Have you been yearning to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World; Taj Mahal, Agra on or after but couldn’t? It is now the best time to visit Taj Mahal in the midst of Taj Mahotsav, reliving the magnificence of Taj Mahal along with several unique recollections of Nawabs or Mughal period.

Taj Mahal one of the Seven Wonders of the World is a magnificent architecture carved out of white marble and jeweled with semi precious stones. The ‘symbol of love’, Taj Mahal where in the serenity of paradise rests was designated as A World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983 for being the gem of Muslim knack in India and one of the masterpieces admired across the world.

“Did you ever build a castle in the air? Here is one, brought down to earth and fixed for the wonder of ages.” – Bayard Taylor

Taj Mahotsav is an annual celebration organized by Uttar Pradesh tourism with a different theme every year and spreading a message to the world, since 1992 in Shilpagram in Agra on the eastern gate of Taj Mahal. It is a 10 day carnival starting from 18^th of February to 27^th February.

Credit: OhMyIndia

The connotation of this event lies in the Mughal period. The procession is a clear indication of the Nawabs and their phase. On the first day, it starts with a grand procession with Calvary and camels brightly decorated. There are drum players and dancers with ceremonial costume, folk artists and skilled craftsmen also taking part in the procession. They are all attractively attired and with full enthusiasm showcasing their exceptional expertise and talents.

There would be around more than 400 renowned artists, coming from various parts of the country and world to display their work, art, and skills in the festival. This is not only an opportunity for artiste but also potters, woodcarvers, metal workers, and hand workers. It gives the visitors a wide range of items and some amazing piece of talent to witness from every nook and corner of the country. The folk dance and music performances are another superlative activity which you would not be fond of missing. These performances would not fail to overwhelm you in their allure and keep you fascinated for a long time.

The crafts include woodcarvings from Saharanpur, silk of Varanasi, shawls and carpets from Kashmir/Gujarat, blue pottery of Khurja, hand printing from Farrukhabad, brass and various metal work of Moradabad, handmade rug and carpet of Bhadohi, kantha stitch from West Bengal, wood/stone carvings from Tamil Nadu, Chikan work of Lucknow, bamboo/cane work from North East India, and paper & mash work from South India.  You can see the famous Zari work from Banaras, Zardozi work from Agra and a lot more.

Credit: Patrika

One of the main pull to the Taj Mahotsav of Agra is the Food Festival, where you’ll get a number of old and some of the most common food items from the heart of Uttar Pradesh and other parts of India and other neighboring nations. Some of the food items like chole bhature, poori sabji, somose, Kabab, dosa-sambhar, Amritsari naan, Hyderabadi biryani and various sweets like gulab jamun, rasgulla etc.

The Mahotsav just doesn’t have majestic foodstuff but the rich performances will give a hint of the feat performed in ancient times. In addition, everyone of any taste or preference has something or the else to keep themselves entertained, the children can indulge themselves in numerous rides as well as the sumptuous roller coaster or the smaller ones like a merry-go-round or train rides. Certainly, not anything can be more gripping than an elephant or a camel ride.

The Taj Festival gives you the chance to ride on the back of these animals. And if this doesn’t do it, the fabulous visit to the Taj Mahal will undeniably achieve the pound.

There is an entry fee of Rs. 40 for an adult, whilst children and foreign tourists have free entry.

How to Reach Agra:

• Agra is well connected to various parts of the country. You can reach there via flight (Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Airport) which is situated 12 km from Taj Mahal.
• Train is also very well connected to the rest of the country. There are 3 railway stations in Agra- Agra Cantonment, Raja-Ki-Mandi, and Agra Fort. The major trains linking Agra with Delhi are Shatabdi, Rajdhani, Taj Express, and Palace on the Wheels.
• The road journey is also a good alternative to take a trip to Agra. The road connecting Delhi to Agra is NH2 which takes around 4-5 hours ride. Other roads leading to Agra include NH3, NH11 among others. You can book buses from ISBT where buses leave at regular intervals from Delhi to Agra and vice-versa.

Credit: TripAdvisor

You can also visit the other heritage sites in and around Agra like Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, and Tomb of Akbar among others.

Take a splendid weekend trip to Agra visiting the Taj Mahotsav and come back in awe and chanting, “Wah Taj”…