HERITAGE
ON WHEELS
“I hold
that a strongly marked personality can influence descendants for generations.”
“My father used to say that stories are part of the most
precious heritage of mankind.” “It is useless to attempt to reason a
man out of a thing he was never reasoned into.”
These are the iconic words of the talismanic statesman, Nelson Mandela
who was incarcerated for waging a popular struggle against practice of
apartheid inflicted on a certain section of subjects led by an oppressive South
African regime.
A country's heritage and
culture are all the qualities, traditions, characteristics and singular features of life and culture. These are treasured, nourished and
passed on through generations. They
become so superabundant that they
become intrinsic to the denizens of the place and become raison d'etre for
their existence.
Reams have
been written on the triangular tour of
the capital city of India that is New Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. Millions
throng to these cities , yet trippers
remain un satiated as their
peregrination and exploration never ceases to end.
Delhi,
India’s capital territory ( Luyten’s
Delhi) is a massive metropolitan area in
the country’s north. In Old Delhi, a neighbourhood dating to the 1600s, stands
the imposing Mughal-era Red Fort, a symbol of India, and the sprawling Jama
Masjid mosque, whose courtyard accommodates 25,000 people. In the vicinity is Chandni Chowk, a vibrant bazaar filled
choc a bloc with food carts, sweets shops
and spice stalls.
Jaipur is
the capital of India’s Rajasthan state. It evokes royalty and suzerainty of
families that once were potentates
of the region and that, in 1727, founded
what is now called the Old City, or “Pink City” for its trademark building colour.
At the centre of its stately street grid (notable in India) stands lofty and opulent,
colonnaded City Palace
complex.
With gardens, courtyards and museums, part of it is still a royal residence.
And
finally the romantic city of Agra. Agra
is a city on the banks of the Yamuna river in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is
378 kilometres west of the state capital, Lucknow, and 206 kilometres south of the national capital
New Delhi. The prodigious city is fabled for Agra Fort , Fatehpur Sikri and the enchantress called “ Taj Mahal” the mausoleum which the Mughal
Emperor Shah Jahan constructed for his beloved queen , Mumtaz Mahal.
In order to explore and delve deep into Indian culture , psyche and witness its myriad culture which encompasses through the political capital and two other popular tourist destinations in north
west and north central , the majestic Palace on Wheels has unleashed the Golden Triangle tour.
This peregrination commences from Delhi, the
city which is known for being a melting pot of ancient, medieval and modern heritages
drops anchor at the valorous and resplendent land of Rajasthan at the Pink City of Jaipur.
Globetrotters not only
get to witness historical monuments of the Pink City but also taste lip-smacking
flavours and indulge in shopping variegated souvenirs.
The 3N/4D Heritage Palace on Wheels itinerary embarks
on the next destination to the robust Ranthambore, Fort where in the
trippers see the majesty of
history alongside the realm of the wild.
Eventually the voyage snakes
its journey to Agra, the land which houses grandiose Mughal architecture. Bag packers spend quality
time embracing portentous tourist attractions of India.
Arrival
of the Guests at Delhi
No sooner the
sightseers step into the Safdarjung, Station , they are escorted by the officials of Palace on Wheels and are simultaneously honoured by a traditional garland ceremony as mellifluous wafts of notes of the
musical instrument Shehnai is played in the background.
Upon the travellers settling down in the estimable
and upmarket train they get introduced to
the exotic and coveted facilities provided on the luxurious train which heads
towards the first destination of the Golden Triangle journey, Jaipur.
Jaipur- The Pink City
The ritzy train
scorches the track between Safdarjung Station and Jaipur and drops anchorage at
the royal city of Jaipur. The tippers gorge down a bud tickling Rajasthani breakfast consisting ,
of Pyaaz Kachori,
Baajra Roti and Lahsun Chutney, Kahuni Vade, Moong da Pakori, Metter Bajra Puri
and Aloo Subzi.of oof
The
T
TThe tourists
thereafter depart for morning
sightseeing tour to Albert Hall Museum, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, and the lofty Amer Fort.
Post lunch , guests head
for their choice of shopping when the
sun sinks into Thar desert and the weather
becomes salubrious.
After dinner the train leaves for Sawai Madhopur, the land which is fabled for Ranthambore National Park.
Ranthambore
National Par
As the sun rises in Rajasthan in all its splendour
and glory , the swanky train screeches
to a halt at Sawai Madhopur and provides the tourists a chance to feel the freshness of another prepossessing tourist place.
At crack of dawn guests gear up for a thrilling safari
experience at Ranthambore National Park where they encounter the Royal Tiger of
Bengal.
The thrilling
experience of encounter with the wild is still to sink in when the travellers move out of the train to experience the beauty
of Taj Mahal at Agra. The Taj
Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna
river at Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal
emperor, Shah Jahan, to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
This is also the tomb of Shah Jahan .
Next pit
stop is the fabled historical Agra Fort
. This was the principal residence of
the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638, when the capital was shifted
from Agra to Delhi.
The
final destination in Agra is Fatehpur Sikri a bijou town of which was established in the 16th-century by Aemperor Akbar of the Mughal dynasty. Red sandstone buildings cluster at its centre.
The lofty Buland Darwaza gate is at the entrance to Jama Masjid mosque. In the vicinity is the marble Tomb of Salim
Chishti. Diwan-E-Khas hall where Emperor Akbar confabulated with his Navaratnas. Adjacent is Jodha Bais Palace which is an
amalgam of Hindu and Mughal styles, next to the five -story Panch Mahal that
overlooks the site.
Upon savouring these enthralling sights , this
special package of “ Palace on Wheels”
which explores the heritage and culture of three historical places of Jaipur , Ranthambhore and Agra, the
voyage terminates back at Safdarjang
Station at Delhi , leaving the tourists befuddled. This neat package attracts several overseas
tourists and NRI’s.
“You don't stumble upon your heritage. It's
there, just waiting to be explored and shared,” writes the celebrated Canadian musician Robbie
Robertson.
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