matters of the heart
IFESJOURNEYS
EXPLORING TAJ MAHAL
IN INDIA - 1st & 2nd June, 2014
The Taj Mahal is the universally admired
symbol of love and the finest example of
Mughal architecture. This mesmerising
structure was built by Mughal emperor Shah
Jahan in memory of his third wife Mumtaz
Mahal. In the emperor's own words the
monument is described as follows:
“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.”
Apart from this, Agra has some of
the
most beautiful work of architectural
genius. The forts and mosques of
Agra speak volumes about the
opulence of the legendary Mughal
like royalty at the incredibly opulent
Oberoi hotel. A name known for
establishing new standards of
hospitality and luxury, this stunning
property features traditional Mughal
architecture, luxurious furnishings
polished to perfection and an
impeccably trained staff eagerly
giving attention to every detail to
make your stay truly special.
empire, who made Agra their capital
in the 16th and early 17th centuries.
Situated on the Western bank of river
Yamuna, Agra has secured its place
on the international map due its
“Of all the many accolades
architectural wealth.
We will board the coaches for the tour
to Agra at 2pm. Agra is 200kms away
from Delhi and will take 4 or 5 hours
to reach. We will serve refreshments
on the coach and also make a small
stop enroute for use of conveniences.
In Agra we will be staying at the
Amarvilas. It’s impossible not to feel
the Amarvillas so greatly
deserves, by far its most
outstanding feature worthy of
lasting praise is its
spectacular view of the
monument embodying
eternal love.”
A: Delhi
B: Agra
All the rooms in this hotel face the Taj Mahal.
At 11am, the whole group will leave for a sightseeing tour
of the Agra fort. We will be back in the hotel for lunch at
An exclusive dinner will be arranged at the Khema lawns
the speciality Indian restaurant Esphahan and will depart
overlooking the Taj Mahal in all its pristine glory. We will
for Delhi at 2pm. You will be dropped back in hotel Le
begin with a classical dance performance which is
Meridien in Delhi. Those participants, who will travel
representative of the region called “ Kathak.” Beverages
onwards to Jaipur, will leave in separate coaches for Jaipur.
and snacks will be served by rotation during the
performance. This will be followed by a sumptuous buffet.
During dinner Indian classical musicians will be playing The Taj Mahal
instrumental music in the background. After dinner we
walk back to the hotel to retire for the night.
The inimitable poem in white marble was built over a
Early in the morning, we will take a guided visit to the Taj period of 22 years (1631-1653), using a workforce of
Mahal to view the monument in the changing colours of 22,000 people, by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his
the dawn. We will leave the hotel at 5 am for the sunrise Queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains.
experience. We will arrange another visit to the Taj at 8 am
“The Taj Mahal presents a wonderful sight at
for those travellers who prefer a relaxed start to the day.
different times of the day – at dawn, during
We will also have 2 sessions of Yoga organised at the hotel,
the day and at sunset.”
at 6.30 am and again at 8am. This will be at an additional
charge.
The Agra Fort
The Agra Fort was built by three Mughal Emperors starting from Akbar the Great in 1565 AD. The fort is a masterpiece
of design and construction. The fort was originally a brick fort built by Rajput Kings, in the first battle of Panipat the fort
was captured by Mughals alongwith the vast treasure, including the famous diamond later known as Koh-i-Noor. Within
the fort are a number of exquisite buildings including Jahangir’s Palace, Khaas Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Diwan-i-Am,
Diwan-i-Khas and Musamman Burj - the Octagonal Tower, where Emperor Shah Jahan, the builder of the Taj Mahal
was imprisoned by his son Aurangazeb for seven long years and died a prisoner.