Would Be Back Soon

Finally it is time to head to UK. Would bring back loads of pictures. And try to be more regular when I come back in the first week of November.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Shy Kid

Need to Rethink About My Blog!

I mean, it is bad that I am not posting anything and not able to read blogs! Also, I guess I have to get used to a much more hectic schedule on a permanent basis.

But then I will take things easy for a while, coming mid week I would be heading to UK, and the weather does not seem promising. Also, as I find it difficult to go to Nehru Place from Dhaula Kuan, the prospect of navigating around another country seems all the more daunting. But then I have done it before, so I guess it is going to be alright.

When I Don't Even Think of Travel!

Bharmour (Himachal Pradesh, India)- December 2005

How I hate those days when I can't manage to even think of travel. This is one such spell. Should not last too much longer.

PS. I got that UK visa. So, a trip is on cards now, tough it won't be vacation as such.

How Many People Visit the Taj Every Year?

My search skills are not as good as I thought them to be! I was trying to find out the number of people visiting the Taj everyday and when I could not find out much, I turned to Indiamike. The super folks there did some search and we now have some numbers. I find the whole thread such a great help.


Mickey S

This UNESCO document, dating from 2003, gives the following figures for visitor numbers:

2000: 1,955,404 Indian; 39,757 overseas; Total: 1,994,161
2001: 1,977,458 Indian; 249,267 overseas; Total: 2,226,725

Unfortunately, this seems to be the most recent UNESCO document relating to the Taj Mahal.

This MSNBC news page quotes figures for 2005:

Quote:

The ever-popular Taj Mahal received 593,637 international visitors and 364,997 locals over the year.

although the number of Indian visitors seems to be way out of line with UNESCO's figures for 2000/2001.

You could try emailing the Archaeological Survey of India directly, at directorgeneralasi@gmail.com

Go Search for Agra on Google!

Taj Mahal Needs No Introduction!

I ask you to go and search for 'Agra' on Google. Follow the first link, Welcome at Officiald Website of Agra, the site is maintained by the Government of India agency, National Informatics Center, or what we all know as the nic.in site.

You get a bare looking page. Follow the tourism link. Of course, the first description is about the Taj Mahal. I reproduce it below. The highlighting is mine. And I mean this really from the nic.in site.

Completed in 1653 A.D., The Taj Mahal built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as the final resting place for his favourite Queen, Mumtaz. Finished in by Marvel, it is perhaps India most fascinating and beautiful monument. This perfectly symmetrical monuments took 22 years (1630-1652) of hard labour and 20,000 workers, Masons and Jewellers to built and is set amidst landscaped gardens. Built by the Persian architect, Ustad Isa, The Taj Mahal the bank of the Yamuna river. It can be observed like a Mirage from the Agra Fort from where Emperor Shah Jahan stared at it, for the last eight years his life as a prisoner of his son Aurangzeb. It is a masterpiece of symmetry, Seeming to be floating in the air from a distance, and each revealed as an illusion experienced as one enters through the main gate. The verses of Holy Koran as inscribed on it and at the top of gate 22 small domes, signifying the number of years the monument took to built. The Taj Mahal has been built on a Marvel Plateform that stands above a standstone one. The most elegant dome of the Taj, with diameter of 60 feets, rises 80 feets, over the building and directly under the dome is the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. Shah Jahan's tomb has been irected next to her's by his son Aurangzeb. Fantastic Inley works using semi-precious stones decorate and interiors.

Open Time : 6 A.M. to 7.30 P.M. (Friday is closed)

And I invite you to sample the whole page. It is full of such errors. I wonder who is responsible for managing the site? I mean who let this page go? As the page comes on the top for the keyword Agra my hunch is that it must be getting some traffic. I mean I never knew the Taj is made of marvel!

But then, I guess the Taj Mahal needs no introduction ...

And NIC does carry a disclaimer. I wonder which 'respective department' maintains this masterpiece. And I wonde, wonder (thanks Atual for pointing out the error, see being open to feedback can do wonders for you) why don't they invite a feedback from their readers.
"Disclaimer: Site designed and hosted by National Informatics Centre. Site contents owned, maintained and updated by respective departments. NIC does not take any responsibility regarding website contents"

When it Hits Closer Home?

It does not remain a statistic.

Freespirit writes (via Blogbharti) about her brother killed in Kashmir.

J&K: 2 army majors, 9 militants killed in encounter

J&K: 2 majors, 9 infiltrators killed

How many times have you and I read headlines like these in the last so many years and not given it a second thought? It seems like there is one such headline every few days and all we can do is shake our head in disdain and move on to the next headline. But today, I can't move on, much as I try. Because Major Dinesh R Raman of 34 Rashtriya Rifles who succumbed to his injuries last night in a Srinagar hospital was my brother. Maybe not by virtue of having the same parents, but he is my first cousin and the closest thing I have ever had to a brother in my family.

BBC Worldwide has Lonely Planet Now!

I am a big fan of the BBC and now they also get associated with the Lonely Planet.

BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, has bought the travel guide publisher, Lonely Planet. ... The purchase fits in with BBC plans to grow online revenues and expand operations in America and Australia.

Lonely Planet also produces travel programmes and its web site receives 4.3 million visitors a month.

The Wheelers, who owned the business along with John Singleton, will retain a 25% shareholding in the company.