walk past the entrance and straight to the sandy banks of the river: the view of the Taj is every bit as lovely (perhaps more so, since the barbed wire fence surrounding the gardens will be behind you), although you may have to deal with aggressive touts. In the rainy season when the river is full you can get good photos of the Taj at sunset, as the reflection mirrors off the water. Don't forget to take a round trip by auto rickshaw. Entrance to the park is ₹100 for foreigners.

Temples

• Balkeshwar Temple, (At Balkeshwar, at river side of Yamuna). A temple of Lord Shiva

• Kailash Temple, (at Sikandra, at the river Yamuna). A Lord Shiva Temple.

• Mankameshwar Temple, (At Rawatpara, near Agra Fort railway station. Near the raja ki mandi; a simple cycle rikshaw can take you there for a fare of 20/-.). Listen to the aarti, it purifies your soul. It is the MOST VISITED temple by LOCALS.....and during festive seasons its so crowded disrupting the traffic in the nerby areas.... 

• Prithvinath Temple, (At Shahganj. On road to Jaipur.).

• Rajeshwar Temple, (At Village Rajpur. On road to Shamshabd.).

• Shyam Ji Maharaj Temple (At Bijlighar).

• Mahakal And Mahakali Temple, (At Sikandra railway crossing on Sikandra Bodla road).

• Rawli Maharaj Temple, (At Collectrate crossing, beside the railway track). Very old temple.

Other sights

• Sikandra, (10 km north of Agra on the Agra Delhi highway). Open from sunrise to sunset. The tomb of Akbar lies here in the centre of the large garden. Akbar started its construction himself but it was completed by his son Jehangir, who significantly modified the original plans which accounts for the somewhat cluttered architectural lines of the tomb. Four red sandstone gates lead to the tomb complex: one is Muslim, one Hindu, one Christian, and one is Akbar's patent mixture.

• Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb. Empress Nur Jehan built Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, sometimes called the Baby Taj, for her father, Ghias-ud-Din Beg, the Chief Minister of Emperor Jahangir. Small in comparison to many other Mughal-era tombs, it is sometimes described as a jewel box. Its garden layout and use of white marble, pietra dura, inlay designs and latticework presage many elements of the Taj Mahal.

• Mariam's Tomb, (West from Akbar's Tomb on Agra-Delhi highway). Constructed by Jahangir in the memory of his mother Mariam Zammani a title bestowed upon her,. The grave is made of white marble. Though this building is in a ruined condition, yet it has in its vicinity, a Christian Mission School and a church. It is also said; Akbar himself made that it in the memory of his Christian wife.

• Jama Masjid. A large mosque attributed to Princess Jahanara Begum, built in 1648 during the reign of the father Shah Jahan. Notable for its unusual dome and absence of minarets.

• Chini Ka Roza. A memorial dedicated to the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan, Allama Afzel Khal Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz, notable for its dome of blue glazed tiles.

• Gurudwara Guru ka Taal, (at Delhi-Agra Highway, located between Transport Nagar and Sikandra),