HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016

In LetsGoIndiaTours We know how important are your dream holidays and we take it really seriously. We offer personalized Tours in private cars for Individuals and small group of travelers who want to start on any day of your choice.

Ramesh Kumar  Founder of Let’s Go India tours has been driving professionally in INDIA for over 14 years.Travelling extensively all over this amazing country which he now knows intimately.

We have chosen the best and most trusted drivers and guides available in India. You can trust our services, (Happy Customers). We specialize in tours in and around Delhi, the most famous and popular Golden Triangle Tour, The colorful state of Rajasthan, and the Heritage and culture tour in North India.With us you can experience the real India, its life, people, culture and history with excellent prices.

May the New Year bring us more wonderful opportunities to work together.

Here’s wishing you the gift of peace and prosperity throughout 2016.

May you garner the support of all in your endeavors to make your dreams come true in 2016. Happy New Year!

Jantar Mantar

Interesting Information About Jantar Mantar,Jaipur

1. Jantar Mantar Jaipur is located in the Old City, between the City Palace and Hawa Mahal
2. Jantar Mantar is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list
3. Jantar means “instrument” and mantar means “formula” or “calculation”, hence Jantar Mantar collectively means ‘calculation instrument’
4. Jantar Mantar Jaipur is one of five observatories built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, including one in Delhi
5. Jantar Mantar Jaipur is modelled on the observatory in Delhi
6. The Jaipur observatory is the largest and best preserved of the five observatories
7. There are fourteen architectural astronomical instruments at Jantar Mantar Jaipur
8. Jantar Mantar Jaipur can be entered on a composite ticket which includes entry into Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort, Nahargarh Fort and Albert Hall Museum over two days
9. Audio guides in various languages are available at Jantar Mantar Jaipur for an additional fee
10. Jantar Mantar Jaipur is best visited in the afternoon for best effect

We specialize in tours in and around Delhi, world famous Taj Mahal, the most famous and popular Golden Triangle Tour, The colorful state of Rajasthan, and the Heritage and culture tour in North India.With us you can experience the real India, its life, people, culture and history with excellent prices.

An unforgettable India experience!. - See more at: http://www.letsgoindiatours.com

10 Interesting Facts About City Palace Jaipur

Summary

City Palace Jaipur makes it on to everyone’s list of places to visit in Jaipur for good reason. Not only is it located right in the middle of the Old City, it is a beautiful and well preserved attraction that can be seen in a few short hours. If you’re heading to Jaipur and are planning to visit City Palace Jaipur, read this post for interesting facts about the City Palace as well as all the important information to help you plan your visit to this star attraction.

10 Interesting Facts About City Palace Jaipur

1. City Palace Jaipur, Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar make up the three main attractions in the Old City of Jaipur
2. City Palace Jaipur was built between 1727 and 1732 by Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of the city of Jaipur, who also built the Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar
3. Apart from Jai Singh II, there were two architects involved in the development of City Palace Jaipur – Vidyadar Bhattacharya, the chief architect in the royal court, and Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob
4. The architecture of City Palace Jaipur is based on a fusion of the Vastu Shastra of Indian architecture – combining Rajput, Mughal and European styles of architecture
5. Part of City Palace Jaipur is a museum; the other part is the residence of the descendents of the former rulers of Jaipur
6. City Palace Jaipur can be accessed through any entrance gate except for Tripolia gate which is reserved for the royal family
7. The most impressive part of City Palace Jaipur are the four small gates in the third courtyard that represent the four seasons of the year
8. One of the most interesting items in the palace are two sterling silver jars that are officially recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest sterling silver vessels
9. Another popular attraction in the Mubarak Mahal of City Palace Jaipur is the set of voluminous clothes worn by Sawai Madho Singh I, who was 1.2 metres wide and weighed 250 kilograms
10. The flag at the top of Chandra Mahal belongs to the royal family and is only unfurled when the Maharaja is in the palace

We specialize in tours in and around Delhi, world famous Taj Mahal, the most famous and popular Golden Triangle Tour, The colorful state of Rajasthan, and the Heritage and culture tour in North India.With us you can experience the real India, its life, people, culture and history with excellent prices.

An unforgettable India experience!. - See more at: http://www.letsgoindiatours.com

Jaipur, Rajasthan tours

Summary

If you’re heading to Jaipur, you must add Hawa Mahal on your list of places to see as it’s one of the highlights of the old city of Jaipur. Read this post for interesting facts, frequently asked questions and detailed information about Hawa Mahal Jaipur.

Interesting Facts About Hawa Mahal Jaipur

Iyou’re heading to Jaipur, you must add Hawa Mahal on your list of places to see as it’s one of the highlights of the old city of Jaipur. Read this post for interesting facts, frequently asked questions as well as detailed information about Hawa Mahal Jaipur.

Interesting Hawa Mahal Facts

• Hawa Mahal means Palace of Winds
• Popular for its elaborate and fanciful architecture, Hawa Mahal is an important and dominant landmark of Jaipur
• Located in the old city, Hawa Mahal is part of the City Palace complex of buildings
• It is shaped like a mukut or crown which adorns Lord Krishna’s head
• It also looks like the honeycomb web of a beehive with 953 small, intricately carved jharokhas or windows
• You can get great views of the old city of Jaipur and Jantar Mantar from Hawa Mahal
• Hawa Mahal can be entered on a composite ticket (valid for two days), along with Jantar Mantar, Nahargarh Fort, Amber Fort and Albert Hall

AGRA TOURS

Taj Mahal Calligraphy

The Taj Mahal always welcomes each of its visitors with an inscription, written in beautiful handwriting, on the great gate that reads "O Soul, thou art at rest. Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you." It was Abdul Haq, who created this in 1609, and was bestowed with the title of 'Amanat Khan' by none other than Emperor Shah Jahan himself. Along with spellbinding architecture and a picturesque background, the calligraphy done is one of the fantabulous ornamental decorations done on the surface of Taj Mahal. The calligraphy of the Taj Mahal mainly consists of the verses and passages from the holy book of Quran. It was done by inlaying jasper in the white marble panels. These passages were inscribed by Amanat Khan in an illegible Thuluth script. A number of the panels also bear his signatures.

Black marble has been used to decorate both the south gateway and the main mausoleum with Arabic inscriptions. The texts chosen refer broadly to the themes of judgment and fruitful paradisiacal rewards for the faithful. The inscriptions over the gateway invite the reader to enter the paradise. And as one enters towards the main mausoleum, the tone of the inscriptions changes from paradisiacal to that of an impending doom that awaits the unbelievers on the Day of Judgment. However, once inside the mausoleum, the tone of the inscriptions changes yet again from judgment to paradisiacal. It is also believed that Amanat Khan even chose the passages for the calligraphy of Taj Mahal, Agra. The exterior of Taj Mahal are loaded with verses from the Quran like:

Surah 91 (The Sun)

Surah 112 (The Purity of Faith)

Surah 89 (Daybreak)

Surah 93 (Morning Light)

Surah 95 (The Fig)

Surah 94 (The Solace)

Surah 36 (Ya Sin)

Surah 81 (The Folding Up)

Surah 82 (The Cleaving Asunder)

Surah 84 (The Rending Asunder)

Surah 98 (The Evidence)

Surah 67 (Dominion)

Surah 48 (Victory)

Surah 77 (Those Sent Forth)

Surah 39 (The Crowds)

On the actual tomb of Mumtaz Mahal located in the burial chamber, the ninety names of God can be found as calligraphic inscriptions on the sides, in the crypt including "O Noble, O Magnificent, O Unique, O Eternal, O Glorious..." And the tomb of Shah Jahan bears a calligraphic inscription that reads "He travelled from this world to the banquet hall of eternity on the night of the twenty sixth of the month of Rajab, in the year 1076 Hijri". However, the central focus is provided by passages on the upper cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal. The words of the Quranic prayer recited by the angels, implore Allah to allow the faithful to enter paradise, a touching request for God's mercy towards His devout servant, Mumtaz Mahal.

We specialize in tours in and around Delhi, world famous Taj Mahal, the most famous and popular Golden Triangle Tour, The colorful state of Rajasthan, and the Heritage and culture tour in North India.With us you can experience the real India, its life, people, culture and history with excellent prices.

An unforgettable India experience!. - See more at: http://www.letsgoindiatours.com

Story

TAJ MAHAL STORY

Male Protagonist: Shah Jahan (Prince Khurram)
Female Protagonist: Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Banu Begum)

Taj Mahal, the magnificent monument that stands at the heart of India has a story that has been melting the hearts of millions of listeners since the time Taj has been visible. A story, that although ended back in 1631, continues to live on in the form of Taj and is considered a living example of eternal love. It's the love story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, two people from the course of history who set an example for the people living in present and the future to come. An English poet, Sir Edwin Arnold best describes it as "Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passion of an emperor's love wrought in living stones." The story that follows next will prove why the statement is true.

Shah Jahan, initially named Prince Khurram, was born in the year 1592. He was the son of Jehangir, the fourth Mughal emperor of India and the grandson of Akbar the Great. In 1607 when strolling down the Meena Bazaar, accompanied by a string of fawning courtiers, Shah Jahan caught a glimpse of a girl hawking silk and glass beads. It was love at first sight and the girl was Mumtaz Mahal, who was known as Arjumand Banu Begum at that time. At that time, he was 14 years old and she, a Muslim Persian princess, was 15. After meeting her, Shah Jahan went back to his father and declared that he wanted to marry her. The match got solemnized after five years i.e., in the year 1612.

It was in the year 1628 that Shah Jahan became the Emperor and entrusted Arjumand Banu with the royal seal. He also bestowed her with the title of Mumtaz Mahal, meaning the "Jewel of the Palace". Though Shah Jahan had other wives also, but, Mumtaz Mahal was his favorite and accompanied him everywhere, even on military campaigns. In the year 1631, when Mumtaz Mahal was giving birth to their 14th child, she died due to some complications. While Mumtaz was on her deathbed, Shah Jahan promised her that he would never remarry and will build the richest mausoleum over her grave.

It is said that Shah Jahan was so heartbroken after her death that he ordered the court into mourning for two years. Sometime after her death, Shah Jahan undertook the task of erecting the world's most beautiful monument in the memory of his beloved. It took 22 years and the labor of 22,000 workers to construct the monument. When Shah Jahan died in 1666, his body was placed in a tomb next to the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. This magnificent monument came to be known as "Taj Mahal" and now counts amongst the Seven Wonders of the World. This is the true story of the Taj Mahal of India, which has mesmerized many people with its bewitching beauty.

Facts

Taj Mahal Facts

Planning a visit to the Taj Mahal? If you don't know already, there may be a few questions running through your mind like who built the Taj, why was it built, when's the best time to visit, the timings, the fee and a whole lot of stuff that you'd want to know before you pay a visit to the Taj. Don't worry at all, as this section on "Taj Mahal facts" will provide you with a few fast facts to up your knowledge along with the basic queries that you want to be answered as soon as possible. Read on to get some quick information about Taj Mahal and Agra. And once read, don't waste time. Just pack your bags, book your tickets and pay a visit to the world's most spectacular monument that epitomizes love at par. 

Fast Facts

Year of Construction: 1631
Completed In: 1653
Time Taken: 22 years
Built By: Shah Jahan 
Dedicated to: Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Bano Begum), the wife of Shah Jahan
Location: Agra (Uttar Pradesh), India 
Building Type: Islamic tomb 
Architecture: Mughal (Combination of Persian, Islamic and Indian architecture style)
Architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahauri
Cost of Construction: 32 crore rupees
Number of workers: 20,000
Highlights: One of the Seven Wonders of the World; A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset (Friday closed)
Fee: Rs 750 (Foreign Tourists)
Rs 510 (Citizens of SAARC & BIMSTEC Countries)
Rs 20 (Domestic Indian Tourists)
No Entry Fee for children below 15 years of age (Domestic or Foreigner)

Interesting Facts Of Taj Mahal

• Before his accession to the throne, Shah Jahan was popularly known as Prince Khurram.
• Shah Jahan fell in love with the beautiful Arjumand Bano Begum and married her, making her his third wife.
• Arjumand Bano Begum was christened by Shah Jahan as Mumtaz Mahal, meaning the “Chosen One Of The Palace” or “Jewel of the Palace”.
• Shah Jahan lost Mumtaz Mahal, when she died giving birth to their 14h child.
• For the transportation of the construction materials, more than 1,000 elephants were employed.
• As many as 28 different varieties of semi-precious and precious stones were used to adorn the Taj with exquisite inlay work.
• Depending on what time of the day it is and whether or not there’s moon at night, Taj Mahal appears to be of different color every time. Some even believe that this changing pattern of colors depict different moods of a woman.
• Passages from Quran have been used as decorative elements throughout the complex.
• On the sides of the actual tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, 99 names of Allah can be found as calligraphic inscriptions.
• Taj Mahal was built in stages, with the plinth and the tomb taking up roughly 15 years. Building of minarets, mosque, jawab, and gateway took additional 5 years to be completed.
• Different types of marbles used in construction of Taj Mahal were brought over from many different regions & countries: Rajasthan, Punjab, China, Tibet, Afghanistan, Srilanka, & Arabia.
• Many precious stones and Lapis Lazuli (a semi-precious stone) were ripped off from its walls by the Britishers during the Indian rebellion of 1857.
• Taj Mahal attracts 2-4 million visitors annually with over 200,000 from overseas.