Taj Mahal - The symbol of Love

Everyone in this world has at least once fallen in love. It's a different story if their love was a success or not.
Whenever a person wants to link the emotion of love and a man made monument, the first name that comes to the mind is The Taj Mahal. Taj Mahal is one of the 7 wonders of the world located in Agra, India.

Taj Mahal - The symbol of love

I was fortunate that after waiting for almost 5 years when the initial plan to visit the Taj Mahal was cancelled, i got the chance to visit the monument in August 2016.
I was always excited to visit the place and had prepared myself. I read all the minor and major details about Taj Mahal.

Tanga Ride to Taj Mahal

No cars are allowed in a radius of  500 meters of Taj Mahal, so the options you have to reach the monument are: Walking, Booking a battery operated car or take a tanga ride (Horse cart).
We preferred the tanga as it was the only option available at that given time.
We entered the monument from the eastern gate and walked to the Gateway, which is the entrance to the courtyard.

The Royal Gate

There was a magic in everything made during the ancient times and the era of kings. One of those architectural genius is the Gateway to the Taj Mahal. When you move towards the gate, Taj Mahal looks smaller and when you walk away from the gate, you'll find the Taj Mahal becoming bigger and bigger. An illusion crafted with genius. The illusion can be seen here.

Once you enter through the gate, the main attraction comes in front of you, THE TAJ MAHAL.

The view from The Royal Gate

You will almost every time find this place full of tourists from different geographical locations, age, sex, religion. Coming here just to witness the brilliance of the craftsmen who built this monument centuries ago.
You'll be approached by guides and/or photographers even before you buy tickets for the entry. My suggestion is to go with the registered guides, which will help in understanding the history of Taj Mahal.
On the left of the Taj Mahal there's a mosque and on the right there is a guest house.
Just behind the Taj Mahal there is Mehtab Bagh, just by crossing the Yamuna river. It is beleived that Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor who built the Taj Mahal for his dead wife, had planned to build one more monument similar to Taj Mahal but in black stone in the place of Mehtab Bagh, but couldn't due to his son and some financial problem.

View of the Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh

I certainly fell in love with the monument and i'm very much sure that Taj Mahal will keep pulling tourists from all around the globe for many more decades to come.
It was like a dream come true for me to be able to visit the place and i loved every bit of it.

So, what are you waiting for? Book your tickets to Agra and visit the Taj Mahal with your loved ones.

For more information about Taj Mahal, click on this link: Taj Mahal
Next up is my one day trip to Mysore, Karnataka on the day of Dussera.
Do subscribe to my blog, comment and keep sharing.

A Solo Wanderer :)

Behind the scenes- Durga Puja, Kolkata

It's almost October and the entire world is preparing to welcome Durga Maa. Whenever a person thinks about Durga Puja, i'm sure the city that comes to their mind is Kolkata (Calcutta).
I have stayed in Kolkata for 6 long years so i know how the city changes before the festival. I know how the people of Kolkata prepare for the festival. I know what this festival means to the people of Kolkata aka The city of Joy.
There are many pockets of the city where the idols are made but the most famous place is Kumartuli.
If you visit the place at any time during the year, you'll find sculptors working.  But the energy, the environment is totally different prior to Durga Puja.

I had an opportunity to visit the place with many known and unknown faces during a photowalk last year. Being first time there, i had no idea what to expect but i soon realised that the place is full of art. Everywhere you look you'll find one or the other sculptor working day and night to complete the idols on time for the buyers. You'll find different tents where the work is done.
If you are planning to visit the place with an intention to click pictures, you might find people charging Rs. 10 for the same. Once you take that receipt, no one will ask you to pay any more amount but don't forget to take the receipt against the payment.
Once you visit the place, you come to understand the Do's and Don'ts of the place. You surely won't like people screaming at you just because you have disturbed them, you will surely love to get the best angle or view but don't forget to take permission. One should understand that it's their work and they don't want to get interrupted between that.
Carry as minimum objects with you as possible as the more objects you have, the more chances of hitting a sculpture which i'm sure nobody will like.
The lanes are not too wide and on both the sides you'll find tents and sculptures, so you'll have to be careful while walking.


If you visit the place during the month of September and October, you'll find many people with their cameras trying to get a shot of the place.
The place will be full of enthusiasts of different age group. There you will find many new comers and regulars as well.
So, what are you waiting for? Visit the place soon to discover the behind the scenes of the festive season.

The direction tothe place is follows: Kumartuli, Kolkata
Do subscribe to my blogs for notifications and also comment on this post.

An Introduction!

It's not about how many vacations you have in a year, it's about how well you traveled during those limited days and how many experiences you can recollect.
This blog of mine is all about my experiences, traveling in different parts of India with family, friends or going solo.
Sharing what i have experienced is why i'm here and will look forward to get connected to the readers.
Sharing your own experiences will set my next destination wishlist.