Birthday weekend in the city of TAJ-Agra

This was probably my eighth or night visit to Agra. Every time we had some relative from Kolkata visiting us, my father would plan a one day trip to Agra- Mathura- Vrindavan. But this time our Agra visit had an exciting twist to it. It was not a day trip to see the Taj Mahal; it was a three day weekend visit to our sister's place in Agra. So, this was a chance to see Agra up and close.  What was more thrilling was that we drove down to Agra from Delhi via the much famed Yamuna Expressway. Not to forget, it was my birthday and nothing could have been better than celebrating it with Didi, Jiju and their two sweet daughters.

We started at 12:00 noon from our residence in Delhi. Yamuna expressway is a delight to anyone who loves driving. The smooth wide concrete road had scanty traffic and is flanked with beautiful scenery and posh constructions coming up on both its side.  This was the first time my husband Rupam was driving such a long distance. We were a bit petrified as we heard numerous tales of ghastly car crashes on the expressway. As a safety measure Rupam got his car tyres filled with nitrogen. Beside this slight anxiousness on our mind, rest of our long drive experience to Agra was pretty smooth. Before moving ahead you got to check the beautiful Yamuna expressway out in these pictures.

TAJ EXPRESSWAY

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I was looking forward to a road trip since a long time. It was the day today; and I was enjoying every bit of it. We diverged from the expressway at Mathura to visit Rupam’s engineering college. For reasons unknown I was keen to see my husband’s college. We took a quick halt at Mathura McDonalds to refuel ourselves. Unlike the highway Mathura roads were narrow and congested and the drive was rough.

MATHURA OIL REFINERY. A GLIMPSE ON THE WAY

HALT AT MCDONALDS MATHURA

Rupam had ear to ear smile as he entered Anand Engineering College. He was nostalgic after meeting few old professors and evidently proud to see his college titivated and sprawling over acres of land.

AT HIS ENGINEERING COLLEGE

ANAND ENGINEERING COLLEGE

We reached Agra in the evening. Agra was pretty hot. The climate change, although not very pleasant, but wasn’t too discomforting too. It is a good idea to visit Agra only between October to March when the Sun is not too harsh. 

SADAR BAAZAR , AGRA

It was supposed to be a chilled out three days break and hence we did not have much places on our 'TO GO' list in Agra. We visited the Sadar Bazar; which is apparently the best market place in Agra and undeniably a heaven for shoe lovers.

SHOE SHOPPING SPREE

Guys if you ever plan for Agra trip, make it a shoe shopping trip. The market has amazing leather shoes, boots, sandals, ballerinas, stilettos etc etc. You think of leather shoes and the lacklustre images of black or brown boots crops up in mind. I was floored to see the leather footwear in all latest designs, cuts and colours and that too in an unimaginably low cost. We shopped till our hearts were gratified and I am so proud of my collection now :))

LEATHER SHOE MARKET

HORSE CART RIDE TILL THE TAJ

Agra is the city of Taj and the foremost attraction for anyone visiting Agra. However, no one at home seems to be keen to go to Taj. It is like ghar ki murgi dal barabar. Finally I managed to drag Roopam to drive us to the Taj mahal. Hell! We chose a wrong day to visit. It was a Friday and the Taj Mahal is always closed for visitors on Fridays. Next morning once again we went to see the Taj Mahal and this time little Mehal came along. As this was my eighth or ninth visit here, I too had lost curiosity in spending much time here. We just clicked lots and lots of pictures, took a round around the compound and returned before the temperature got too hot to handle. 

 

THE TAJ MAHAL

SPLENDID ARCHITECTURE

I saw rest of the Agra sitting in car as shown by my personal guide Mr. Rupam Roy Chowdhury. Let’s take a sneak peak in and around Agra roads as captured by my camera.

    

AGRA FAMED PANCHI PETHA

AT THE TAJ MOHOTSAV

Agra hold a splendid heritage site; one of the wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. This city can be so much more than what it is. It can be turned to a traveller’s paradise. 

 

Sadly, the authorities have not yet taken keen interest in overhauling the city’s substructure. 

 

 

It can be so much more than what it is and capable of earning much more fame worldwide. A city that has a legacy of one of the wonders of this world, is not in its best state for sure.

 

 

Our weekend trip was approaching its end and it concluded with me stepping in the next decade of life. I had a perfect birthday eve with family. It’s not how exotic the location is where you travel; it is always how exotic the memories that you make there.

MID NIGHT BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

 

Journey back home in Delhi was pretty smooth with a break in Highway Dhaba. Thank to whosoever invented GPS and navigation system. We were always on the right track.

`JOURNEY BACK HOME

Doodhsagar Waterfall; A must in Goa travel itinerary

While preparing travel itineraries for our honeymoon trip to Goa, I pinned DoodhSagar Waterfalls to my list. We were laughed at when our friends got to know that we are planning to trek to some godforsaken waterfall during our Honeymoon trip. Goa in itself is one of the coolest travel destinations in India and there are better and even cooler things to do there. The mocking comments of my friends failed in changing my mind and thank god the mockery did not affect my decision.

So, this blog is dedicated to all my oblivious friends. Let me start with few pretty pictures of this enormous fall (they say a picture is worth a thousand words. So let me save a thousand words and pin these pictures instead.)

 

OH SO BEAUTIFUL DOODHSAGAR

 

Doodhsagar, literally means a sea of milk. Yes it does look like a sea of milk descending down the hills in four tiers. We were staying in Nazri resort near Baga and Calangute beach. This means we were near the west coast line of Goa and were supposed to travel roughly 75kms to reach Doodhsagar. Considering the scorching day heat of Goa, the long travel did not appear too appeasing. We started at the crack of the dawn.

Our taxi halted at a small village kind of a place. From this point we were supposed to rent a jeep to reach the falls. As a cost cutting stunt on our extravagant honeymoon trip, we decided to share a jeep with three college kids. We were more than glad to have the chirpy college bachchus(kids) as our company. Before we move ahead, you got to check these pictures out. Ascending the way to the waterfall through deciduous tropical forest, a bumpy jeep ride, crossing a wide water body on the way, elephants, halt to get fanny from a local on the way, all this was rather audacious for me. I was really happy getting a taste of adventure on our not so adventurous Goa tour.

 

 

WHO CARES ABOUT THE DESTINATION WHEN THE WAY IS SO ADVENTROUS

 

On the way we learnt from the college kids that the waterfall is a nature’s border between Karnataka and Goa and it is the tallest waterfall in India flowing 1017 feet tall. After an adventurous 30 minutes bumpy jeep ride we reached a point beyond which we had to trek to reach the waterfall. I loved every bit of my walk till the falls. I had to remove my heels and walk the rocky landscape barefoot. We crossed narrow dwindling cross bridges. We walked through natural springs of cold water and we hiked a rutted rocky way.

 

CROSSING NARROW WOBBLY BRIDGES

Although the adventurous me was enjoying to the hilt, I was scared of Rupam skidding off from one of these rocks and hurting himself (till now my 10 days old husband gave me an impression that he is some-what fragile and handle with care kinds ;)). Nevertheless he was least delighted by this rough walk.

THE ROCKY TERRAIN

 

We managed to reach the waterfall safe. It was a sight to behold. The waterfall descending down in four tiers was superlative. The water pictorially appeared as river of flowing milk and ended at an immaculate pool.

AT THE FOOT OF FALL

TOO EAGER TO JUMP IN THE POOL

 

We chose a rock just opposite the fall and settled there restfully to enjoy the exquisiteness of nature. The water gushing down the hills drenched the air around. What a respite it was in the sweltering mid-afternoon. We did not miss posing around in mushy poses and getting clicked. We were a honeymoon couple after all. Wink Wink!!

We spent an hour in the serenity. The playful monkeys jumping around made Rupam grasp my sandals like his most prized possession. I could have spent the entire day sitting there and soaking in the peaceful bliss. 

THE NATURAL SWIMMING POOL

 

People enjoyed swimming in the natural pool and taking a dip under the water fall. But my extra cautious husband would not let me go inside the water :( Husbands can be overtly possessive at times :( Anyways, I had a good time; and time spent well isn’t worth complaining ;) Right??

SOME PEACEFUL TIME WITH NATURE

WALKING  UP THE TROPICAL FOREST

We trekked back to our jeep and bid adieu to Doodhsagar . Much after our Goa trip we learnt that the falls can be enjoyed through a train journey as well. One thing is worth mentioning about DoodhSagar waterfall. The famous Bollywood flick Chennai Express was shot with Doodhsagar waterfall at the milieu. After this Bollywood prominence, it gained even more sightseers to its acclaim. How I wish I knew this earlier; I could have instantly shut my friends up when I was scoffed at for visiting Doodhsagar   :D

 

BOLLYWOOD MOVIE CHENNAI EXPRESS SHOT WITH DOODHSAGAR AT THE BACKDROP

PS: It’s a charm for all trekkers and a must visit for all those who love to soak in nature’s     tranquillity.