Pushkar fair, Rajasthan

This fair is held at Pushkar town, 11 km from Ajmer in Rajasthan for twelve days annually.This cultural and trade cum religious fair is an attractive and lively spectacle with Rajasthani men and women in their colourful traditional attire, saffron-robed and ash smeared Sadhus (holy men) and thousands of bulls, cows, sheep, goats, horses and camels in richly decorated saddles. Perhaps the largest cattle fair in the world, it attracts more than one lakh people, from all over Rajasthan as well as tourists from different parts of India and abroad.

Trading of cattle, camel races and dazzling displays of bangles, brassware, clothes, camel saddles and halters make the fair colourful. Necklaces of glass beads from Naguar, pottery, printed textiles from Jodhpur and Ajmer are all on sale here. Farmers, cattle traders and breeders buy and sell their animals, leather whips, saddles etc. There are facilities for camel rides also. This livestock fair coincides with the climaxing of a religious celebration. Pushkar is among the five main places of pilgrimage mentioned in the Hindu scriptures. It has a large number of temples including one of the only two temples dedicated to Lord Brahma in India. Hundreds of thousands of devotees take a ritual dip in the holy Pushkar Lake on the day of the Kartik Purnima (full moon night of the Kartika month) and worship at the Brahma temple (Jagat Pita Shri Brahma Mandir). Pilgrims flock from all over India to be in Pushkar at this auspicious time. They also believe that all the 330 million Gods and Goddesses are present at Pushkar Lake during the occasion.

Apart from the religious rituals and trading, people participate in a number of cultural and sporting events. The sweeping expanse of the desert becomes dotted with thousands of camels, stalls and camping families. The Rajasthan tourism Development Corporation has taken adequate measures to facilitate convenient access of the fair site and to accommodate the fairgoers.

Taj Mahal, India's Top World Heritage Site.

The Taj Mahal attracts around three million visitors a year, all deeply moved by its romance and beauty and the amazing skills of 17th century Mughal craftsmen.

Located on the bank of the Yamuna river, three km south of Agra, the Taj Mahal took 22 years to complete at a cost of trillions of dollars by today’s currency. Twenty thousand men and over 1000 elephantsworked on the project, using material from India and Asia, as far as China and Afghanistan.

The Taj Mahal was declared a World Heritage site in 1983 and measures are in place to protect it from pollution. Tourist coaches and cars are kept well away from the gate and access is on foot or by electric vehicle.

Taj Mahal, Agra Monument to Love

India’s top World Heritage site was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died aged 38, giving birth to their 14th child. She had never left her husband’s side, even during his military campaigns, and the inconsolable Emperor promised he would build the most beautiful mausoleum ever seen.

True to his word, Emperor Shah Jahan set to work with his first architect to design the world’s most celebrated monument to love. Later, deposed and imprisoned by his son in Agra’s Red fort, the Emperor gazed from afar at the marble dome mirrored in the river, grieving until the day he died. He now rests with Mumtaz in the Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal, Mughal Architecture at its Best

Covered in white marble, inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones, the Taj Mahal is the perfect fusion of Indian and Persian styles, a stunning display of floral and geometrical patterns, Hindu symbols and Arabic calligraphy. Raised on a plinth, it is topped by a white onion dome and framed by four minarets, detached from the mausoleum to minimise damage in an earthquake.

A day is barely enough to appreciate the fine Mughal craftsmanship, from latticed marble screens to decorated archways, from pietra dura to gilded finials. Inside, visitors gaze in silence at the imperial cenotaphs placed above the actual tombs.

The magnificent entrance gate faces the mausoleum, some 275 metres away, while to ensure symmetry, the red sandstone mosque on the west side of the gardens is mirrored by a replica rest house to the east.

Taj Mahal Persian Gardens

Like all Mughal Emperors, Shah Jahan was fond of gardens. Laid out in classical style, the Taj Mahal Persian Gardens are said to symbolise the four rivers and garden of Paradise. Leading to the mausoleum at the far end, they are divided into four sections, a holy number in Islam, each one subdivided into 16 beds. English lawns have replaced many of the original fruit trees and shrubs but the symmetry and feeling of space remain breathtaking.

Water channels and fountains enhance this peaceful oasis, regardless of crowds, while the central pool reflects the mausoleum in all its splendour. The gardens are enclosed by red sandstone walls on three sides but open towards the river.

Budget minded traveler choose maria deep travel

When setting foot in one of the world's most famous backpacking destinations, with your thoughts full of adventure, Northern India and camping in the national parks, it's hard to give more than a brief thought to your budget.

 “It might seem easy to travel India on a budget, say, of £20 a day. But thousands of backpackers realize each year that, whilst it is possible to experience all your dreams of traveling in India for this much money, it does take a bit of organization”.

Although it may sound a bit dull, the best to way to stick to a budget is to be aware of it all the way through your trip. You're bound to meet backpackers around India that have no idea how much is left in their pocket; travelers who plan to go away for 12 months but are forced to return in less than six...

 “firstly, it's a good idea to get your money organized into a bank account with online facilities before you go. This way, you can keep an eye on spending along the way”.
Also, pay for comprehensive travel insurance in advance so you don't have to fork out for any unforeseen expenses that will eat into that budget.

Similarly, don't be tempted to buy any clothes specifically for traveling before you go; clothes and shoes are, as a rule, much cheaper in India than back home.