Agra (23-24 Feb, 2011)

My trip was started since 23 February, 2011. I flighted from Bangalore International Airport to Indira Gandhi International Airport which is located at New Delhi. Although the airport provided the city transportation such as bus, metro, and taxi., all public transportation are available until 22.00. My flight reached to there at midnight, so I had to catch the prepaid taxi to the destination which was the railway station. It is quite evident that I planed to visit Taj Mahal and Agra Fort at Agra city which is far from New Delhi 188 kilometers by train which the train started at was Hazrat nizamuddin RS at 6.00 on 24 February. The train reached to Agra Cantt RS at 9.10; thereafter, I booked a cabs for sightseeing trip at Taj Mahal, Ara Fort, and Markets which was about Rs 650 from 9.10 to 17.00. The Taj Mahal entrance fee is about Rs 510 for SARRC & BIMSTEC Country which included Thailand and Rs 750 for the others.

Taj Mahal entrance fee

Ticket for SARRC and BIMSTEC country

Moreover, the government tourist bureaucracy also provided a guide in order to give informations for the particular place which charged Rs 1,950 for foreigner and Rs 750 for Indian. Taj Mahal was constructed with white mable which is the finest expression of love of an emperor for his queen situated on the banks of the river Yamuna, 3 kilometers from Agra Cantt RS. Moreover, it was built byMughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his queen Mumtaz Mahal, in1632.

I took two hours to visit and enjoy with the beautiful Taj Mahal. Thereafter, I went to Agra Fort which was far from Taj Mahal around  2.5 kilometers. Agra Fort is masterpiece for design and construction, was build by the great Emperor Akbar in 1565 A.D. The entrance fee for Agra Fort is Rs 250 and Rs 50 for entrance tax.

The Golden Triangle and Valley of Gods (Planning)

The plan is 8 days 7 nights for Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, and Manali. To begin with I booked the ticket and plan for the particular places as following. First of all, Flight from Bangalore on 23 Feb, 2011 from Bangalore International Airport (BLR) to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DLE) for 2:45 hrs.

                The train leaves from H Nizamuddin Railway Station (Delhi) at 6.00 and reaches to Agra Cantt Railway Station (Agra) 9.15 on 24 February. In the evening, the train leaves from Agra Cantt RS at 17:40 to Jaipur RS (Jaipur) at 22:15 in the same day. Finally, the train leaves from Jaipur RS at 00.50 to Delhi RS at 6:25 on 26 February.  Moreover, I booked the second air-conditioning class for whole trip.

Another transportation is the bus. I booked the bus to Manali from 27 Feb to 2 Mar, 2011, and it also took time 14 hrs per trip. 

The Golden Triangle and Valley of Gods

Before I am going to Thailand, I have planned to visit the Golden Triangle of India. The Golden Triangle consists of three important cities of India which are Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. Besides, I also visit the upper north of India which is called Manali or Valley of Gods.

 Delhi is the capital city of India and also the central of trading of the South Asia. Indira Gandhi International Airport is the main airport of Delhi which is far from the city around 23 kilometers and is also divided into terminal 1 for domestic airline and terminal 3 for international and some domestic airline which both far from each other 6 kilometers; otherwise, the airport also provide inter terminal coach for the passenger who would like to transit to the other flight. Passengers can entrance the city through metro, airport bus, and taxi. It is quite evident that Delhi has a lot of tourist attractions such as Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat, Purana Qila, India Gate, Akshardham Temple, Humanyun’s Tomb, Lotus Temple, and Qutb Minar.

Agra is far from Delhi 188 kilometers. Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful palaces and also be categorized in Seven Wonders of the World. Another tourist place is Agra Fort which is far from Taj Mahal 2.5 kilometers. 

Jaipur or Pink city is far from Agra 240 kilometers and from Delhi 307 kilometers. It is quite evident that there is many tourist attraction which were made from pink stone such as Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal and Nahargarh Fort, and the other tourist attractions are Albert Hall Museum, Lake Palace, and Jantar Mantar.

Goa (31 Dec, 10 - 2 Jan 11)

     To begin with, I had an opportunity to travel at Goa for three days between 31 December 2010 to 1 January 2011. Goa is India's smallest state which is located in South West Indian and also connect to Arabian sea. It is quite evident that Goa is very popular for new year celebration, many Indian and foreigner went to there to this particular event. In the same way, celebration for the new year is also one purpose of my trip.
     First of all, I started the trip at 0.00 at Bangalore and reached to Goa to 12.00 p.m. on Friday 31 December, 2010. To my mind, Goa is far from Bangalore around 650 kilometers as a result of 12 hours for traveling. Thereafter, I searched for the hotel and went to Baga beach in order to celebrate for changed year to 2011. This beach was very crowd with Indian and foreigner. There had many pub and restaurant along the beach, and many people enjoyed along the beach. When New Year coming, a lot of firecrackers were burned and flied onto the air for an hour.
     On Saturday 1 January, 2011, I went to Goa's Old Light House, elected in 1864, which is the oldest kind of its in Asia. Moreover, it was surrounded by Fort Aguada which is built by Portuguese in early of the 17th century to guard against the Dutch and the Marathas, and also was used as a reference point for the ships coming from Europe as the shape was extended into the sea. In the evening, I had dinner at Old Goa on the cruise for an hour. The cruise schedule is 6.00pm, 7.00pm, and 8.15pm; moreover, the price was Rs 150 per person. I enjoyed with music and dance performing on the cruise along the trip. On the next day, I went to old catholic church at Old Goa, and it was also the place for Archaeological survey of India. Finally, I caught the car come back to Bangalore and reached to there at 11.30am on 2 January, 2011.

<==HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011==>

Goa, South West India

Baga Beach

Baga Beach

Baga Beach

Fort Aguada

Old Light House & Fort Aguada

Cruise @Old Goa

Church @Old Goa

Day-2: Ooty-Coonoor

On  the second day, I decided to separate from my friends to go to Coonoor which is my destination according to my plan. I took the train at 9.15am from Udagamandalam Railway Station at Ooty to Coonoor Railway Station for an hour. This day had many people took the train because it was a long weekend, so it hards to see any scene along the way as crowded people. Therefore, I decided to stay at there one night in order to took the train back to Ooty in the morning around 7.45am, and I also wished that I will saw wonderful scene along the way that I missed it yesterday. When I reached there, many sell mans tried to Coonoor's sell sight seeing package, and I decided to go with one Auto driver name Sanga who is polite and also speak English clearly. The trip is cost Rs 250 which is about Sim's Park, Tea Garden, Tea Factory, and Coonoor City View. Thereafter I visited every place, he also took me to find the hotel, and I chose Sri Lakshmi Tourist Hotel where I could see Coonoor city view and also see sun set at there.

Ooty Railway Station

Coonoor Railway Station

Sim's Park

Tea Garden

Tea Garden

Coonoor City View