Taj Mahotsav | February 18 to
27, 2013
February is the month of carnivals in India.
Delhi's neighbor, Faridabad wakes up to the Surajkund Crafts Mela
for the first two weeks of the month, while Goa celebrates its
annual street parade carnival. But perhaps, the most culturally
rich of all these fabulous February festivals is Agra's Taj
Mahostav. This ten day carnival taking place at Shilpagram, is
just a stone's throw away from the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahotsav festival has a spectacular
opening, when bedecked elephants and camels march down the road,
followed by drum beaters, trumpet players and conch bearers just
like they used to back when the Mughals returned from a victory
in battle. Joining them in the procession are folk dancers,
artisans and craftsmen.
Itinerary (Recommended Dates:
February 23, 24)
Day One
Once you reach Agra, freshen up at the
hotel, and then set out for Shilpagram, the venue for Taj
Mahotsav. Enjoy the rest of the day at the festival.
Day Two
After a nice breakfast at the hotel, the cab will take
you sightseeing around Agra . The tour will cover the Agra
Fort, the tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah and Akbar's tomb at
Sikandra. In the evening, we take you on a special night time
visit to the Taj Mahal (available only on our recommended
dates, as well as February 25, 26, 27). An exclusive event, a
'full moonlight' tour of the Taj is available only 5 days in a
month, and is quite an experience to see the Taj lighted just
by the moon.
Day Three
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and
proceed on your journey back home.
Add Ons
- Transport from your home city to Agra and back
- English speaking guide for the sightseeing tour
- Dinner (on all days)
The Taj Mahal:
The city of Agra needs no introductions,
no promotions, no marketing and they can thank one man for it -
Shah Jahan. The builder of the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, the Jama
Masjid, the Moti Masjid, he was simply a fantastic patron of
architecture.
But even he would not have fathomed how
famous one single monument he made, out of love for his wife,
would go on to become the greatest symbol of love all over the
world. For even 350 years after his death, millions of people
visit the Taj Mahal annually. Data puts this number between 2 - 4
million, out of which an estimated 25% are foreigners.
In the words of Shah Jahan himself,
Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he
becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to
this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And
the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this
world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the
creator's glory.
