We decided to travel to Agra for a short trip on the 1st January. A few hours into the journey it felt like everyone else was also doing the same. We did not take the Yamuna Expressway, beyond Mathura the traffic caught with us. It was a party of women and children, my daughter Chhavi and I, with my friend Monika and her children Tanya and Kartik.
Sikandra, Agra #ErtigaHolidayDiaries
It was already 3.00 pm by the time we reached Sikandra. We decided to visit Sikandra on the New Year day instead of Taj Mahal. We would to the Taj Mahal the next day; it was a change of plans due to the traffic congestion. For everyone else it was their first visit to the Taj. Still no one complained about the change in the plans!
Look Ma I can Fly!
We were on the road since 8.00 am. We had taken a short lunch break and yet due to traffic we were only at Sikandra by 3.00 pm. Still the children were full of energy, jumping around all the time! The trick is to keep their stomachs full and they rarely complain about traffic jams and such! And it is fun documenting the travel for the #ErtigaHolidayDiaries
What Not to Do!
I use the trips to discuss things with the kids about our heritage and how we should not damage it. It is easier to teach such things in front of a wall like that rather than at home without any context!
But, where is the Taj Mahal?
It was a foggy day, when we finally visited the Taj Mahal on January 2, 2017. I was the one who took my nephews to Taj Mahal for their first visit. I still remember their look of amazement when they saw the monument for the first time from the royal gate! I missed seeing that expression on my daughter’s face as there was hardly any Taj Mahal to be seen from the gate that day.
I Can Hold the Taj Mahal #ErtigaHolidayDiaries
However, her antics made up for the missed first look. Our entire group took turns to hold the Taj Mahal! And we were not alone, this spot is popular with tourists for the customarypose. I wonder what Chhavi will say when she looks back at this picture at the age of 16!
To Be Cherished for Years!
I am sure we will go back to the Taj Mahal but the first time with my daughter is always going to be special! I hardly ever get my own pictures clicked but even I was willing to pose for this special moment. The family pictures were clicked by our guide Yousef who is an excellent guide.
Her Trademark Pose for the #ErtigaHolidayDiaries
It is difficult to get Chhavi sit still for the pictures but she was willingly getting clicked at the Taj Mahal. She took a keen interest in the explanations Yousef gave about the monument. She told me, “mom let us come back soon with Vasu.” I call them ‘double trouble’; Vasu is my niece.
Books are Good!
Chhavi wanted a book about Taj Mahal as a souvenir. We bought it home too! Now it is our task to read it out to her!
The Taj Mahal!
For us 2017 started on a good note! I consider it a good omen to travel on the very first day of the year!
I anyway travel a lot because of my blog but it is a lot more fun to travel with the family. I hope in 2017 I will travel more with my family!
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Such a fun filled post, we were there last year..and I am yet to write about it..:P I must be the laziest blogger around
Prasad 😀 even I have posts pending from the last year but this year I am going to be better 😀
This took me back to the first time I’d visited Taj 🙂 Some great pictures here..Give my love to all the kids, and its wonderful that you are teaching them to preserve our ancient heritage. Wish you all a very Happy 2017
Wish you a fabulous 2017 Veidehi! I hope they will learn to take pride in our history and preserve it!
Loved this post. Beautiful pictures. Chhavi is so cute and adorable 🙂
Thank you so much Purba!
Chhavi has enjoyed to the fullest and that is evident even in the pictures 😀 Wonderful post… 🙂
I enjoyed with her too Maniparna 😀
That is such a wonderful trip. She is learning a lot from you… loved the to dos and not dos. So much fog there!
I wish I had half her energy and positive attitude Indrani!
The Taj is a great place to visit any time! like your approach- “I use the trips to discuss things with the kids about our heritage and how we should not damage it.”
Thank you Rajeev!
So you have enjoyed a lot in the begging of this year, good to know about your journey.
Liked your heading in the writing, now a days our heritage sites are being damaged by so called “majnus and Lailas”, their show off is much more than their depth of love.
Shots are amazing, specially ‘but where is the TajMahal?”.
Thank you so much Jyotirmoy! I wish the Laila and Majnu find another way of being immortal! At Sikandra as far as the hands can reach, it has been defaced. I wonder why are we so uneducated in the real sense!
I don’t want to go there to visit Taj Mahal as I think there are so many structures in this world which are much more beautiful than this . But I have to go , sometime with friends and sometime with family . वो कहते हैं न : ना ना करते प्यार तुम्हीं से कर बैठे ………..
Yogi I agree there is no dearth of beauty in this world but Taj Mahal is beautiful too!
Loved to read the post. Awesome pics.
Hellloo to Chhavi 🙂
Greetings.
Chhavi says hello to you Rupam!
Seems to be a great Trip Mridula! My kids have yet to see The Taj! And it’s great that you chose this trip to point out what NOT to do with our Heritage!
Do take them Kokila the kids love it, my nephews did so too when I took them though they were a bit older.
Such a lively post Mridula 🙂 Taj Mahal somehow isn’t still on top of my bucket list. Way too many places to go to 🙂 But will definitely do this sometime 🙂 Cheers.
You have still not been there? 😀 Do go.
Nice post thanks for sharing
Thank you Mithun!
Old memories just rush in but I leash them. Simply love all the awesome pictures
Do a new post! You have not updated your blog in a long time.
What a lovely post this is! Loved seeing you having fun with your kids! 🙂
Thank you so much!
Wonderful pictures. Wah Taj boliye..
I think the best part of the trip is her excitement. Can’t wait to take mine there …I think she might be thrilled too. 🙂
Felt so happy reading this. Simple and captivating narration.
Thank you Chitra!
Seems Chhavi grew a few inches taller while I was off blogging. The best part is you both look very happy. May this happiness remain with you throughout the year! 🙂
Thank you so much Ravish! Good to see you back!
What a cute post! To travel with family is the best way to travel I feel 😀 Hope you get to travel more frequently with your daughter 🙂
That is what I am also hoping for in 2017!
What a lucky girl – I’d love to see the Taj Mahal! Wonderful photos in the mist.
Thank you so much LadyFi!
Wonderful pics and very interesting port … loved it reading.
Thank you so much!