There are many places to visit but few which just cannot be missed. One of the seven wonders offered by the planet, the Taj Mahal is one such place. An ode by a lover for his departed beloved, this monumental structure has stood the test of time.

If you feel that whether the ever busy Agra has much to offer, then it is nothing much except the grandeur and inimitable allure of the most famous tomb on the planet. The trip to Agra is usually from Delhi which by itself is a treasure trove of history. A Taj Mahal sightseeing plan will also include other attractions of Agra. Agra in Uttar Pradesh, India is host to other World Heritage sites such as Fatehpur Sikri as well as the Agra Fort. The Taj Mahal was built by Shahjahan as a symbol of eternal love he felt for his wife.

A Taj Mahal Tour in Agra can be easily planned as there are many ways to travel there and even more options for boarding and lodging depending on budge and time. For instance a car or bus trip would be 4 hours from Delhi to Agra and a 2 hour journey by the Shatabdi Express from Delhi. Star hotels as well as more affordable guest houses are available in Agra. Godelhi.net is an absolute option when you need a reliable travel agency to take care of your trip in and around Delhi.

Why Rajasthan emerged as the great revenue generating state in India? Why its beautiful fairs and celebrations are amazingly prominent world over? Plan a trip to Rajasthan during the festival season, and you’ll get your answer. It is one such place that commends each event including worships, harvest, conception, seasons etc. Individuals in Rajasthan are so dependent on merriments that they can’t live without folk dance and

music!

Plan a holiday visit to Rajasthan Tour with your family or friends. Indeed, even in March – April, this vivid Rajput state praises one or the other event in every corner.

Gangaur Festival

Devoted to Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati, this celebration highlights the finest of Rajasthani people. Dance and music by the ladies wearing vivid clothing rich in color and design. Celebrated for 18 days persistently, the Gangaur festival is organized for the women who petition God for the prosperity and long life of their spouses.

Elephant Festival (Mar – Apr)

Elephant celebration is praised yearly in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Fascinating occasions are organized which makes the elephant celebration dynamic and bright. Jaipur Sightseeing includes occasions like elephant race, elephant polo and tug of war between elephant and men are much acclaimed. So, you must plan for Jaipur Tour and note its details in your travel diary.

Pushkar Fair (Oct – Nov)

Consistently a large number of pilgrims throng Pushkar Lake to take a sacred plunge and wash out their transgression. During this time famous Pushkar Fair is organized to check the entry of winters in the desert land. The reasonable is extremely prevalent among the international tourists as there are numerous occasions organized which these tourists may discover fascinating and energizing.

Desert Festival (Jan – Feb)

Desert Festival of Jaisalmer is organized by Rajasthan Tour ism Ministry with the end goal of attracting visitor to India. This celebration offers many things to do and appreciate and to take back memories back home. In this way,Rajasthan the cultural rich state of India is always e brimming with fun activities and festivals.

Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan and perhaps the most culturally rich place in India. It is a shopping haven for shopaholics who love to buy different and unique products which are attached to the Indian culture. If you are on your way to Jaipur sightseeing, then be sure to stop by the popular markets in the pink city, for a glimpse of color, heritage and luxury and true Indian culture.

On my Jaipur tour, I stopped by all the different markets and checked out the wide variety of products which were on display. Spellbound by the richness of the variety, I saw handicraft, carpets, junk jewelry, leather items, gemstones, fabrics and much more. The five prominent markets in this city are

M.I. Road: abbreviation of Mirza Ismail Road, this place is very similar to Connaught Place in Delhi. There are a plethora of stores to visit and you can find just about anything in here. From branded garments to jewelry, from shoes to watches, from pottery to paintings, almost everything can be found in this architecturally famous place. It holds historic importance and is a must visit tourist spot

Bapu Bazaar: it is the one stop shop for everything. You can find almost all kinds of garments, jewelry, hosiery, shoes, handicrafts, carpets, in this market. The famous Jaipuri Jooti is also sold here.

Johri Bazaar: another famous shopping site in the pink city is Johri Bazaar. Jaipuri quilts are sold here like hot cakes. Paper-mache jewelry cases, silk wraps etc are very commonly found in this old-school market. As the name suggests the place is very famous for precious and semi precious jewellery and attracts the attention of many tourists.

Chaura Rasta: it is the ideal place for bibliophiles, who find books from different languages and genres over here. Also, there is theatre nearby, which makes it an ideal place to visit for creative work.

Busy bazaar: as the name suggests, the place is quite crowded, but if you are a salwar-kameez fan, then this is the place you need to visit. The 3 piece garment is available in different materials, colours, designs and embroidery in here and not to mention in different price range so accommodate all kinds of clients.

Buying souvenirs can be a really difficult and tricky task, which I almost always excel at. On my way to Agra, I exactly knew what I was going to buy for my family and friends. Since the place is home to the most beautiful marble monument in this world, what better to take home than marble itself. Agra is really popular for this amazing white colored stone. One may find different types of handicrafts made from it, however haggling with the shopkeepers and getting the right price for the souvenirs is a task in itself.

Marbles with inlay designs are quite commonly found in this city. Available at different sizes and shapes, these look very dainty and can prove to be very pretty and memorable presents. I had been told by many of my friends to get hold of these pretty showpieces, so I started my quest on the last day of my Agra sightseeing. Marble in Agra is of very high quality and the luminous white color looks absolutely impeccable.

On my Agra tour, I had noticed huge pieces of furniture being made from marble. I saw a beautiful white centre table with intricate inlay designs on it. I wish I could take it home with me, in my luggage. While buying marble, the buyer must be carefully of fake and counterfeit marble products which are priced equally as the original. The key to avoid making an expensive mistake is to look at the opacity of the stone; no light can travel through real marble. In case you are lucky to find a legitimate seller, then they will happily demonstrate to you the difference between the real and the fake

Since I had to pick up a few things, I ended up buying plates and jewelry boxes made from the white stone. They priced reasonably and looked very pretty as well. I instantly knew that everybody would definitely like it. These marble plates were simply a delight to the viewers’ eye with its highly intricate carvings and design, it pulled the attention of all. Needless to say its one of its kind and has its unique identity.

Shopping in Jaipur is absolutely a delight. On my trip to the pink city of Jaipur, I had read a lot about the things which are famous in here. Since my visit was slightly brief, I had to pick up as many souvenirs for friends and family as soon as I could. So I started my shopping from the very next day of my arrival and little did I know there was a lot in store for me.

Shopping in Jaipur is absolutely a delight. On my trip to the pink city of Jaipur, I had read a lot about the things which are famous in here. Since my visit was slightly brief, I had to pick up as many souvenirs for friends and family as soon as I could. So I started my shopping from the very next day of my arrival and little did I know there was a lot in store for me.

Rajasthani bandhej fabric, also known as tie and dye is very commonly seen in the markets. I personally love the brightly dyed fabrics which can be noticed from afar. Bandhej paired with oxidized jewelry looks very attractive and I ended up buying a lot of it. At times I think that Bollywood heroines must be taking inspiration from this city for their apparels.

Rajasthani bandhej fabric, also known as tie and dye is very commonly seen in the markets. I personally love the brightly dyed fabrics which can be noticed from afar. Bandhej paired with oxidized jewelry looks very attractive and I ended up buying a lot of it. At times I think that Bollywood heroines must be taking inspiration from this city for their apparels.

Truly truly and truly blissful experience!!

Thanks to my short Jaipur Tour which enriched me such an amazing shopping experience.

Jaipur is brimming with cultural heritage and beauty. The place which rightly happens to be the capital of Rajasthan is one of the most colorful places I have ever been to. From the colors of the bandhej sarees, to the bright hues to gemstones, to the gaudy shine of junk jewelry and to the intricate designs on the rajasthani mojaris, everything is so well lit up with beautiful vibrant colors. The same can be said about the rich history of the pink city, which was home to a number of kings and queens in the past. The place holds historical importance and one of the most important tourist spot over there is Kanak Vrindavan Valley.

Maharaj Sawai Singh of Jaipur had built this famous place almost 280 years ago. Located at the end of the Nahargarh hill, the place is breathtaking. I had visited the place on the third day of my Jaipur trip and spent more than half of my day admiring the beauty of these age old gardens. The name of the place deprived from the location where Lord Krishna is believed to have taken birth.

One may even find the statue of Lord Krishna, in the Sri Govind Deoji complex. The tour of Kanak Vrindavan valley is included in every Rajasthan tour, that is the kind of significance such a place holds. Encircled by the Aravalli hills, the place was meant for leisure hours of the king where he visited for recreation. On my visit, I noticed a number of unique trees which had differently shapes leaves, also there is a series of amazing fountains which make the place extremely picturesque. One of the major advantages of visiting these Jaipur Gardens, is that it is located very close to other tourist spots such as Elephant Park, Jaigarh Fort,  Jal Mahal and Amer Fort. So you can easily check out the historical significance of Jaipur city in just one day.

Head start to my journey

The summer was at its peak. I was enjoying my weekend just sitting leisurely at home when my cousin called up. She coaxed me to reach metro station of Chandi Chowk and meet her there. Her idea was to go for Delhi Sightseeing today and also enjoy the richness of aromatic street food of Old Delhi. We had heard a lot from our parents about the traditional foods and cuisine served at every nook and corner of Old Delhi that has been preserved for years by our ancestors. I readily agreed and headed to Chandi Chowk. From there we took a cycle rickshaw and started our hunt for some famous food outlets and real street food.

The Famous Outlets

• Chaat at Chaandi Chowk

When we reached the bylanes of old Delhi, we couldn’t  miss the famous chaat bhandars like Lala Babu Chaat Bhandar which serves Golgappe with Jaljeera, Ghobi matar ke samose, Dahi Bhalla, Matar paneer ki tikki. I chose to have yummy golgappas; their crushing sound in my mouth was like a bustling cracker .Another one is Shree Balaji Chaat Bhandar which serves Khasta Papdi Chaat with kachaalu chutney. One more significant shop is Bishan Swaroop Chaat Shop which serves Aaloo Chaat, Aaloo ke kulle and fruit chaat. Jugal Kishore Ramjee Lal’s fruit chaat is another tasty affair.

• The street of Paranthas

Another bylane in Chandni Chowk was Galli Paranthe Wali.

I could see so many usual and unusual varieties of mouth-watering paranthas being served there. Stuffings were  of  Aaloo(potato), ghobi (Cauliflower), Bhindi(Ladyfinger), Matar(peas), Mooli (Radish) , Gaajar(Carrot) , mix veg, Kaju,  Rabri,  Paneer,  Banana, and Khurchan. Pickle, mint chutney and Lassi was also being served along with paranthas. Malai Lassi was served in earthen pots called Kullhads. I tasted one Mix Veg parantha with Lassi. My cousin liked Khurchan parantha. We asked the vendor-What is Khurchan? He told us that the stuff that remains after reducing milk on boiling is khurchan. It was really a sinful experience when we didn’t want to count number of calories it had.

• What else to offer

On reaching Fatehpur Mosque, We found Gyani Di Hatti that serves delicious fruit shakes, Icecream shakes and Sundaes. We had Rabri Faluda which is an instant hit with everyone.

Lanes near Jama Masjid, an old 17^th century mosque are full of non vegetarian variety of food. Matia Mahal lane offers fresh fish, mutton kabab, Shammi kabab and Shahjahani korma. It is a heaven for all nonvegetarians.

• Delicacies

Siyaram Nanumal Kulfiwale near Ajmeri Gate serves Kulfi in so many flavours-Kesar, pista, rose, kewra, banana, mango and pomegranate. We chose to have kesar kulfi-it had an heavenly taste! A very old and famous sweet shop called Ghantewala offers Sohan Halwa, Sohan Papri, Pista Samosa and Badam Burfi. The essence of Karachi Halwa can be experienced here. Chaina Ram’s famous karachi halwa can be ordered online also. People order halwa in kilos and get it packed in tins to carry. We tasted a piece of karachi halwa-its so different than other sweets with a delectable taste.

Jaipur was once home to very prominent kings and queens in Indian history. The place boasts of grandeur, beauty and architecture, and a royal heritage. Jewellery has played a very important role, in Jaipur. Apart from Jaipuri Bandhani and mojaris, jewellery is also very popular over here. People, and celebrities from different parts of the globe, stop at Jaipur for some jewellery shopping. So if you are looking for souvenirs to take back to your friends and family, you do not have to think any further, all you need to get hold of is some beautiful Jaipuri Jewellery

When I first visited Jaipur, I knew I was going to buy Kadhas and Jhumkas; as a lover of traditional jewellery Jaipur turned out to be a paradise for me.  From costume to fine jewellery, you will find everything here, that too at reasonable prices. On my shopping spree, I saw a number of traditional jhumkas which were studded with coloured stones, and they looked stunning. After a session of haggling with the shopkeeper I ended up buying 5 of them in different hues, to match different outfits.

The best thing about Jaipuri jewellery is that in spite of being traditional, they have his old age quality in them which makes them unique. They can be paired with both ethnic as well as western outfits. The kadhas found here are to die for, they almost look like antique jewellery and are priced reasonably; also if you love statement necklaces and rings, you will find a number of them in various traditional designs, and they can be paired with anything to create a fusion fashion statement.

If your need is fine jewellery, then Jaipur houses some of the finest Indian jewellers who have silver and gold jewellery in beautiful and intricate designs. Also, gems and jewellery of the best kind are available here, and the designers can work magic with them, to create stunning pieces of exquisite ornaments to adorn womankind. There is a lot on store for the men too; rings and chains in subtle designs are available in plenty.

Johri Bazaar in Jaipur is famous for its precious and semi precious jewellery and is a must visit. Whatever jewellery shopping was left this market fulfilled it with some of the renowned jewellery shops here.

Must say SIMPLY IRRESTIBLE!!

Agra is synonymous with two things one is the Taj Mahal and the other is the petha. Being a foodie, the latter was the main reason, for my visit to this historic city. On our way back to Delhi, we thought of stopping in this city to pay homage to eternal love symbol, which is represented by the iconic Taj Mahal. However, the petha too represents Agra in many ways, and since there are more than 50 varieties of this sweet, I was spoilt for choice. Agra without the petha, is like burger without fries, samosa without chutney and cold drink without ice!

The preparation of this sweet involves ash gourd or white pumpkin mixed with kitchen lime, alum powder, screw pine essence and sugar. All these ingredients are mixed in different quantities to create the sweet dish which represents the most divine dessert. There are many kinds of preparation of this sweet, which involves added flavours and different methods of cooking, but this recipe remains the basic one, which is experimented with.

Since my endeavour to devour the maximum number pethas was on the top of my priority list, I visited a number of confectionary stores and sweet shops, to taste the many renditions of this amazing piece of dessert. Some of the flavours which I tried were the angoori petha, the plain one, the chocolate flavoured one but the deal maker was the Panchhi petha. There are many stores of this name, but the one at Dholpur, opposite to the State Bank of India, is the best of the lot, rather I would say the original one. The place was jam packed and it took me sometime to reach the counter to place my order, but the wait and all that pushing was totally worth it! I savoured every bit of the sweet; it was a taste of heaven and that was the time we realised why there was such a huge crowd at the shop. I knew what souvenirs we were taking back to Delhi, it was boxes full of panchhi petha for everyone to relish!

Wish if petha could also become one of the wonders in the food industry.

Day 1: Jaipur

Lily had just woken up as the bus came to a sudden halt, a herd of cows suddenly passed through the road, swaying their sad faces with complete indifference to all the horns. These sights seemed so strange yet fascinating to the little girl. A blue hoarding could be seen from afar, “Welcome to Jaipur. Mommy, we’re here!” Her mom looked at her and smiled. All the pink houses reminded her of the colour of her dollhouse. They reached the hotel around 10 am and quickly freshened up. The tourists who had travelled with them on the bus all gathered in the lobby. They were ready to experience the sights of this old city. The first stop was Hawa Mahal. The most interesting thing to Lily about that was that it was shaped like a honeycomb of a beehive & the guide telling everyone that there were 953 small windows, intricately carved so that royal ladies could look at the commoners without being seen.

Next on their itinerary was Amer Fort, which was on the outskirts of the city, placed on small hillock and overlooking a lake. She got excited because for the first time in her life, she got to ride an elephant up the hill. When they reached, she even got to pat the elephant’s trunk when they reached the entrance. The guide told the group that the insides were built from red sandstone & marble comprising of the Diwan-e-Aam or the “Hall of Public Audience”, the Diwan-e-Khas or the “Hall of Private Audience”. Lily’s favourite part was the Sheesh Mahal(mirror palace) where the guide lit up a matchstick in the centre of the room and the reflection seemed like it was full of lamps. She wanted to stay in the Sukh Niwas a bit longer, where a tiny waterfall assisted by the winds that are funned through it create an artificially cool climate; a medieval air conditioner if you will. They had lunch at the restaurant ‘1911’ inside the palace complex. Lily had Daal makhni & Naan & to her mother’s surprise, Lily liked the taste and polished off the plate faster than her and even took a second helping. After an elephant ride back down, the group proceeded back into the city and soon reached Jantar Mantar.

The Jantar Mantar, the guide told them, was the largest astronomical observatory from the Mughal period, it consisted of fourteen major geometrically built devices and structures for determining things from the local time to tracking the stars location. Lily climbed started climbing on one of the structures but her mom sternly told her to come back which she later found out was called ‘Laghu Samrat Yantra’, that was used for time calculation. Lily was enthralled by The ‘Hindu chhatri’, a small copula, where the top is used as a platform for announcing eclipses and the arrival of monsoons, she didn’t quite understand how it worked but couldn’t really believe how they engineered something like this in the early 18th century and neither could her mother.