The cultural trip started from Lucknow , and zooming past the Agra Lucknow Express way, the journeys a total of 5 hours. The express way is an engineering marvel but lacks roadside eateries , so one might wanna pack something to eat before starting. In the end , good sunshine along with a long stretch of highway and a cup of Chai (tea) ...what more could you ask.
Aligarh's a laid back quasi urban town , famous for its locks and Aligarh Muslim University. The city has a rich Islamic history and it can be very widely observed in its cuisine , architecture and language.
Fun fact : Aligarh has a very distinct food behaviour i.e people normally go for snacks and then directly to sweets , skipping main food.
Continuing on our journey for another 2 hours, the Agra Yamuna Expressway takes us further to Agra , The land of the Taj Mahal. The city is vibrant with marble architecture , colours and historic beauty.
1.FatehPur Sikri : Situated 30 kms from Agra , the city of Fatehpur Sikri is a reminiscent of Akbar's architectural genius. The main tourist attraction of Fatehpur Sikri fort and Dargah of Salim Chisti cannot be missed. As you heads towards the laid back town , the rows of tress and stills of tribal art cannot be missed.
The Fatehpur fort ,built entirely of Red sandstone and decorated with carvings contains Jodha Bai's palace , Tansen's podium and Diwan-i-Aam.
A few seconds of walk will lead you to the monumental Buland Darwaza. The Buland Darwaza contains within its folds , the Jama Masjid and Dargah of Salim Chisti ; an architectural music in white marble. It is said that if one comes with the right intentions and prays to the sufi saint for a legit blessing and ties a thread on the wall with the promise of coming back to open the thread once the wish is fulfilled, it gets granted.
A trip to Agra cannot be complete without the iconic Taj Mahal ,best described as 'Music frozen in time' .
The mammoth of this monument took entire 22 years to be built and these 22 years are symbolised through domes atop the entrance gate. The gargantuan plate on which The Taj rests , is balanced by 2 similar structure incase of an earthquake.
The main entrance gate can be used to view the dome only without the pillars. Fun fact : The 4 pillars are outwardly tilted as a safety mechanism in case of earthquake.
The nights of Agra are however more spicy and sizzling. The Sadar Bazaar which encompasses the 'Chaat street' of Agra , is a foodies delight.
The auspicious city of Vrindavan or Birth place of Lord Krishna is a beautiful getaway from Agra. About 1 hour drive , this city leaves no stones unturned to ignite the cultural flames in you.
The city is famous for its temples and folklores along with affordable staying facilities to compliment your visit.
The temple of Bake Bihari , Iskon temple and Prem Mandir are a must visit.
With this , we draw the curtains and come to an end on this amazing trip that involved food , culture , architecture and a lifetime of experience.
