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Travel Weekly
2 days ago
- Travel Weekly
Dispatch, Taj Mahal: Wonder and delight on an impromptu visit
AGRA, India — India, or at least the small portion of it that I saw this week on a trip to New Delhi for IATA's Annual General Meeting, is an intense place. It's a cacophony of noises and smells. The glorious scent of curry for a few steps, the smell of sweat a few steps later. Garbage, too. Horns blare perpetually. For the pedestrian, cars, motorbikes, tuk-tuks, hand-wheeled carts carrying goods and even the occasional goat come at you from all directions. Often, at least in central parts, there's a sea of people as well. And always in early June, there's the heat. The Taj Mahal in Agra, India. A fellow journalist told me I had to visit the monument. It would be a long day, he said, but one I would cherish. Photo Credit: Robert Silk But inside the walls of the Taj Mahal compound, mostly there is just tranquility. I hadn't planned to make the approximately three-hour journey from New Delhi to Agra to see this iconic monument when I arrived in India. But during the IATA conference, a fellow journalist told me I had to. It would be a long day, he said, but one I would cherish. So, after my work in the capital wound down, I booked a last-second tour through TripAdvisor's Viator network (better planning should have involved a travel advisor), paying less than $100 for a private round-trip ride to and from Agra and a private guide to show me the Taj Mahal and other Agra sites, most notably Agra Fort, itself a Unesco World Heritage site. My Taj Mahal entry fee of approximately $13 wasn't included. To be brief, the Taj Mahal was magnificent. We all know this from photographs. And in the midday light, it was as extraordinary in person as I would have imagined. I'm told it's even more so at sunrise and sunset, when the horizontal light plays most strikingly against the thousands upon thousands of semiprecious gemstones inlaid into the mausoleum's white, crystalline marble. Intricate stonework inlaid in marble near the entrance to the Taj Mahal. Photo Credit: Robert Silk Especially vital to the Taj's gleam, as I learned from my guide, Suraj, and later during a demonstration at a local artisanal marble works, is its orange carnelian stone, which is particularly luminescent. Near the entrance to the mausoleum, Saraj made sure I carefully examined the detailed work of the gemstone inlaid in floral pattens. Cuts of stone, tiny sometimes, are fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Workers still do this meticulous work today to repair and maintain the nearly 400-year-old monument, which was commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the remains of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and eventually his own remains as well. The 42-acre, walled Taj Mahal complex was busy enough during my Wednesday afternoon visit, though not overly crowded. To my surprise, there were very few Western or East Asian tourists to be seen. It was a happy revelation. It's rare for me these days to visit an iconic attraction and find it largely peopled by the local population. As for me, I made a rare decision that day. I'm normally averse to posing for pictures. A handful of posed shots over the course of even an exotic trip feels like more than enough. But encouraged by Suraj, I hired a local photographer just outside the Taj Mahal compound entrance for a short photo shoot. On the long drive back to Delhi that evening, I looked over the photos, both print and digital. Even the corny one where it looks like my finger is touching the top of the Taj Mahal dome made me smile. I think it's because I know I'm lucky; lucky to have made it to this grand and singular edifice.
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
FCDO issues updated warning to Brits travelling to huge country 'do not travel'
A tourist-magnet country that welcomed more than 18 million international visitors last year will be hit hard by fresh travel warnings from the FCDO - and it could invalidate your insurance Brits have been issued a stark warning following escalating tensions in a country that welcomes tourists in their droves. Last year, a staggering 18.89 million international visitors flocked to India - lured in by the country's fascinating history, stunning architecture, and stellar street food. Classed as the world's seventh largest country, spanning some 1.2 million square miles, India is home to some of the most iconic tourist attractions in the world - including Amber Palace, Agra Fort, and Humayun's Tomb. Of course, a trip to the country isn't complete without having a selfie in front of the majestic Taj Mahal. Touted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, this 17th century marble mausoleum and its pristinely symmetrical garden has attracted A-listers and political figures from across the globe. It's where Princess Diana was snapped sitting on a bench - without her prince. But, for almost 80 years, India has been locked in a military exchange with Pakistan over Kashmir, an area claimed in full and administered in parts by both countries. This conflict flared up on May 7 when India launched attacks on what it described as 'terrorist infrastructure' in Pakistan - in response to gunmen opening fire on a group of domestic tourists visiting Pahalgam, a popular part of Indian-administered Kashmir. On May 10, the government of Pakistan stated that both countries have agreed to stop military action. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) therefore updated its travel advice on May 22, but still advises against 'all travel to parts of India' - including within 10km of the India-Pakistan border. "FCDO advises against all travel to the region of Jammu and Kashmir (including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, the city of Srinagar and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway), except for: travel by air to and from the city of Jammu, travel within the city of Jammu, and travel within the Union Territory of Ladakh," the body added. "FCDO [also] advises against all but essential travel to the state of Manipur including the capital, Imphal. "Curfews and restrictions continue in parts of Manipur following violent ethnic clashes that broke out in 2023. Intermittent incidents have continued and escalated in September 2024." Even tourist hotspots like Goa, renowned for its sugar-like beaches and cobalt waters, come with risks. The FCDO says the destination's popularity has given surge to 'opportunistic criminals' that operate in the area. "There have been some serious incidents involving British nationals in recent years, including sexual assaults and the murder of a young female traveller," the FCDO added. "It is illegal to drink alcohol in public places in Goa. If you drink alcohol outside the limits of a licensed premises, you could be fined or given a prison sentence. You can drink within the limits of a registered beach shack or bar, for example, but not on an open beach or road. Travelling to a country with an FCDO warning could mean your travel insurance is invalid. You can read the government's full advice on India here.
