Ranthambore:
Ranthambore National Park is one of the biggest and most renowned national parks in Northern India. The park is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan, which is about 130 km from Jaipur.
It is considered one of the famous and former hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur, today the Ranthambore National Park terrain is a major wildlife tourist attraction that has drawn the attention of many wildlife photographers and lovers.
Top things to attract in Ranthambore:
Tiger Reserve:
This attracts tourists from all over the world to witness the beauty of the royal wildlife. The Gypsy and Canter safari is conducted for 6-20 people at various slots for morning and evening safaris. The entire jungle beauty is covered in a period of 2-3 hours along with a guide.
Trinetra Ganesh Temple:
The Trinetra Ganesh Temple Is the only Ganesha Temple in the entire world where the Lord Ganesha is depicted with three eyes. This unique temple is built inside the Ranthambore Fort and is a major tourist attraction.
Padam Talao:
Padam Talao is the largest lake In Ranthambore and becomes a popular tourist attraction due to the various crocodiles and Chinkara deer.
It is believed that this is the very lake where Princess Padmavati would bathe, and also the place where she committed Sati. The beautifully ornate Jogi Mahal stands in close proximity to the lake.
Surrounded by dense forests, the lake is frequented by several animals who make their way to the lake to drink water in the sweltering heat. One can also spot the rare Chinkara Deer in the morning. Since several animals hunt in close proximity to the lake, it is a great spot for wildlife photography. In the summer, when the water starts drying out, you can spot crocodiles and other animals during the summers. Although you cannot go near it, you can catch a glimpse of it while enjoying a jeep safari, or from the Ranthambore Fort.
Kachida Valley:
Kachida Valley is located in close proximity to the outskirts of Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan. This area consists of a large population of panthers, who migrated here to avoid conflicts with the Royal Bengal Tigers. It is also home to a sizable population of sloths, who are attracted to the bee hives & large ant hills here. You can reach Kachida Valley only via a Jeep Safari. The surroundings are also extremely beautiful & great for some photography.
AGRA:
Located on the banks of River Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh, Agra is a popular tourist destination as it is home to one of the 7 wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. It is a divine blessing to the architectural history and legacy of the Mughal empire with two other UNESCO World Heritage Sites Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. History, architecture, and romance all together create the magic of Agra, and hence, make for a must-visit for anyone living in or visiting India.
This epitome of beauty is a clear depiction of true romance which shines truly as wonders to our planet. Apart from its monuments, Agra has some exciting stuff for foodies. It is as famous for its Petha (a sweet made from pumpkin and flavored with rose water and saffron) as it is for the Taj Mahal. Agra is also well known for its marble artifacts which are best bought in the Sadar Bazaar or Kinaari Bazaar area.
Fatehpur Sikri: Fatehpur Sikri is a small city in northern India, just west of Agra, founded by a 16th-century Mughal emperor. Red sandstone buildings cluster at their center. Buland Darwaza gate is the entrance to Jama Masjid mosque. Nearby is the marble Tomb of Salim Chishti. Diwan-E-Khas hall has a carved central pillar. Jodha Bais Palace is a mix of Hindu and Mughal styles, next to the 5-story Panch Mahal that overlooks the site.
Buland Darwaza: Located on the south wall of the mosque, Buland Darwaza is a 55-meter-high structure and a mark of Emperor Akbar’s victory in Gujarat. This addition was made to Fatehpur Sikri after about five years of the construction of the mosque. The columned central porch is made of three entrances of which the central one is the largest and popularly dubbed the Horseshoe Gate after the numerous horseshoes nailed on it as a symbol of good luck. Buland Darwaza is one of the most photographed structures in the Fatehpur Sikri complex.
Tomb of Salim Chishti: Sheikh Salim Chishti was a known Sufi saint in the Sikri village who had predicted the birth of Akbar’s son Jahangir, which eventually led to Akbar moving his capital here. The Sufi saint lies encased in a white marble tomb in Jama Masjid’s rambling courtyard. The tomb is actually a single-story building constructed around a square chamber in the center that holds the grave of the Sufi saint in a wooden canopy embellished with mother-of-pearl. Akbar’s successful campaign in Gujarat also led to borrow a leaf or two from its architectural history evident in the tomb of the saint that was inspired by the early 15th-century mausoleum from the Gujarat Sultanate period. The carved jaalis, the white marble brackets, and the drooping eaves around the parapet are some of the eminent features of the tomb of Salim Chishti. Also, look up the red sandstone tomb of Islam Khan 1 to the east of Chishti’s own. Islam Khan was the grandson of the Sufi saint and a general in the Mughal army of Emperor Jahangir. Typical of Islamic tombs it is topped with a dome and 36 little domed chattris.
Jama Masjid: This congregational mosque, historians believe, is the first building to be constructed on the complex, and holds immense religious and spiritual significance. The sprawling courtyard of the Fatehpur Sikri Jama Masjid, the row of chattri designs on the sanctuary, the geometric pattern typical of Islamic architecture, and the fine white marble inlay decorations characterize what is the country’s most stunning mosque.
Panch Mahal: This five-story columned structure has unique architecture. The tiers on their way up diminish in size, finally petering out into a large domed chhatri on the top. The columns on every level are profound with carvings and total up to 176. Historians believe this structure was a ladies’ court owing to a perforated stone screen that originally stood before the facade.
Palace of Jodha Bai: The largest and perhaps the most significant construction in the Imperial Complex is the palace of Akbar’s Rajput wife, Jodha Bai who was known for her beauty and charisma. The palace has high walls and a nine-meter-tall gate on the east for privacy. You will witness an interesting blend of Hindu elements and Islamic styles in the structure. Adjacent to the palace is the Hawa Mahal and the Mughal Charbagh-style garden.
Diwan-i-Khas: This Hall of Private Audience is surmounted by four chattris and has a central pillar with a square base and an octagonal shape adorned with floral patterns. Don’t miss the 36 serpentine brackets that hold the little podium on which Akbar met the various religious delegates and carried out elaborate discussions on their faiths.
