Taj Mahal -- Love’s Labour Won

Taj Mahal is undoubtedly India’s most prized architectural marvel and one of the world’s finest. Often described as India’s ‘Jewel in the Crown’, the Taj has inspired innumerable poets, musicians and painters from across the globe for centuries. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan got this monument constructed in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

The construction of the monument required the skill, expertise, and labor of 20,000 workers and artisans. Work began in 1631 and ended 22 years later. The story has it that it took a fleet of 1,000 elephants to transport the construction material, sourced from various parts of India and central Asia to the construction site.

The main edifice comprises five main elements: Darwaza or main gateway, Bageecha or garden, Masjid or mosque, Naqquar Khana or rest house, and Rauza or the mausoleum. For visitors, a trip to India is incomplete without paying a visit to the monument, which has also been included in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World. For Generations, the Taj Mahal has been an emblem of love exquisitely portrayed in marble.

Malls and Memsahibs: Shimla

The capital of Himachal Pradesh has some the world’s finest examples of British colonial architecture. Inspired by the Renaissance in England is the greystone Viceregal Lodge on Observatory Hill. Also known as Rashtrapati Niwas, it was formerly the residence of the British Viceroy Lord Dufferin. It was also the venue for many important decisions that changed the fate of the subcontinent.

Given its history, it is quite befitting that it is the only building in Shimla that occupies a hill by itself Interestingly, the Lodge has electricity by 1888, the only place in Shimla that did in those days. After Independence, the Lodge continued as the summer retreat of the President of India.

Similar to Delhi’s Viceregal Palace, it was here that the Viceroy hosted parties and entertained Princes and nawabs. In the early Sixties, President S. Radhakrishnan, a leading Philosopher and also a writer, and then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru decided to make it a scholar’s hub where the best minds would find an ideal retreat. Today, it is appropriately occupied by the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies.

Getting There:

The nearest airport is at Jubberhatti (26 km). Shimla is connected by a broad gauge train line up to Kalka. From Kalka, the six-hour journey crosses 103 tunnels. It is considered to be the best way to enjoy the scenic beauty en route. ( I took an overnight Volvo bus from Delhi to Shimla)

French Alliance - Puducherry

 Rue Romain Rolland Dupleix… they’re in India... they’re in Puducherry.

White French villas and flowerpots in balconies complete the picture perfect look of this quaint town. An erstwhile French colony, some of the streets continue with their original names and spellings. 

Many residents still converse in French and even the local police wear a uniform that was designed the colonial rule. The French Riviera of the East has the statue of Joan of Arc and the Government Palace that are considered relics of French culture.

 No visit to Puducherry is complete without paying respect at the Aurobindo Ashram set up by Sri Aurobindo. Frequented by the spiritually inclines, the ashram stands out for its simplicity. The samadhis of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother are situated in the center of a courtyard that is covered by trees. One can almost hear the sound of the wind ringing in your ears as you spend a few moments in this place. 

Puducherry is also famed for its beaches, all lying close to the heart of the city. It’s a place where Paradise and Mahe are than the name of beaches… they stand for the essence of the city.

Grand Designs -- Mahabalipuram

Its all about fine sculptures, towering temples and silvery beaches

Renowned for its sea shore temples, Mahabalipuram is a tiny seaside village set in a boulder-strewn landscape near Chennai. Located on the Bay of Bengal, Tourists are drawn by the miles of unspoiled beaches and rock-cut art that the hamlet offers. The Sculptures here, following the Dravidian style of architecture, showcase day-to-day life, in contrast to the other temples in Tamil Nadu which generally depict gods and goddesses.

Mahabalipuram art can be divided into four categories: open air bas-relief, structured temples, man-made caves, and raths or chariots. Arjuna’s Penance and the Krishna Mandapa have been etched on massive rocks near the center of the village. The beautiful shore temples tower over the waves behind the protective breakwaters.

Panch Pandava Rathas, Krishna Mandapa, Vraha Cave and Krishna’s Butterball are the other prominent temples in Mahabalipuram. In addition to the beautiful etchings and carvings in stone, the place also offers the traveler the shade of rows of casuarinas trees and calm stretches of silvery beaches.

Pink with Pleasure

Located in Rajasthan, Jaipur, has, since time immemorial, been synonymous with royalty and good living. Glorious palaces, exquisite havelis, sprawling forts and wide gardens dot the city. Also referred to as the Pink City, most of Jaipur has been painted in pink, giving it a look that is harmonious.

For a tourist, Jaipur has plenty on offer. Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Amber Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Raigarh Fort – all resound with the tales of times gone by. Even though the city has made rapid strides to keep abreast of the contemporary, there are areas that continue to be steeped in the past.

The older part of Jaipur, where it is not uncommon to find tongas and cycle rickshaws meandering past indolent cows, camels drawing carts filled with vegetables are an intrinsic part of the city. So are the bandhej and leheriya sari shops and the jewelers dealing in kundan ornaments. Amidst all the tiny shops which look the same from outside, you will suddenly come across a glitzy showroom selling the latest watches. That’s a part of new Jaipur.