Storyteller Sandeep

Maharajahs of India Golden triangle tour I am escorting American & Australian groups for last six years on North India tour.  Recently I was on Golden triangle tour of India with a group of 32 American nationals. There were few scholars too who were travelling on this India tour with the group. During many dinners and lunches  we had deep discussion on Maharajahs of India and privy purse council. What we found was really interesting and new.  In 1857, there were over 565 princely states in India.  Each prince was rich enough to run the economy of Great Britain. But still a small business enterprise like East India company was able to establish a strong English empire in India.  What do you think ???? What was the reason that such rich and mighty Indian Kings couldn't defeat Small fleet of Britain Army ?  Lets go deep into the lifestyle of these Maharajahs of India.  Not every Maharajah but maximum had a lavish lifesty...

M y A gra ’s walk (storytellersandeep) Agra  is a grand old city. It is 5,000 years old city. This city was called Agravan which meant first forest. Lord krishna was also born in one of these forests 5000 years before. But with the time it lost its glory and history. In 1565, one king Akbar renamed this city Akbarabad. All merchants and commoners used to live in the north of the Agra fort.  This part of the city still survives. But most of the tourists do not reach at this part of the town due to ignorance. They see only hotels, monuments shopping arcades at fatehabad road. This old part of Agra is very live and houses and havelis still have 60-70 years old architecture which is missing in New Agra. Dr Ram Dutt Gali Hindu Architecture Hindu Architecture Lotus designs  Peacocks on the front wall of an Hindu House Metal railing with designs of Hindu God and Goddess I and my friend Harsh decided to go on...

Taj mahal Tour during Sunrise   Tajmahal during sunrise Tajmahal during sunrise

Elephant Gate of Fatehpur sikri, Agra This citadel of India has so many stories. Some are funny and some are really stupid. I did a deep study of this mysteries monument of India and found interesting facts about it. Hiran Minar How come it is possible that a large citadel was built over here when the architects knew that there was lack of water ? Why did Akbar choose this place to make a citadel ? Why did he leave this place ? How did this palace was built and which architecture was used ? Victory gate of Fatehpur sikri Ancestors of Akbar   A ncestors of Akbar  were Mughals who were mercenaries of central Asia. They were not proficient in making large palaces like such, they used to live in walled garden under tents of clothes. Their kingdoms were small and economy was based on plundering to neighbor villages, states and kingdoms. Akbar's grandfather Babur was the first Mughal invader. He stayed in India for only Four years and passed ...

Tajmahal with scaffolding  Now a days cleaning and restoration process is going on at Tajmahal.  So there are three scaffolding on minarets out of four. They will finish this work in another two months (June 2016). Somehow it does not change anything when you visit the building. It gives same emotional feeling. Tajmahal is building which is embedded into the nature and touching the high sky.

From Delhi -   Private car -  Private car takes only three hours to reach Agra through Yamuna express way. Yamuna express way is the one of the best express way in India. A private car can be hired from any tour operator you can reviews about their services on online portals. Yamuna Express way By bus  There is continuous bus service to come Agra. Bus takes six hours to reach Agra but it charges only rs 450. Bus terminals are -  Kaale khan bus stand                                 ISBT How to book seat in Bus  By Trains This is cheapest mode of travelling in India. So many trains come to Agra everyday. But booking the Indian train is biggest challenge. And people book  the seats in month advance. How to book Indian train from abroad

T ajmahal opens at sunrise and close at sunset. The timing of opening remain different in every season. But that difference is of 10 to 20 minutes only. Only in summers and winters Tajmahal has ONE hours of difference. Ticket window of Tajmahal gets closed thirty minutes before sunset. Tajmahal remain close on Friday . Jan -  Sunrise  07:09 Sunset  17:48 1ST Feb Sunrise  07:04 Sunset  17:59 26TH FEB Sunrise  06:45 Sunset  18:16 MARCH Sunrise  06:42 Sunset  18:19 April Sunrise  06:09 Sunset  18:35 MAY Sunrise  05:31 Sunset  18:51 JUNE Sunrise  05:24 Sunset  19:08 JULY Sunrise  05:27 Sunset  19:17 AUGUST Sunrise  05:42 Sunset  19:06 SEPTEMBER Sunrise  05:57 Sunset  18:38 OCTOBER Sunrise  06:11 Sunset  18:04 1ST NOVEMBER ...