Taj Nature Walk, Agra

Date: 18th Oct 2018

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi, Muthusamy, Vijayalakshmi and Harsh

Fee: Rs 40 for Adults, Kids Rs 20.

Timing:  7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Food: Available outside.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Taj Mahal.

The 11 hectare forest area is located around 500m from Taj east gate. The forest is part of 183 hectare Taj block. It is home to various birds but we saw peacock more than any other bird. It was absolutely peaceful and a nice place to spend an evening in Agra. The place is mostly ignored by tourist even though its very close to Taj Mahal. There are multiple spots inside the park which offers a different view of Taj mahal. Taj looks more beautiful from the park during sunset. There is a small play area for kids.

Few pics from the place.

One of the must visit place in Agra for a calm and quite evening.

The Red Taj, Agra

Date: 15th Oct 2018

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi, Muthusamy, Vijayalakshmi and Harsh

Fee: None.

Timing:  Unsure.

Food: Available nearby.

Photography: Allowed outside.

Other attractions nearby: Mariam Tomb, Akbar Tomb, Gurudwara Guru Ka Taal.

The Red Taj or the tomb of John Hessing was built by his wife Ann Hessing in memory of her husband. John Hessing was a dutch traveler who ended up serving in Maratha troop in Agra. Initially he was in the army of the Nizam and then worked serving the Maratha General Mahadji Scindia. After Mahadji's death he worked for his successor Daulatrao Scindia. He was appointed commander of Agra fort. He died in 1803 defending the fort against the British. His wife Ann Hessing commissioned the monument in memory of her husband. The tomb was designed to look like Taj Mahal but built of red sandstone. The tomb is located inside the Roman Catholic cemetery. The entry might be prohibited. A small door was open and i could see no one inside the cemetery. Did not dare to enter it and click couple of pics from outside.

Few pics from the place.

 A monument with an interesting story but not much to see and can be avoided.

Gurudwara Guru Ka Taal, Agra

Date: 15th Oct 2018

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi, Muthusamy, Vijayalakshmi and Harsh

Fee: None.

Timing:  6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Food: Small Snacks available.

Photography: Allowed outside.

Other attractions nearby: Mariam Tomb, Akbar Tomb.

The Gurudwara is located near sikandra. The Gurudwara is built in memory of the ninth Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahudar Ji. This is the location where the Guru offered voluntarily arrest of himself to Aurangazeb. Initially it was a reservoir built in 1610 to collect rainwater and used during summer. Later in 1970 the Gurudwara was built. It is one of the holy place for the sikhs.

Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib along with his followers reached Agra after visiting various places. The Guru halts at this place asks a goat herdsmen who was grazing his goats in that area to get some sweets from the market. Guru Sahib gave his ring to the herdsman to sell and get food. The confectioner mistook that the grazer might have stolen the expensive ring and alerts the police. Police arrest the herdsmen and took him to Guru Sahib. When inquired by police the Guru replies “The saviour of Hindus Tegh Bahadur is my name”. Police arrest Guru Sahib and his followers and took him to Delhi. The herdsmen was offered a price of Rs 500. The place is visited by devotees every year to pay respect to their Great Sikh Guru.

Few pics from the place.

One of the attraction that should be on the list of places to be visited in Agra.

Kanch Mahal, Sikandra, Agra

Date: 14th Oct 2018

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi, Muthusamy, Vijayalakshmi and Harsh

Fee: Rs 15 for Akbar Tomb.

Timing:  Sunrise to Sunset.

Food: Small Snacks available.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Mariam Tomb, Akbar Tomb, Kanch Mahal.

Kanch Mahal is located in the Akbar's tomb complex. This was a harem quarter or ladies resort used by Jehangir as hunting lodge. It is a two storyed build used by royal women.
It was built sometime between 1605-1619 during the reign of Jehangir. The square central hall has four rooms in each corner. The front of the building is decorated with detailed tile work while the back of the building is completely plain. The stairways lead to the second floor which has rooms similar to the ground floor plan. The structure was made of brick masonry and internally plastered. The exterior was finished with finely carved red sandstone.

Some pic from the place.

Another monument in sikandra which can be visited along with Akbar tomb.

Anonymous Lodi Tomb, Sikandra, Agra

Date: 14th Oct 2018

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi, Muthusamy, Vijayalakshmi and Harsh

Fee: Rs 15 for Akbar Tomb.

Timing:  Sunrise to Sunset.

Food: Small Snacks available.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Mariam Tomb, Akbar Tomb, Kanch Mahal.

The tomb of unknown noble and his consort is located in the complex Akbar tomb, Sikandra.
The tomb is of square in plan but its angles are chamfered to give an octagonal appearance. This is the style of  Bhagdadi Muthamman plan which was popularly used by mughals. The interior has an octagonal hall and four octagonal rooms in the corners. The tomb is assumed to be built during the period of Ibrahim Lodi but no records of who was buried here is found.

Few pics from the place.

If one is visiting Akbar tomb this can also be given a look as its in the same complex beside the ticket counter.

Raja Jaswant Singh Chhatri, Agra

Date: 14th Oct 2018

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi, Muthusamy, Vijayalakshmi and Harsh

Fee: None.

Timing:  6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Food: Not available.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Chini Ka Rauza.

Raja Jaswant Singh Ki Chhatri, the cenotaph was build by Jaswant Singh for his elder brother Amar Singh. Built between 1644 and 1658 was probably the only Hindu monument built during Mughal era. Rani Hada, princess of Bundi in Rajasthan was married to Amar Singh Rathore. Amar Singh Rathore was killed in 1644 at a battle in Agra Fort. Rani Hada commited Sati here and the cenotaph was built by Jaswant singh in honor of his brother and Rani Hada.

The chhatri is a mix of Mughal and Hindu architecture. The structure is made of red sandstone with twelve pillars. Its located on the banks of river Yamuna. The most notable feature of the building is the mesh work in stone. The work is also referred to as Agra Jali.

Few pics from the place.

Located away from famous tourist attractions, this lesser known monument can be visited if one has ample time.

Chini ka Rauza, Agra

Date: 14th Oct 2018

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi, Muthusamy, Vijayalakshmi and Harsh

Fee: None.

Timing:  10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Food: Not available.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Jaswant Singh Ki Chatri

Chini ka Rauza, one of the lesser known monument is Agra is the tomb of Shukrullah shirazi 'Afzal khan' allami. He hailed from shiraz Iran and served as the Vazir of Shah Jehan. He was the brother of famed calligrapher Abdul Haq shirazi who did the inscriptions on Akbar tomb in Sikandara and in Taj Mahal. Shukrullah was a learned men and talented poet who composed many poems under the name Allami.

Shukrullah built this tomb during his life time. He died in 1639 at Lahore and his body was brought to Agra and interned in the tomb. The important feature of the tomb is the clazed tile work with which its exterior is covered. The surface is panelled and stylized in floral designs with wide variety of colors and shades as blue, yellow, green and orange. The patterns are made up of thousands of tiny pieces of tiles embedded into the plaster. The complex houses the tomb, four gardens two storyed octagonal tower along the river side. The weather and lack of maintenance eroded the enamel paintings but what ever left out suggests the richness of the tomb when built.

Few pics from the place.

One of the lesser known monuments that can be visited if one is not rushed.

Mahalakshmi Temple, Mumbai

Date: 28th Jan 2018

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Fee: None.

Timing:  6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Food: Available.

Photography: Not Allowed. All electronic item should be kept in cloak room.

Other attractions nearby: Siddhivinayaka Temple.

Another important temple in Mumbai is Mahalakshi temple located on Bhulabhai desai road. There are three idols in the sanctum sanctorum namely Shree Mahalakshmi, Shree Mahakali and Shree Mahasaraswati. During navaratri first three days the goddess Shree Mahakali is worshiped and next three days is for Shree Mahalakshmi and last three days for Shree Mahasaraswati. The temple has an very interesting story. The three idols where immersed into sea near worli to avoid destruction by the invaders. Project Hornby vellard, uniting all seven islands of Bombay into a single island was under taken by William Hornby in 1782. The construction between worli and malabar hill as affected severely as the wall kept collapsing. The goddess Mahalakshmi appeared in the dream on chief engineer Ramji Shivji Prabhu and asked him to take the idol out of creek and place on top of hillock. He did the same and the connection of both the islands was completed uninterrupted. He then got the hillock as a gift and constructed a temple around the idols.

A pic from the temple.

Another important Hindu temple which can be visited in Mumbai.

Shree SiddhiVinayak Temple, Mumbai

Date: 28th Jan 2018

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Fee: None.

Timing:  6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Food: Small snacks available.

Photography: Not Allowed. All electronic item should be kept in cloak room.

Other attractions nearby: Mahalakshmi temple.

Shree SiddhiVinayaka temple located in prabhadevi is one of the famous temples in Mumbai. The temple when constructed in 1801 was a small structure with the main idol carved of black stone. The idol with four hands and trunk turned right side is unlike the most Ganesha idols found in other temples. The idols of Riddhi and Siddhi are on each side of the Ganesha. The present six storey building was constructed in 1990. The sanctum sanctorum has three doors allowing many devotees to view idol. The richest temple in Mumbai is frequently visited by politicians and celebrities. There is also a temple for Lord Hanuman in the complex.

Few pics from the place.

One of the few temples that is a must visit in Mumbai.