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Tarun
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| "The Emperor Shah Jahan, weary and old, captive to
his son Aurangzeb, looked out through a small window of his cell with
moist eyes. His tired gaze, as it did everyday, fell on the shrine
he had built for his beloved wife, Mumtaz. "The
Taj Mahal" was the most accomplished monument ever made
- of pure white marble. No mastership in the world has been so photgraphed,
drawn, filmed or visited. Its beauty would move the most hardened
cynic in the world. |
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[ Taj Mahal ]
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| Delhi, the gateway to India, consists of distinct
cities - Old Delhi, the walled city, built by the Mughals and New Delhi,
built by the Britishers. Both are total contrasts. Monuments that date back
to the 3rd century BC dot this historic city. The Pandava's, heroes of the
Mahabharata, founded a city here, according to the legend. It was
called Indraprastha. Over the centuries that followed, Delhi was
fought over, captured, destroyed and rebuilt
again. Absorbing many cultures it become very cosmopolitan in outlook, and
probably was the biggest contribution the British Raj made to India. It
is from this city that one can take off for Rajasthan, Gujarat, or to the
Himalayas. |
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[ Agra ]
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A few hours away are the spiritual towns of Rishikesh
and Haridwar.
Close by are also the cornerstones of a North India tour -
Agra - for the historic Taj Mahal and Akbar's dream capital,
Fatehpur Sikri, which equalled London in grandeur. But it was
Agra that was given her most endearing monument - the Taj, built by
the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jehan. One of the myths surrounding this
accomplished monument is that most of the architects and sculptors
lost their hand afterwards lest they built a similar monument again.
The Red Fort here is like the one in Delhi but far better preserved.
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Khajuraho acts as a magnet for tourists
because of its 80 temples, though only 22 survive today, which were built
in the mid 10 and 11 centuries. These sensous and erotic temple sculptures
are remarkably intact today,and the vivacity of the carvings have never
been equalled again.
Varanasi (Benaras), the centre of Hinduism and the most important
pilgrimage centre of India is a city of colourful bazzars, bright quality
silks, festivals, palaces, mosques and temples. In many ways this is India
in a nutshell, and its existence is said to be 3000yrs old. Its narrow alleys
and streets, domes and minarets dignified buildings and some in decay make
this city on the banks of the holy Ganges retain a spacial vitality.
Nearby is Sarnath, a Buddhist centre of stupas and monasteries, shrines
and museums which is in total contrast with Varanasi. This is where Buddha
came to preach his first sermon. All this with a tour of the temple towns
of Orcha, princely Gwalior and the quaint resort of Shivpuri make
for story telling. |
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