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Taj
Mahal - Wonder of the World |
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To people the world over, the Taj Mahal, mausoleum of Mughal
Emperor shah Jana's chief wife, Mumtaz Mahal, is synonymous
with India. Its curving, gently swelling dome and the square
base upon which its rests so lightly is a familiar image from
hundreds of brochures and travel books. The Taj is undoubtedly
one of the most spectacular buildings of the world. Renowned
for its architectural magnificence and aesthetic beauty, it
counts among man's proudest creations and is invariably included
in the list of the world's foremost wonders. |
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| Red
Fort |
The Red Fort, known locally as Lal Quila, is Delhi's signature
attraction, rising high above the clamour of Old Delhi
as a reminder of the wealth and power of the Mogul empire.
The massive sandstone walls were built in the 17th century
to keep out marauding invaders and still dominate the
skyline today. Inside are an array of exquisite buildings,
which once provided the living quarters for Shah Jehan,
his courtiers, family and staff of three thousand. Visitors
can marvel at the intricate decoration and only imagine
the scenes here at the empire's height when the walls
were studded with precious stones and a 'stream of paradise'
drove an ingenious air conditioning system. The fort was
the scene of the Indian uprising of 1857 and the mighty
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Lahore Gate, on the west side
of the fort, remains a potent symbol in the fight for Independence. |
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Qutub
Minar |
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The Qutb Minar is a mammoth tower that was built between 1193
and 1369 to symbolise Islamic rule over Delhi and commemorate
the victory by Qutab-ud-din over the city’s last Hindu
kingdom. Standing 238ft (72m) tall, the tower is decorated
with calligraphy representing verses from the Koran and tapers
from a 50ft (15m) diameter at the base to just 8ft (2.5m)
at the top. There are five distinct stories each encircled
with a balcony, the first three are built of red sandstone,
and the upper two are faced with white marble. At the foot
of the minhar, stands Quwwat-ul-Islam, India’s oldest
mosque, which is built largely from the remains of 27 Hindu
and Jain temples that were destroyed by the new Muslim rulers
of India. The
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cloisters that flank the nearby courtyard
are supported by pillars unmistakably pilfered from Hindu
temples. Faces of the decorative figures have been removed
to conform to
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Islamic law, which strictly forbids iconic
worship. Incongruously, in the corner of the mosque, stands
an Iron Pillar, bearing fourth-century Sanskrit inscriptions
of the Gupta period attributing it to the memory of King
Chandragupta II (373–413). It is said that anyone
who can encircle it with their hands whilst standing with
their back to it will have their wishes fulfilled.
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Humayun’s
Tomb |
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Humayun’s Tomb is one of the best-preserved and
beautiful examples of Mogul architecture in Delhi and
is often seen as a forerunner of the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Building started on the tomb in 1564 after the death of
Humayun, the second Moghul emperor; it was overseen by
Haji Begum, his senior widow and the mother of Akbar.
The tomb is an octagonal structure capped by a double
dome that soars 125ft (38m) into the sky and is set in
a formal Persian garden. In the grounds are some other
monuments, including the Tomb of Isa Khan. |
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Jama
Masjid |
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1656. This grand structure is situated on a hill a few
hundred yards west of the Red Fort and towers over the
mayhem of Old Delhi's sprawling streets. Jama Masjid is
India's largest mosque and can hold 25,000 worshipers
at one time. Wide red sandstone steps lead to entrances
on the North, South and East sides of the mosque. Inside
is the massive courtyard dominated by two red and white
striped sandstone minarets that cap the main prayer hall
on the west side (facing Mecca). There are smaller towers
at each corner of the mosque; energetic visitors can climb
the 122 narrow steps of the southern one to be rewarded
with magnificent views of Old and New Delhi. Those wearing
shorts or skirts can hire a lunghi to cover their legs. |
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Jaipur |
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Well known as “The Pink City”, Jaipur is a
flourishing capital of Rajasthan.
Jaipur is 260 km from Delhi, capital of India and 240
km from Agra and forms the most chosen tourism golden
triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. It a bustling capital
city and a business centre with all the trapping of modern
metropolis but yet flavoured strongly with an age-old
charm that never fails to surprise a traveller. The old
Jaipur painted in Pink can grip any visitor with admiration.
Stunning backdrop of ancient forts Nahargarh, Amer, Jagarh
and Moti Dungri are dramatic testimonials of the bygone
era and a reminder of their lingering romance.
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