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Excursions

For a Half Day

Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary:
Situated in the neighbouring state of Haryana, it takes about 50 minutes by taxi to get to Sultanpur, 47km (29.5 miles) from Delhi. The small lake and marshland is best visited between November and February when migratory birds, including the Greater Flamingo, Bare-headed and Brahminy ducks from Tibet, flock to the sanctuary.

Suraj Kund:
Also in Haryana, the ruins of Suraj Kund are just 16km (ten miles) from the outskirts of Delhi, a journey of about half an hour. Its tenth-century amphitheatre is the only great Hindu shrine left intact by invading Muslims. The shrine is surrounded by tranquil parklands and a small artificial boating lake, and is a popular Sunday lunch picnic destination for middle-class Indian families.

For a Whole Day

Agra and Taj Mahal:
The radiance of early morning is one of the best times to first glimpse the flawless proportions of the Taj Mahal, built entirely out of marble by Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The complex consists of five main elements: the Darwaza or main gateway, the Bageecha or garden, the Masjid or mosque, the Naqqar Khana or resthouse, and the Rauza or the Taj Mahal mausoleum. The actual tomb is situated inside. Most impressive are the black and white chessboard marble floor, the four tall minarets (40m/131ft high) at the corners of the structure, and the majestic dome in the middle.

The 199km (123.4-mile) distance to Agra is covered in just under two hours by the Shatabdi Express, a dedicated tourist train which departs from New Delhi station. The Taj Mahal is open 0600-1800 Tuesday to Sunday, and admission costs Rs15 between 0800 and 1600 (April to September 0730-1700) or Rs105 outside these hours; free on Friday.

The other monument of note at Agra is Agra Fort, with high red sandstone ramparts. The foundation of the citadel was laid by the Emperor Akbar in 1565, and successive generations developed it as a stronghold of the Mughal empire. The fort houses the graceful Diwan-i-Am, the royal pavilions, the Hammam-i-Shahi (royal bath), the Nagina Masjid (Gem Mosque), and the Zenana Meena Bazaar, where the ladies of the court would linger over silks, jewellery and brocades. The Agra Fort is open 0600-1730 daily and admission costs Rs15 or is free on Friday.



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