The design of the Gateway is influenced by Hindu and Muslim architecture and the credit for its designing goes to George Wittet, an architect and a Scotsman. A triumphal arch, 15 m in diameter and 85 feet till its apex is supported on four turrets with intricate carvings. The material used in the construction of the Gateway is yellow basalt obtained from local quarries. The entire harbor front was transformed to be in tandem with the Gateway. The monument took four years to finish and the final costs were to the tune of 21 lakh rupees. This cost was borne by the Government of India and the construction was done by Gammon India Limited. Gammon India also boasts of using pre-fabricated reinforced concrete for the first time in India while constructing the foundation of the Gateway. The original design of the gateway also included an approach road to the monument but the final budget exceeded the estimates and hence the plan of constructing the road was shelved.

The Gateway of India stands tall and majestic at Apollo Bunder reclamation and offers an amazing view of the vast expanse of Arabian Sea if you stand with your back towards the city. The beauty of the Gateway during night cannot be described in words. Against the backdrop of calm sea, the Gateway shines like a bright diamond. The monument, an architectural masterpiece, meant to reinforce the influence of British Empire in India is now a major tourist attraction inviting both domestic and overseas visitors. Tourists planning a day trip of Mumbai start their tour from this point. The Gateway of India has become an integral part of the lives of city people. If you are thinking about Mumbai then the name of the Gateway of India is sure to prop up in your mind. It is a famous meeting place and visitors can take ferry rides and boat cruises to Elephanta Caves from here.  Tourists can also enjoy the shoreline of Mumbai harbor on luxury boats that start from the Gateway.

Mumbai has an international airport and is the hub of commercial activities. You can stay in an accommodation that fits in your budget and take day tour of the city in a tourist bus or hire a taxi to take you to The Gateway of India.

There are over 100 caves in the region but only 34 caves have gained prominence owing to their outstanding architecture and intricate detailing in artwork. It is understood that the caves were carved out during a period when the influence of Buddhism was declining and Hinduism was again manifesting itself as a leading religion. The caves built around 800- 1000 AD show a powerful influence of Jainism denoting the rise and spread of Digambara sect. Out of 34 famous caves; 12, 17 and 5 caves are dedicated to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism respectively.

The Buddhist caves numbered from 1 – 12 were mostly monasteries with an exception of Cave 10. Caves 2, 5, 6, 10, 11 and 12 attract visitors with their impressive sculptures and paintings. Cave 2 has a central chamber supported by 12 pillars with a massive statue of Buddha on a lion-shaped throne inside the shrine. Cave 5 is also known as Maharwada cave after the local Mahar tribe as the cave was used by these tribesmen during the rainy season. The assembly hall inside the cave has carved benches and shrine statue of seated Buddha. Cave 6 houses fine sculptures of goddess Tara and Buddhist goddess of wisdom and learning, Mahamayuri. Cave 11 and 12 are three floored with a Buddhist shrine along with images of Hindu deities Durga and Ganesh in cave 11 and cave 12 representing seven incarnations of Buddha.

The Hindu caves, 13 – 29, encircle the Kailasa temple and are at the centre of the complex. The walls of these caves are adorned with events from Hindu mythology and are dedicated to Lord Shiva. Cave 16, the most spectacular structure in the cave complex, is a splendid example of temple architecture and is known as Kailasa temple, after the abode of Lord Shiva, Kailash Parvat. The other must-see Hindu caves are caves 14, 15, 21, 25 and 29. Out of the 5 Jain caves, cave 32, the Indra Sabha, is a visual treat for visitors with its intricate carvings, elaborate artwork and rich decorations. Jain caves reflect the teachings and philosophies of Digambar sect and date back to 800 AD.

The most appropriate time to visit Ellora caves is during the monsoon when this Deccan region is turned green with lush flora and all the rivers and streams are brimming with cool water. The famous Ellora Dance festival is held every year in the month of March at the cave site. You can reach Ellora by road from Aurangabad (15 km) which is a domestic airport with direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai international airports. There is also a state bus service to Aurangabad from practically every city in Maharashtra and the city is also well connected with Mumbai and Pune via rail route. You can take a day tour from Aurangabad to Ellora caves or if you want to stay in the lap of nature, there are some good options available.

Khajuraho temples were the brainchild of Chandela rulers and were constructed from 950-1050 AD. These temples are the finest example of exquisite craftsmanship and architectural excellence during the Medieval period. Originally there were 85 temples but only 22 have survived the nature’s wrath and today, stand tall to tell us about the philosophies and life style of a bygone era. The temples are carved out of sandstone and comprise of separate entrances, assembly hall or Mandapa, vestibule and inner sanctum or Garbha Griha. All the temples are built on a platform and are divided in three groups depending on their location, namely; western, eastern and southern.

Kandariya Mahadeo is the largest of all the temples reaching 31m in height. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has about 900 statues of gods, goddesses, beautiful maidens carved on its walls and ceiling. Chaunsat Yogini is the only temple that has been carved out of granite. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali and is the oldest temple in the western group. Chitragupta temple dedicated to sun-god Surya, depicts a life-size sculpture of the deity on a chariot. Vishwanath temple is a tribute to Lord Brahma and has intricately carved exteriors. Lakshamana temple and Matangeshwara temple are the other must-see temples in the group with massive statues of Lord Vishnu and his incarnations.

The eastern group has three Jain and three Hindu temples. Parsavanatha, Ghantai and Adinath temples are the Jain temples featuring scenes from every-day life of a woman, dreams of the mother of Lord Mahavira and sculptures of Adinath, the first tirthankara. Brahma, Vamana and Javari temple are the three Hindu temples with four-faced lingam, gorgeous maidens and sensuous postures carved lavishly on their walls and ceiling. The temples of southern group lie outside the village of Khajuraho at a distance of around 5 km and include Duladeo temple and Chaturbhuj temple.

Khajuraho entices environmentalists, tourists and students from India and abroad who travel all the way to this small village for a life-altering visual experience. The popularity of this place can be adjudged on this basis that the state government has built a domestic airport at Khajuraho to connect this place with the rest of the country. Khajuraho Dance Festival is held every year in the month of March to celebrate the true spirit of art and culture. The village is directly linked with Delhi, Agra, Varanasi and Kathmandu via air service. Khajuraho has excellent connectivity via road and rail network with major towns of Jhansi, Mahoba, Satna, Gwalior, Delhi, Bhopal and Jabalpur. The area offers comfortable options for staying and reasonably priced shops for buying souvenirs and local handicraft items.

The caves were hidden from the modern world and were discovered accidentally by some British soldiers in the year 1819. During a hunting expedition in the Deccan region, one of the soldiers saw a horseshoe rock with a cave opening. Behind the dense foliage, they discovered a number of caves. This discovery was acclaimed worldwide and when archaeologists began excavating the caves they found that the walls and ceilings of these caves were adorned with sculptures and paintings of Lord Buddha and his disciples, illustrations about his life events and stories about his various incarnations. These paintings which were lying in oblivion for centuries are now regarded as masterpieces made by Buddhist monks and devotees during a period when very few tools and techniques were available.

Ajanta caves are numbered and though most of them are finished, there are some caves which are still unfinished. It is believed that the monks used fire torches to light the caves and whitewashed the walls with lime plaster so that they could easily draw and paint. The colors used in these paintings are natural colors which were extracted from vegetables, flowers and colored pebbles which were grounded. All the caves, from 1 to 29, earlier had independent access but now they are connected by a path for the convenience of tourists. A viewing platform, opposite the caves, has also been constructed allowing visitors to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the area and the caves.

The caves primarily depict the ideologies of Theravada and Mahayana traditions. The Theravada tradition believes in depicting Lord Buddha in a symbolic form in keeping with the teachings of the Lord whereas the Mahayana tradition worships Buddha as God, more like a Hindu deity under the obvious influence of Hinduism. The must-visit caves are Cave 26, 17, 16, 15, 13, 12, 10, 9, 8, 4, 2 and 1. Cave 26 is a Chaitya (prayer hall) containing a Stupa and a large statue of Buddha and his followers depicting the last moments of the lord. Cave 17 and 16 are Mahayana monasteries with paintings of maidens, goddesses, celestial musicians, angel guardians, lotus petals and Buddha adorning the walls and ceiling of Cave 17 and a painting of princess Sundari in distress at the prospect of her husband becoming a monk in cave 16. Caves 15, 13 and 12 are Theravada monasteries. Cave 9 – a prayer hall- has beautiful arched windows, Cave 4 is the largest monastery and the ceiling of Cave 2 has a magnificent Mandala with motifs of birds, flowers and fruits. Cave 1 is famous for its doorway with murals of bodhisattvas and sidewalls of antechamber depicting scenes from Buddha’s life. The sanctum features sculpture of Buddha during a preaching session and the walls of the main hall have beautiful paintings portraying events from Buddha’s past lives.

The nearest airport at Aurangabad is directly connected to international airports at Delhi and Mumbai. If you are traveling by train, the nearest station is Jalgaon. Visitors can take a taxi from Aurangabad or Jalgaon to the caves. It takes 2-3 hrs by road from Aurangabad. Ajanta caves are open from 9am – 17.30 pm and are closed on Mondays. The caves are open on national holidays enabling domestic visitors to spend a day in the peace and tranquil environs of Ajanta caves.

Architecture

The design of Taj Mahal is a combination of Persian, Indian and Islamic architecture and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983. As per the historians, the construction of the Taj Mahal commenced under the able supervision of Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, Makramat Khan and Abdul-Karim Ma’mur Khan. Ustad Lahauri is also credited for designing the entire complex. Taj Mahal is a true reflection of Mughal grandeur and architecture with arch-shaped doorways, minarets, marble dome, columned bases, decorative spires, domed kiosks and gilded finials. The vast expanse of white marble was accentuated with carvings, paint and stone inlays. On a closer look, a person realizes that the carvings are in fact passages from the holy book of Muslims, the Qu’ran. The inner chamber is more lavishly decorated with precious and semi-precious stones in captivating patterns of flowers and vines. The actual graves of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are in a small crypt under the inner chamber and are devoid of any decorations in keeping wth the Muslim tradition.

The char-bagh garden surrounding the central structure draws its inspiration from Persian architecture. The garden has a central water tank surrounded by 16 flowerbeds. The marble water tank is raised from the ground and visitors can see the reflection of mausoleum in its cool and clear water. Red sandstone walls bound the entire complex from three sides and there are more mausoleums on the outer side. A red sandstone mosque and another similar structure were constructed towards the western and eastern walls, respectively, so that the family and well-wishers of the emperor could pay homage to the God.

Attraction for Tourists

The Taj Mahal has recently been included in the list of current Seven Wonders of the World and tourists, both domestic and international, throng in millions to take one look at this living symbol of love which has transcended through centuries. Tourists can visit the Taj Mahal on weekdays between 6 am to 7 pm. The Muslim devotees pray at the mosque on Fridays in the afternoon. Since no vehicles are allowed inside the complex, the tourists can either walk or ride a battery car to go inside. Taj Mahal is symbolic to eternal love and much has been written in prose about the beauty of Taj. Watching Taj Mahal against the back drop of silent waters of river Yamuna on a full moon night is an experience which can not be expressed in words. The ‘Halo’ visible around the Taj on a moon-lit night impart it an ethereal aura which mesmerizes the viewers.

The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra, India and is directly connected to all metro cities by rail and air route. The nearest international airport is New Delhi which is around 2 hrs by road from Agra. You can also catch an express train from Delhi or take National Highway No 2 via Faridabad and Mathura to reach Agra if you are traveling by road.