Thanks to Kavipriya Muthuramalingam's distinguished and personal travel experiences we'll be reading in the next two posts all about her trip to 'Taj Mahal and Fathehpur Sikri'. Kavippriya is a former torch bearer member and editor of the global website www.thetorchkindlers.com (a website that kindles hope, love and peace). She lives in CA, USA, and runs an orphanage PCWPeace in India with a few friends.

There are so many things you miss out living away from home - your sisters growing up, birthdays and anniversaries, your parents look a decade older in a matter of eight months and of course your best friends weddings. This year attending my best friend’s wedding was one of my priorities during my holiday cum visa renewal visit to India. While planning my itinerary to North India, I also decided to visit a few historical places including the Taj Mahal and the Fathehpur Sikri. As I arrived at the Delhi International Airport, I waited patiently for my rental car driver. Finally, after spotting the driver, our two day short journey into the Mogul Lands began…

Initially, my travel group decided to make a stop at the famous Fatehpur Sikri, spend the night in Agra and then start our tour to the Majestic Taj from the early hours of the following day. The drive from Delhi to Fathehpur Sikri was around three and half hours. As we travelled on a very sunny day along the streets of Delhi, hearing so much about the street foods of Delhi, we promptly decided stop at one the street carts to try some hot Parathas and ice cold Lassi. After having a sumptuous snack our car again headed again towards the fort of Fathehpur Sikri.. The scorching heat kept me dozing in frequent intervals as the car swiftly drove toward Fathehpur, very often taking short cuts cutting through the villages, to enable us to reach our destination in time. Traveling through the villages was a unique experience. I saw old men with white turbans and faded tunics sitting under tress, women washing clothes outside their mud huts, children running in soiled clothes, and buffaloes standing everywhere. These glimpses of the villagers of Agra from inside the cab really touched my heart and I could not help wondering, how many more years will need to wait for them to see the light through their dimmed, mud paved streets. Finally, we made our way out of the villages and reached a highway that indicated Fatehpur Sikri, 35 Kms. As we reached Fathehpur Sikri, our guide explained to us the significance, history and beauty of this place. The mosque marks the phase of transition in Islamic art, as indigenous architectural elements blended with Persian elements. Will be continued...