Delhi’s famous Adda’ the Indian Coffee House better known as ICH is an ordinary coffee shop amidst the fancy restaurants of Connaught Place. Those who don’t know about this place might miss its presence. However, I was lucky enough to be introduced to this place by my mother.
A sudden plan made on a Friday evening over a cup of tea with friends. Here we were staring at the seventh wonder of the world the next day! This wasn’t my first visit to Taj Mahal, yet the place seems new every time.
Here’s what we did with just 12 hours to spend in Agra.
We started our journey from Dwarka (Delhi) early in the morning. We stopped for a quick breakfast right after crossing the expressway toll. After a 2-hour long drive through NH-24, we entered the bustling city of Uttar Pradesh, Agra. The streets were empty and quiet, which was an unusual sight for a heavily populated city like Agra.
We parked our car at the Western Gate parking and bought the tickets from the nearest counter. As we approached the gate complex, we caught our first glance of the Taj Mahal. The only words that came out were “Wah Taj!”
We crossed the first gate to enter the main complex of Taj Mahal. It was a sunny day and the white marble was shining like a pearl. It was worth 100 clicks!
Before entering the monument complex, we were given cloth pouch to cover our shoes. It’s a good initiative taken by the authorities to keep the white marble protected from dirt. We visited the grave inside the main tomb first. There was a bit rush and it took us a while to get a good inside view of the Taj. After which we took a 360-degree tour of the complex from the main gallery and sat there staring at the river for a while. The view was serene, with tiny boats floating and the flock of birds flying over the river.
After all that walking, we were now struck by hunger and most of the breakfast places were shut. However, we were able to find a decent eatery on the Zomato app, Sheroes café. It is an unusual café where you can pay as you like, run by the acid attack victims. It was a nice and cosy place surrounded by beautiful paintings and a plethora of books. We had a good time here and this is where I introduced my friends to our favourite dish, Honey Chilly Potato. We then headed to our next stop, Agra Fort.
Agra Fort is a Red stoned fort built by Emperor Akbar during his reign. This fort resembles greatly to Delhi’s Red Fort. The complex is huge, has many iconic structures like Diwan-e-aam, Diwan-e-Khas, sheesh mahal, etc., and is surrounded by lush green gardens. We explored the complex brick by brick and took us nearly 2.5 hours to see the entire place.
On our way back to the parking, we decided to stop by the local shops. Few things that we brought back with us were handmade marble souvenirs, banana silk saree (a must-buy for a saree lover), Petha, the famous desert of Agra and loads of memories.
If you have more time to spare then do visit Tomb of Akbar in Sikandra and UNESCO world heritage Fatehpur Sikri. They are worth a visit 😉
Ever experienced a moment when you cannot control stuffing food into your mouth! This is exactly what happens as soon as you enter the Mini Bengal of Delhi aka Chittaranjan Park. Your nasal muscles go involuntary within seconds of entering the place by the fragrance of fresh Kathi rolls and Rasgullas.
Is that a bird? or a plane? No, it’s Batman kite flying high in the sky!
Wildlife photography was on my bucket list for a long time. I always wanted to capture wild beasts and beautiful birds in their natural habitat. However, the only hurdle in achieving this dream was – ‘the right equipment’.
I always had a soft spot for photography in my heart for as long as I can remember. But it was my journey to Gir Forest National Park that truly ignited a new passion within me for wildlife photography.
Along the banks of Gomti river resides the largest city of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow. The capital city is known for its amazing Chikankari (traditional embroidery style), Poetry, Gardens and Kebabs.
I was over the moon when I found out that I was going on my first office off-site trip. We had no idea where we were heading as the location was a surprise. As we drove down Sohna Road in Gurgaon, I couldn’t believe it when we arrived at the Taj Gateway Resort.
Honestly, it was a dream come true staying at a five-star resort (and not paying a penny for it #corporateperks). The property is enormous and surrounded by greenery. It is so huge that you can spend your entire weekend roaming within the resort and have a good time. Here are five highlights of my stay at the Taj Gateway Resort.
I stayed in the two-story cottages surrounded by beautiful green lawns. My room was on the first floor, and I saw many right birds outside my window. It was truly heavenly. The room itself was spacious and had a simple yet elegant decor. But the bathroom was my favorite part! It had wooden floors, huge mirrors, and a comfortable bathing area. It even had its own dressing area and was stocked with all the toiletries I needed, including a cozy bathrobe. I was impressed by it so much that I could have spent an entire day here! 🤣
The resort is a serene oasis that offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. The property boasts stunning cottages, massive ballrooms, and expansive lawns perfect for biking. In addition, the resort is environmentally conscious and has incorporated recycled materials into its decor. The amphitheater is ideal for hosting events like wedding sangeets, and the pool is just the right spot for guests to unwind. Plus, it has a few hidden gems that you will spot while strolling the gardens. Like I did on the way to the paintball region, a watchtower. I decided to climb it and catch breathtaking views of the Aravalli mountains during the sunset.
Pro tip: You can rent the bikes from the resort garage.
I absolutely loved the food at this place! The breakfast options were a great mix of Indian and continental dishes, and I particularly enjoyed the masala dosa with pineapple and coconut chutney. The lunch and dinner buffets were fantastic, offering a variety of cuisines, including Thai, Indian, Middle Eastern, and Italian. Some of my favorites were the Thai fish curry and biryani. But the real standout was the desserts – they had such an incredible selection of cakes and pastries. I couldn’t resist trying a few!
The resort had activities for all age groups, from a dedicated kid’s zone to a room filled with fun arcade games. There were so many fun things to do. We spent half of our day exploring the indoor game room, playing air hockey, foosball, and table tennis, followed by an extended session of badminton and a few rounds of Paintball.
Pro tip: The resort offers custom activities and games upon special request. Therefore, if you are visiting in a large group, you can let them know.
An early morning hike to the hilltop was the highlight of our vacation! It was a joy to embark on at the request of our group. We were fortunate to have a knowledgeable staff member guide us to a nearby lookout point at Damdama lake. We started before sunrise, climbing rocks and walking through the wilderness to reach the lookout just in time to watch the sunrise. Although, we didn’t get to see the lake due to the thick fog. Nevertheless, we had a great time on the journey and saw some impressive wildlife along the way.
Overall, I loved every bit of my time at Taj Gateway Resort, and I highly recommend this place for a quick getaway. If you are visiting Delhi for the first time and don’t have enough time to explore the city at your pace. Here are some great tours you can take to make the most of your visit to Delhi.
Dasara or Dussehra is the biggest festival of Mysuru (Mysore). A 10-day long celebration, that includes elephant parades, cultural shows and the illumination of the entire city along with extended illumination of the Mysore Palace.
