Mahindra Homestays » Agra

Taj Mahal – An Epitaph of Love

Mahindra Homestays — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:23:34 +0000

Among the many must see sites of interest in India the Taj Mahal is by far is the most prominent of the lot. Here is a visitors guide to the Taj Mahal, a historic monument for love which has captured the imagination of the world.

HISTORY
One of the new Seven Wonders of the World, the monument is an epitome of love by Mughal King Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The only tomb that was built posthumously in appreciation of someone, is now one of the most visited locations in the history of the world. It took 22 years for this architectural achievement to get completed. 22000 artisans and labourers worked day and night and finally finished the structure in 1636 A.D. It stands majestically on the banks of the River Yamuna and is a remarkable example of flawless sculpturing, calligraphy and workmanship.

Resplendent white marble is the main component of the structure, along with red sand stone and coloured stones. It is known to be one of the most faultless structures in the world.

LOCATION
The Taj Mahal is located in Agra in Uttar Pradesh in the North of India. While Agra isn’t the most popular city amongst travellers it is well located and easy to fit into a longer itinerary. Other sites of interest include marble carving factories and the magnificent Agra Fort.

GETTING THERE
Agra is well connected by road and rail from Delhi and takes only 4.5 hours to reach. For those who want to fly instead, there are a number of flights from major cities of India and the airport is just 7 kms off the main city.

TIMINGS AND DATES
The Taj Mahal opens at 6.30 a.m and closes just after the sun sets at 7.30 p.m. It is closed on Fridays so plan ahead. Also, it’s a charm to see the Taj Mahal lit on a full moon night. It is open two days before and after as well. Tickets need to be booked a day in advance for this spectacle. For normal days, try going at sunrise or sunset time.

The best season to go to Agra is between October and March when the weather is cooler and more bearable.

FEES
As most monuments in India, the fees are different for Indians and Foreigners. Rs 20 for Indians on normal days, Rs 110 during sunrise / sunset and Rs 970 for foreign nationals. The ticketing system is fairly organised and a refreshing change from the hustle of other monuments in the country.

THE TAJ EXPERIENCE
For the last decade, the slow weathering of the Taj was of great concern in the archaeological sector and steps have been taken to make the site as low impact as possible. Battery run vehicles to reach the monument are run at strict intervals. Shoes are allowed but visitors have to use a net bag to wear over their shoes. People are ushered fast from the main sanctum and not allowed to spend unnecessary time inside.

Though the River behind the monument has completely dried, it is now cleaned and allows for some breathing space around the Taj. Thousands visit this sacred tomb of love each day, but the monument is kept extremely clean. The favourite spot still remains the front of the fountains where people sit and take forced perspective pictures with the Taj in their hands.

Certainly an unmissable sight for people coming to the country for the first time, soak in the serene beauty of the tomb and the towers around it. The magnificent architecture and precision is something to marvel even after you have left.

If you would like your next trip to include some of India’s most famous historic monuments then get in touch and we can help you plan a fantastic itinerary. Agra is ideally incorporated into a Golden Triangle itinerary taking in some of India’s top sites.

Destination of the month: Fall in love with Agra in February

Mahindra Homestays — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 07:18:59 +0000

A VALENTINE WEEKEND IN AGRA
One of the world’s most recognisable symbols of love is the Taj Mahal. Visiting the iconic monument is one of the top things to do in Agra and India. It’s perhaps not a stretch to say that this is on the list of places to see for every traveller in the world. It is particularly true for couples in love looking for a very special Valentine’s Day, fall in love with Agra in February.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE TAJ?
The monument was created by Emperor Shah Jahan for the love his life, Empress Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj’s history, beauty and aura are unmistakably haunting and can thaw even the coldest of hearts. For a sight that’s sure to raise the hair on your neck, visit the Agra Fort. Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son, Aurangzeb in this massive fort. Standing at the small area from where Shah Jahan spent his last seven years staring at the Taj is a profoundly moving experience.

NIGHT VIEWING
In the last few years the tourism department introduced Night Viewing of the Taj for visitors. The tickets for this 30 minute viewing must be booked in advance. There’s possibly no sight as romantic as the white marble of the Taj glistening under a full moon and the whole poetic image being mirrored in the serene reflecting pool.

PLAN AHEAD
The Taj is the most popular attraction in India and visiting it on Valentine’s Day with your partner is not a path-breaking idea. Thousands of couples will be looking for the same experience and will be smart about making their bookings ahead of time. Rooms go fast as do train tickets and night viewing opportunities. It’s important to make advance booking especially if you are looking for somewhere romantic to stay as all the best rooms will get snapped up quickly.

Browse our conveniently located homestays, close to the Taj as well as Agra Fort.

Monuments and National Parks

Mahindra Homestays — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 04:08:12 +0000

This package is available from £587 / 42200 INR / $1030 USD total price for two people sharing but can be fully customised to suit your personal needs and tastes.

On this exciting north India tour you will visit Delhi, Agra and Corbett giving you the opportunity to see some of India’s most beautiful highlights. From a visit to the iconic Taj Mahal to tiger spotting in the breathtaking Corbett National Park your trip will provide you with unique photo opportunities and the chance to experience real India.

Delhi – Agra – Corbett

Mahindra Homestays have prepared this special seven day itinerary, which can be tailored to suit your requirements. Instead of sharing your experience with a large group of tourists you will be able to enjoy your own private tour using local drivers and staying with Indian families in their beautiful homestays. Enjoy their warm hospitality and delicious home cooked cuisine as they share local highlights that you won’t find in any guidebook. This itinerary combines fantastic value with responsible tourism.

Contact us to get the latest offers on this tour and to have it tailored to your requirements

Day One: Delhi
On your arrival in Delhi you will be transferred to the Darshan Homestay where you will enjoy the warm hospitality of your hosts Col. Mohinder Walia and his wife, Sonia Walia in their sun-lit home. Suggested activities for the day include discovering the Indian art of Henna application, participating in an Indian cooking class or shopping in the local art and craft shops.

Visit Old Delhi where you will see major attractions such as Jama Masjid and Red Fort. There are plenty of activities to enjoy here, how about shopping in the famous Chandni Chowk market? Or head to Raj Ghat – the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi and Shanti Vana – the cremation site of Jawahar Lal Nehru. Alternatively head towards historic sites such as India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan and Parliament House.

Day Two: Delhi
Spend your second day in Delhi exploring and discovering some of its most famous sites. Visit the Lotus Temple, Qutub Minar, Ladhi Garden and the Red Fort. Your own private driver will be available all day to take you to the sites you choose to visit.

Day Three: Agra
Travel from Delhi to Agra, home to India’s most iconic landmark the Taj Mahal. Make sure you also visit the Agra Fort and Itmad-ud-Daula’s Tomb. Once again your own personal driver will accompany you around the city. Spend the night at the delightful Garden Villa, where you can enjoy tea in their lovingly maintained garden.

Day Four: Agra
Visit India’s most iconic landmark the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri. You can choose to have an evening cooking class with homestay owners with a traditional North Indian meal that you can then enjoy for dinner.

Day Five: Corbett
An early start to Corbett by road/train should get you there before lunch. Spend a relaxed afternoon and later take a jeep drive to the nearby jungle accompanied by your host at Camp Corbett. Come back sit with your hosts to enjoy some great tales they have to share on Jim Corbett and the national park. Jim Corbett National Park is a favourite getaway for explorers and wildlife lovers. The park houses many endangered species such as tigers, chital and sambar.

Day Six: Corbett
Day visit to Corbett National Park with a safari and some chances to spot the elusive tiger. Explore the landscape on a jeep or elephant safari and keep your camera ready with stunning panoramic views of the Shivalik and the Himalayas. The afternoon is free to go fishing. Take a cooking class and learn some Indian delicacies. A bonfire dinner is a perfect end to the day.

Day Seven: Delhi
Drive back to Delhi and if you are up to it visit Delhi Haat, Chattarpur Mandir, Purana Qila, Bahai temple or take it light today and spend a relaxed evening at your homestay before flying back.

Your Monuments and National Parks tour includes:
Seven nights accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. A private driver will be available for all ground transfers which includes airport pick up and drop off, inner city travel and sight seeing throughout the day. You will also be able to enjoy complimentary internet access, laundry services and tea or coffee anytime during the day as part of the package.

Special offer
This package is available from £587 / 42200 INR / $1030 USD total price for two people sharing but can be fully customised to suit your personal needs and tastes. Please note that prices are subject to currency fluctuations. Prices are valid until March 2012.

Monuments and National Parks Tour Telephone Reservation Assistance:
Open from Monday through Saturday from 09.00 – 17.00 (GMT).

Local call from UK

02031408422

Local call from Germany

030590024818

Local call from USA

2136735320

Local call from within India

1800 425 2737

Restof the World

1800 425 2737

Golden Triangle India

Mahindra Homestays — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:47:06 +0000

This package is available from £514 / 37000 INR / $903 USD for two people sharing but can be fully customised to suit your personal needs and tastes.

Discover some of India’s most famous highlights with your own bespoke itinerary on our fantastic value Golden Triangle India tour.

Delhi – Agra – Jaipur

Enjoy your own private Indian tour and stay in Mahindra Homestays Award Winning pan India network of homestays with this bespoke itinerary. Discover the real India, staying in beautiful family homes where you are assured of a warm welcome and delicious, genuine home cooked cuisine.

Mahindra Homestays have prepared this special seven day itinerary to capture the highlights of India’s famous Golden Triangle. Instead of sharing the experience with a large group of tourists you will be able to enjoy your own private tour which can be tailored to suit your requirements. This itinerary offers fantastic value and responsible tourism.

Contact us to get the latest offers on this tour and to have it tailored to your requirements

Day Three: Agra
Get an early morning start to Agra giving you an opportunity to visit Mathura Krishna Temple on the way. Enjoy lunch at one of the ‘Dhabas’ on the way and visit the Agra fort before you end the day. Spend the night at the delightful Garden Villa, where you can enjoy tea in their lovingly maintained garden.

Day Four:Agra
Visit India’s most iconic landmark the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri. You can choose to have an evening cooking class with homestay owners with a traditional North Indian meal that you can then enjoy for dinner.

Day Five:Jaipur
Today is an early start to Jaipur, famous for its marvelous architecture and town planning. You will reach Jaipur by late afternoon and check in to your homestay, Cosy Home. Go to the colourful bazaars of Jaipur and the City Palace complex with the delicate Palace of Winds and an interesting medieval observatory. Evening is free to roam the markets of the old city and shop or see a bollywood movie at the art deco cinema hall of Raj Mandir.

Day Six:Jaipur
After breakfast head out to the magnificent Amber Fort where you can have the experience of traveling on elephant back to the top of the hill where the fort is situated. You can have a light lunch near Amber Fort. Afternoon can be spent visiting the battle fort of Jaigarh and Tiger fort. Have an evening of entertainment and elaborate dinner at Choki Dhani.

Day Seven: Delhi
Drive back to Delhi and Visit Delhi Haat, Chattarpur Mandir, Purana Qila, Bahai temple. Take it light today and spend a relaxed evening at your homestay.

Your Golden Triangle India Tour includes:
Seven nights accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. A private driver will be available for all ground transfers which includes airport pick up and drop off, inner city travel and sight seeing throughout the day. You will also be able to enjoy complimentary internet access, laundry services and tea or coffee anytime during the day as part of the package.

GOLDEN TRIANGLE TOUR PRICE

This package is available from £514 / 37000 INR / $903 USD for two people sharing but can be fully customised to suit your personal needs and tastes. Please note that prices are subject to currency fluctuations. Prices are valid until March 2012.

Golden Triangle India – Telephone Reservation Assistance:
Open from Monday through Saturday from 09.00 – 17.00 (GMT).

Local call from UK

02031408422

Local call from Germany

030590024818

Local call from USA

2136735320

Local call from within India

1800 425 2737

Restof the World

1800 425 2737

Beyond the Taj Mahal: 9 Great Things to Do and See That Will Add Extra to Your Agra Trip

Mahindra Homestays — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:01:47 +0000

That famous white marble wonder the Taj Mahal has captured the world’s imagination for centuries. But there’s more to Agra than the monument of timeless love and devotion. Here we bring you everything else you need to see and do to make the most of this historical city.

Article Photo Credit: Creative Commons

1. Experience some other architectural delights
Believe it or not, Agra has other stunning buildings to see. Like the Agra Fort for instance. This majestic fort has sixteen palaces, has served as a home to six Mughal Emperors and offers a breathtaking view of the dominant Taj. Also check out Itmad-ud-dualah, known as the ‘Baby Taj’. This look-alike was commissioned by Queen Noor Jahan as a tribute to her father.

2. Have your prayers answered
At Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will not only find the highest gateway in the world, Buland Darwaza (Grand Entrance), but also the Tomb of Salim Chishti. The Sufi Saint’s revered resting place attracts millions of people every year. It is widely believed that all your prayers will be answered here. And when one day they are, you must return to the shrine to perform a small ritual.

3. Capture the colours of the Dhobi Ghat
Carpeted with yards of fabric in more colours than known to man, Agra’s Dhobi Ghat is an unlikely but popular destination. This part of the river, where washer-folk scrub their laundry, attracts photographers as well as filmmakers from all across the world. Locations in and around it were recently seen in Slumdog Millionaire.

4. Eat with your hands
For many years Agra served as a home to the Mughal dynasty. Their influence can be seen in the city’s famous Mughlai cuisine. This rich cuisine has found fame and following all over the world, but this is where it originated. Authentic Mughlai dishes are served in most homes as well as restaurants.

5. Find souvenirs and bargain hard
Indigenous arts and crafts are everywhere in Agra. Jewels, handmade leather goods and fabrics embroidered with ethnic motives are highest on the visitor wish-list. Overpricing is extremely common, so bargain meanly.

6. Ride a rickshaw
The cycle-rickshaw is a quaint inheritance from a vanishing India. Slowly being edged out elsewhere by air-conditioned SUVs, the rickshaw remains an integral part of Agra’s old-world charm. But it’s wise to save this experience for a cool evening.

7. Get a handful of henna
Henna is usually applied on special occasions, but as a visitor you don’t need an excuse to turn your hand into a canvas for henna artists. The art is common all over India, but in Agra you can get a beautiful henna tattoo for a fraction of the price charged in the bigger cities. For a few extra rupees you could even get your arms and feet adorned with intricate designs.

8. Walk through the alleys
By negotiating the narrow alleys in many parts of the city you can sense what Agra was like decades ago. Many houses here are centuries old and historically important in their own right. They are a photographer’s delight.

9. Be strung along
Using music, humor and sound effects, the art of puppetry is still being kept alive in Agra. However, the themes and content of the shows have expanded considerably. Now, politics and Bollywood movies frequently find a place, with delightful spoofs and dramatic retellings. Find details near the city’s top tourist spots.

Mahindra Homestays offers various welcoming family homes to stay in in Agra.

Homestays combine the comfort and distinction of a boutique hotel with the personal hospitality, informality and local knowledge enjoyed when staying with family friends. They offer an insight into the culture, traditions, history and everyday life of an Indian family. What’s more, guests get the chance to enjoy authentic Indian food at its very best – home cooked.

Find out more and book now.

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