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IndiaPhotogallery

How all the fountains at Taj got their water from Yamuna!

Upendra SwamiJune 11, 2020 7614 Views3

So like me, many of you would have visited Agra and Taj Mahal a number of times, may be. And, each time you would have been so engrossed in admiring the beauty of the marble marvel that you might have easily ignored all the other details of this huge Taj complex, such as its beautiful fountains. Quite unjustified, isn’t it!  Gardens, fountains and the channels add to the glory of Taj Mahal Although nothing can undermine the beauty of the white mausoleum built in memory of Mumtaz Mahal, but you can’t deny that surrounding gardens and the fountains add to the glory of whole structure. That is the reason, why Taj Mahal is also a ‘rauza’ as per Persian principles- a tomb with a ‘charbagh’ (four cornered squared gardens), fountains and channels. So were the many other tombs of the M...

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IndiaPhotogallery

Lockdown reads: Walking down the Agra’s necropolis, in the shadow of the Taj

Upendra SwamiApril 5, 2020 2589 Views0

Walking around Taj Mahal is like roaming within different layers of Mughal history. Once you start peeling off these layers, you get to know—one after the other—many lesser known facts and events of the period which was largely overshadowed by a single story of love. As one of the curators of our walk, Shradha Arora would say it as the ‘shadow of the Taj’, a ‘necropolis’ where all dead lay buried, including the other queens of Shahjahan, all of whom have largely been forgotten. We all know about Mumtaz Mahal and the story of Taj Mahal. In an earlier post we also talked about the first wife of Emperor Shahjahan. Kandahari Begum, as she was know, has her tomb at Sandali Masjid complex on the other side of the Taj Mahal complex, but not the part of it. We are now going to talk about other...

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India

Where a Shah Jahan’s queen lies in solitude on the other side of Taj

Upendra SwamiMarch 13, 2020 6697 Views8

At a very remote corner just outside the boundary of Taj Mahal complex towards its Eastern gate, when you climb the narrow stairs of Sandali Masjid you get an eerie feeling. With monkeys and dogs around, what attracts you more is the presence of a big number of cats, many of them black. Sandali Masjid is also called as Kali Masjid. Mosque is at the one side of the complex, with its back towards the Taj complex across the road. While right in front of the mosque, in the middle of a garden is an octagonal tomb. Its onion shaped dome in white marble signifies that it belongs to someone from the royal family. We are told that it belongs to the first queen of the fifth Mughal emperor Shah Jahan- Kandahari Begum. Platform of Kandahari Begum's tomb You will hardly find any tourists here. F...

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India

Lot outside Kerala too to enjoy in March

Upendra SwamiFebruary 28, 2017 1604 Views6

I talked about Kerala yesterday but there is lot more happening outside Kerala too in terms of events and festivals. With spring in its full bloom, it is riot of colours everywhere- in nature as well on faces! Actually, this is one of the most awaited months of the year because of its festivities- festival of colours- Holi undoubtedly. It is also last of the months of the pleasant weather before the summer strikes. Its already getting hot this time of the year. Don't spare a chance to be around at any one of these places! As a matter of fact, there are so many happenings this month that instead of usual ten, I couldn't stop myself from listing eleven this time. Here they go- Festival of colours in Brij Though there are many festivals around the world where people throw colours, water

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IndiaInternational

Taj Mahal is 3rd among top 25 landmarks

Upendra SwamiJune 5, 2015 970 Views0

Simply the greatest architectural achievement on earth, not to mention a testament to love- Taj Mahal is among the Travellers' Choice Top 25 Landmarks in the World for 2015, selected by TripAdvisor users around the globe. For its sheer beauty made out of white marble, Taj Mahal has always been considered as one of the wonders of the world. It is indeed among the most recognisable buildings on this globe. Not surprisingly though, the top place in the list goes to Angkor Wat temples in Cambodia's Siem Reap. Another of man-made wonders Machu-Picchu in South American country of Peru is at 2nd position. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre at Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates is at 4th position and Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Spanish city of Barcelona completes the top five landmarks....

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IndiaPhoto Of The DayPhotogallery

Photo of the day – Here lies a great king

Upendra SwamiAugust 18, 2014 1310 Views5

One of the greatest mughal kings Akbar was buried in Sikandra at Agra. He chose the place when he was alive and also the design that would be. The inner hall, where Akbar was buried is simple with plain walls and no decorations and carvings, simplest of all kings of the era. No doubt, Sikandra receives less than one-tenth of tourists what great Taj Mahal gets. Many a times, you enjoy the peace and calmness of Sikandra more relaxing then anywhere else in Agra. ...

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IndiaInternationalNews

Taj Mahal, Golden temple among top 25 landmarks in world

Upendra SwamiJune 22, 2014 2465 Views3

Symbol of love and eternal beauty- The Taj Mahal in Agra and the one of the most revered religious places in India- The Golden Temple in Amritsar are among the top most recognized 25 landmarks in the world. This list has been compiled by the popular travel review site- TripAdvisor based on feedback from millions of its users around the world. Taj has been considered as one of the seven man-made wonders in the world. It is often referred also as greatest architectural achievement on earth, not to mention a testament to love. This list reaffirms its position as one of the most popular tourist destinations around the globe. Similarly, Golden temple in Amritsar, built by the fifth Guru Arjan Sahib in 1604 A.D. is the centre of faith for all the Sikhs around the world. The sparkling Harmandir S

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