Archaeological destinations: Machu Picchu, Peru – Part 1

Some say it’s a myth that the Incas never existed on the face of the earth. Others praise the Incas for their ingenious ways of engineering and town planning, and ponder on how this short lived civilization just picked up and disappeared. Were they aliens?

Well, not quite, and there are still limited resources on the Incas that no one can really draw a conclusion. However the evidences are there, that such civilization had once dominated a vast region in South America, and that their presence is still attracting thousands of tourists to visit the once prosper empire.

And such evidence, is the existing lost city of the Incas, the Machu Picchu. Located 2000m above the Sacred Valley surrounded by mountains of bluish haze, the city was never found and destroyed by the Spanish; it was accidentally tripped over by American historian Hiram Bingham and re-introduced the wonder to the world.

Built around 1450, the structures of Machu Picchu is typical Inca with dry stone walls, carved from the surrounding mountains where such large stone boulders exist. Archaeologists praise the quality of engineering of the empire, as each of the stone is carved just enough to fit in with the others in such a way that they support each other without the need for mortar. Their town planning was also beyond their time, with separate sectors well laid out for farming, spiritual temples, residency and stock keeping. Water ducts run throughout the entire complex providing for all the sectors and each are allocated in an area where it can receive the most benefits, whether it be the sun light for the farming, the shades for animal stock and the top of the peak for the spiritual beacon.

Standing among the ruins it is hard to take in just how large this complex, and how remarkable the entire structure is. It’s also hard to imagine how long this would have taken to build, and just how did an entire city, while having escaped Spanish conquerors, decided to just leave. The mystery is, where did they all go?

The Machu Picchu can be reached on a four-day camping trek along the just as famous Inca Trail, which is a road structure connecting every Inca community in the region to the Machu Picchu. A train system has also been built, departing from Cuzco, to cater for travelers who are unable to trek the whole way.

Although there is a limit on the number of people allowed on the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu can be extremely crowded since the opening of the train line allowing tourists to visit this world heritage site the easy way. My best advice is to get there as early as you can, to avoid the crowd that will arrive around 10am in the morning on the train.

Since July 2007, Machu Picchu is part of the New Seven Wonders of the World, also on the list of Unforgettable Places to See Before You Die. A visit is indeed, strongly recommended.

People and Culture of Mexico

What is really about Mexico? We already knew about the beaches and resorts we can visit to but we almost forgot the most imperative factor of the area, the people. When a person travels, knowing what area to go to is imperative but knowing the people is much greater. Travel is not just about the satisfying but on how you are affected after your travel. The people you meet along the way makes a difference for they influence much of our travel. Through the locals, we appreciate more the area and appreciate the differences we have from them in terms of physical and cultural attributes. Mexico is the most populous country to those who speaks Spanish all over the world and second only to Brazil in Latin. Mexican culture is wealthy and varied. So before traveling to Mexico, it is necessary to know the people and their culture so tourist would have an understanding on how to deal with them.

Mexican history begins with the arrival of the conquistadors but civilization really starts when hunters from Asia and Africa settled the area since 20,000 B.C. There are three dominant influences that make the Mexican people of today. First, the native cultures which are the Maya, Inca, Aztec, Toltec and many other societies and cultures. Second is the Spanish. They complete transformed Mexico’s culture, architecture, society and language. The Spanish spoken in Mexico today is the most obvious example. Third is the United States. The United States shaped the country and enriched the culture. This was due to some conflicts and other wars both countries engaged with before.

Spanish is the official language though Mixtec, Otomi, Trascan and Zapotec are still spoken to some local areas. But almost all of them can make out and speak Spanish. There are at least 50 different dialects spoken in Mexico, and some of them differ widely from the average American Spanish language. Though there are many influences, you can be assured that tourist will have an easy way to communicate with them since in the tourist areas, English is very common. If you venture into the country a tour guide or translator is just available. Mexican Spanish is different in imperative ways from the Castilian Spanish of the mother country. You will notice many commonly used words either through their similarity to English or because the words themselves, such as rodeo, canyon and corral, have been absorbed into the American speech. Most of the five million Mexican Indians retain their own ancient tongue while still speaking Spanish.

Religion is of great importance in Mexico, with about 90 percent of the people practicing Roman Catholicism with minority populations of Jews, Protestants, Muslims and others. In many villages, many amazing churches, chapels and tabernacles all across the country are exquisite tourist attractions, and you can even find tours that specialize just in churches. One will most likely find a Catholic church in the plaza or central square, surrounded by a few stores and government buildings and, of course, an open-air marketplace. Although the country has no official religion as compared to there Latin countries, Roman Catholic has somehow influence the government for Christian holidays and Fiesta in memory of a saint are celebrated throughout the country.

Once the Spaniards arrived, the cities became more like towns with plazas and homes with patios. But in modern day, life in the cities became quite similar to that of the U.S., however many Mexican villagers still follow the older way of life. Nearly 75 percent of all Mexicans now live in cities or towns. Today, many households consist of an average of five or six people. Families live in rows of homes built in the Spanish colonial style and those who are in suburbs live in apartment buildings.

And always remember that Mexicans consider themselves Americans. They are very sensitive about this. They Live in America that’s why they have to be called one. They want to be called as Estados Unidos Mexicanos to be compared with Estados Unidos Americanos for the US people.

Trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – What You Need to Know

Machu Picchu, the so called “Lost City of the Incas”, has become a classic “see before you die” sight since it was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century by the American explorer Hiram Bingham. It is an unforgettable place – a set of excellently preserved Inca ruins perched on top of a mountain in the middle of the Peruvian Andes.

Machu Picchu is visited by almost a million people every year, and though the site is accessible by bus from the local town of Aguas Calientes, many people choose to trek the Inca Trail to get there. If Machu Picchu is one of the most famous historical sights in the world, the classic Inca Trail is one of the most famous treks; a four-day walk following an ancient Inca roadway and passing through a number of other Inca ruins before your first mesmerising glimpse of Machu Picchu from the ‘Gateway of the Sun’.

Sound exciting? It can be the trip of a lifetime, but if you are considering the trek to Machu Picchu, here are four things to be aware of…

Book ahead

In recent years, the Peruvian government has imposed tight restrictions on Inca trail treks in an attempt to lessen damage and erosion of the route and ease overcrowding. Only five hundred people (including porters and guides) are allowed to begin the trail each day, and you are required to book a permit to walk there. This means you typically need to book a place several months in advance, especially if you intend to trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in peak season (between June and August.)

Get in shape

While it is only a four-day trek, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is quite physically demanding, with high altitude passes and long days of hard walking. You don’t need to be a hugely experienced trekker to walk the Inca Trail, but some trekking experience and a decent general level of fitness are recommended.

When they try and trek the Inca Trail, far too many travellers fly straight in to Cusco from Lima and immediately start the trail. This can be a serious mistake, as Cusco itself is at over 3000m, and the trail itself goes even higher. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to acclimatise to the altitude. If you are flying straight into Cusco, it is a good idea to spend a little time at a lower altitude to give your body a chance to adjust, perhaps by taking a tour of the Sacred Valley before your Inca Trail trek.

Take the right equipment

Any reputable tour company will be able to provide you with a list of equipment, and some may even offer to rent equipment to you. As a bare minimum, you need some broken in hiking boots (trainers are not recommended!), several layers of warm clothing, a waterproof jacket or poncho, water bottle, good quality sleeping bag, and daytime trekking clothes. You may also want to take a pair of trekking poles – the stone staircases on the Inca Trail can be hard work on your knees!

Tip the porters

When you trek the Inca Trail, it is likely that most, if not all, of the camping and cooking equipment will be carried by local porters (pack animals are now banned from the trail). The treatment of the porters varies from company to company – some are well paid and well looked after, while others are definitely not. That’s another reason to go with a reputable company, who are committed to responsible tourism and have an established policies and practices regarding porter care.

Interact with your porter as much as possible (bringing some coca leaves as gifts is a good way to show your appreciation), and keep an eye on how the porters are treated – make a complaint after the trip if you feel that they have been hard done by.

Make sure that you bring some money to tip the porters at the end of your Inca Trail trek. The amount that you should tip varies with the quality of service, of course, but it is generally recommended that you bring between £25 – £35 in dollars or soles to cover the tips for your cook, guide and personal porter.

Medical Tourism: World-class Treatment At Layman’s Price

Consumerism is the new mantra of the present generation. People want value for money for every purchase they make. When almost every imaginable service is near at hand, can medical treatment be far behind? Of late, “doctor shopping” is the phrase that is circling the medical arena. This phrase refers to the rapidly increasing number of patients who choose to undergo medical treatment in foreign countries. People, especially in the US and the UK have realized that the medical treatment offered in their countries is highly expensive in comparison to such Asian and African countries like India, Thailand, Bangkok, Cuba, and Lithuania. These developing nations offer world-class healthcare and medical facilities to overseas patients. While the citizens of these nations find it hard to afford such facilities, patients from the US or other European countries find it quite affordable. Besides an inexpensive vacation package in these countries makes the whole process of treatment extremely attractive.

Before the discussing the pros and cons of medical tourism, it is necessary to glance at the origin of this trend. Medical tourism is not a new phenomenon. According to David Morgan, this phenomenon was perceptible in the early 19th century when no restrictions were imposed on the movement of people in Europe. Initially, mere traveling was considered a good therapy for physical as well as mental health. Later, the wealthy families began to make trips to the Swiss Lakes, the Alps, and special tuberculosis sanatoriums, where professional and specialized medical care was offered. The scenario improved further in the 21st century. Thailand, followed by India, Puerto-Rico, Argentina, Cuba, and Malaysia quickly emerged as the hottest medical tourism destinations. Complicated surgeries like hip and knee replacement surgery, dental works, cosmetic surgery, kidney dialysis, organ transplant and sex change topped the list of the popular procedures performed in these destinations. According to survey reports, in 2002, six hundred thousand medical tourists came to Bangkok and Phuket medical centers in Thailand, while approximately one hundred and fifty thousand foreign patients visited India in the same period. It is also estimated that by 2012, medical tourism in India will generate an astonishing $2.1 billion dollars in revenue. This assumption, however, is based on the fact that around 600 Baby Boomers from the US, Australia and Europe will age and seek medical care by that time span. This assumption has led many countries to treat the medical tourism sector as a profitable business. The Indian Government has also shown its interest in this sector by adopting various provisions to promote this industry. In Philippines, the medical tourism industry was included in last year Investment Priorities Plan. These trends are enough to justify the phenomenal growth of the medical tourism industry in the present age.

The major attraction of medical tourism to the innumerable number of overseas patients is its affordable cost. When compared to the expenses of medical treatment in the US, the prices in the Third World countries seem a mere trifle. In the US, there are approximately 43 billion people without health insurance and 120 million without dental coverage. In case of an emergency medical treatment, they are required to pay for the treatment either in cash or take out a loan. The ordinary citizens, especially the uninsured lot, find it hard to meet these estimated expenses. According to the CBC News, a cardiac surgery in the United States and the United Kingdom on average costs from $30,000 to $50,000, while root canal costs approximately $3,500. In such situations, medical tourism offers an excellent solution for such financial crunches. In India, for instance, example, the above-mentioned procedures can cost anywhere from $4000 to $9000 and $200 to $400, respectively.

Next comes the issue related to formalities involved prior to undergoing any medical treatment. In medical tourism destinations, not only are the paperwork hassles comparatively less, but also the liability policies are less strict. According to the News Target, “many MDs …insist that as much as 80 percent of all healthcare dollars that go through their office cover nothing but paperwork”. In addition, medical doctors spend a large percentage of their income on insurance coverage in a case of lawsuits, further increasing healthcare costs.

Time is another factor that lures patients to medical tourism spots from all over the world. In developed countries, the public healthcare system is too overburdened to perform all its duties on scheduled time. The situation is worse for those who need immediate treatment. Hence, the only option for these patients is to fly abroad for medical attention. Medical tourism has thus offered American and European citizens some better options than visiting their own doctors.

These advantages of medical tourism are more than adequate to score over European or American healthcare facilities. The only sound advice that foreign patients should keep in mind (while in a medical tourism destination) is to be prepared for some emergency expenses that might emerge on account of any medical complications. However, such cases are rare and the outcome is mostly satisfactory. Glancing at the present scenario, it would not be wrong to conclude that medical tourism is here to stay and invite universal acclaim.

Is life worth living?

What are you waiting for before you die!

Is life worth living? I was watching a BBC1 Horizon episode Living to 101′ about people who live into their 100s. The centenarians were curiously concentrated around Okinawa, Japan; Loma Linda, California, and in Ovodda, Sardinia. Their long-lived tendencies seemed to come down to the obvious good genes and healthy diet, but another factor, especially in Loma Linda was their religion (Seventh Day Adventist), which prescribes a vegetarian diet though research also shows that being part of a religious community also promotes longer living. Juxtaposed to this were some inhabitants of Glasgow, where some life expectancies were in their fifties, quite shocking for a modern country of the west. This was put down to their forefathers’ living through hard industrial times in high density tenements. Their immune systems over-compensated against the high rates of child infection, but left them with shorter life spans, it seems. This reminded me of epigenetic theories where the genetics of your grandparents and parents do matter and what affected them could be passed down to their children, contrary to prior belief. So generally, good genes, responsible eating, active communities and past conditions affect life spans.

To all of the people above, life was worth living, for better or for worse. So this got me thinking. What if, with enough of my physical and mental capabilities left, decent amount of money and some family around, I lived until I was101? What would I do? Would I live just for the sake of living? To beat longevity records? Is there anything to live for? Well, I would have a few reasons.

I am forty now, no children, but who knows. With another 61 years to go, I might consider a family, since on average people with partners and children tend to live longer. Once I start to get old, I might need someone to look after me, if I’m not in a care home by then. So to live to 101 would be to see my family grow.

I want to be around for the first Mars mission. I was a year old when we first went to the Moon, but now we’re stuck in low Earth orbit. We have the opportunity to launch privately owned spacecraft and we are now looking back to the Moon and beyond. I want to see the first human on Mars, leaving behind a red footprint as he travels off into the red canyons.

I have travelled a fair bit, but there are five places I really want to go; my pilgrimage spots: Machu Picchu, Peru; Tiwanaku, Bolivia; Antarctica,

Travel To Machu Picchu

One of the most visited sites in the world today by travelers is Machu Picchu. It is located in Cuzco, Peru in the high Andes Mountains. It is approximately 724 miles away from Lima, the Peruvian capital. A typical trip by land on a bus takes about 20 hours. One could also take a flight and arrive there in a heartbeat of one hour. The starting point usually begins in Lima.

The ruins sit surrounded by the Andes Mountains at about 11,024 feet above sea level. The name Machu Picchu literally means “old peak”, translated from the Quechua language. It was discovered by Hiram Bingham on July 24, 1911 while he was in charge of a Yale University expedition. It was in this landscape that the Incas built Machu Picchu at the end of the fourteenth century.

The climate is mild, warm and damp. It has a year round average temperature of 55F during the day. There are typically two seasons, a rainy season which lasts from November to March and dry season, which lasts from April to October. Most travelers prefer to travel to the site during the dry season.

Personal Travel Experience

I had the pleasure of visiting Machu Picchu 22 years ago around this time when I was a small child. I was accompanied by my mother. The scenery was beautiful and breathtaking. We took a train from the city of Cuzco and it took us just a few hours to get to Machu Picchu. Then we had to take a small bus up the trail all the way to the top. Nowadays, there are two ways to connect from Cuzco. One is a Tourist Train, which only operates in the high season. The trip takes four hours and returns in the evening. Then there is also the Autovagon, a tourist service that takes three hours to get to the site with an evening return trip as well. Both leave in the early morning hours.

We highly recommend you to put Machu Picchu, Peru as one of your top travel destinations to visit in the near future. The experience will be unforgettable.

UPDATE: On July 7th in Lisbon, Portugal, Machu Picchu was voted in as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

Travel destinations: Colombia

When I was planning my travels this time around, I had an itching to see more than just Mexico. Being fluent in Spanish, I had logically decided to explore South America. My original plan had been to fly from Mexico to Peru, go to Machu Picchu, Bolivia, the Amazon, etc. However, as I was doing my research, I found so many gleaming reports about a less-traveled yet equally stunning country. Infamous, feared and often misspelled, people who had actually been to Colombia had only good things to say about their experience.

Shrouded in a 20 year old reputation for drugs, violence and civil unrest, Colombia does not find itself as a steadfast blip on the traveler’s radar. South America is absolutely crawling with backpackers. As gigantic as South America is, many, many backpackers come and travel all around. Some start in Peru, others in Brazil or Argentina and start collecting stamps in their passports from there. This was one of the things that turned me off of my original plan of going to Peru. As I talked with more and more travelers, I found that the backpacker routes in South America are so heavily trodden that I realized I could see any of these countries at any age. While I am young and adventurous, I wanted to see a country that is not as easily accessible, not as well marked and possibly dangerous.

Aaaahhh, Colombia, sweet, gentle, misunderstood Colombia. The reality of life here in Colombia could not be further from the image of its reputation. In my two weeks of traveling around, I have never once felt like I was in danger. I have not heard any reports of massive violence, guerrilla attacks or coups. I have only seen cocaine once in a bar and was never offered it. I found Bogot, the capital to be a clean, refreshing city and the Caribbean coast a warm and friendly place.

The people of Colombia are well aware of their reputation. They will tell you, as well, that ten years ago Colombia was a different place. Ten years ago, there was violence and less safety, but now, one can feel confident traveling around. The people are very friendly, tolerant and welcoming. They appreciate the tourism because it is a sign that there is no fear, that maybe they will one day escape their terrible reputation.

I have quite enjoyed my time here. This country has everything you could want. This place has all the sights one sees in Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, but in one country. There are snow-capped mountains, deserts, Amazon jungle, white sand beaches and ruins. Most

Why Invest In Egypt Property?

The prospect of growth in developing markets means that property investors are becoming more adventurous in their choice of location, an investment firm has said.

Investors becoming more Hetal Shah, director of Investors Provident, says that traditional markets still provide a strong draw because of their guaranteed returns and reliability – but double-digit growth in countries such as Brazil, Morocco and Egypt means investors are increasingly setting their sights on more exotic locations.

“I think with the established markets, it’s never going to really die down. Even with the recent scare in the Spanish property market, I don’t think it’s really died down to that degree,” Mr Shah commented.

“Even in tried and tested markets, I don’t think you can go wrong … You’ve got the security, you’ve got guaranteed capital growth; although it’s going to be slow. It’s not going to be as high as what you’d find in somewhere like … India, or Brazil, Morocco, Egypt.

“We’re finding that Morocco, Egypt and Brazil seem to be the highlights of the day at the moment … People are being quite adventurous in that respect. And capital growth is really, really good in these locations. You’re looking at anywhere between ten, fifteen per cent a year,” he added.

The possibility of snapping up a bargain property is drawing many foreign investors to Egypt, an expert has stated.

Egypt Paul Collins, spokesperson for the BuyAssociation website, stated that the country was very popular because of the relative affordability of high-quality houses.

Commenting on the Egyptian market, he said: “Property is very, very cheap in comparison with other places where you have similar facilities and similar climates.”

He added that the country’s weather was also a strong draw for overseas investors, as they were “virtually guaranteed” to get hot and sunny conditions when visiting.

In addition, he said Egypt had a number of attractions that made it popular with holidaymakers, opening up the possibility of letting a property out to tourists.

Mr Collins cited the diving that takes place in the reef near Sharm El Sheikh as an example, along with the new golf courses in the region.

Meanwhile, tourists in Egypt are currently enjoying the opportunity to view the face of the country’s former ruler King Tutankhamun.

The mummified pharaoh has been placed on public display for the first time, exactly 85 years after it was first discovered.

Warm countries such as Egypt are proving to be highly popular tourist destinations this winter, experts have revealed.

Britons seek sunnier climes this Christmas According to TravelRepublic.co.uk, many Britons are choosing to leave the country over the Christmas period in order to enjoy high temperatures overseas.

The firm said that the number of people going abroad for a two-week holiday during the festive season was 238 per cent higher than at the same time last year.

Egypt was said to be one of the most popular locations among British leisure travellers, along with Spain and Portugal.

Speaking to the Northumberland Gazette, Mr Sanders commented: “More and more people are choosing to go away for Christmas and the New Year, whether it be to join friends and family or simply to catch some winter sun.”

This comes after the Buy Association website praised the quality and affordability of Egyptian property.

This will be good news for owners of tourist accommodation in major tourist resorts, as they will be likely to see an increase in rental yields as a result.

The research follows a similar study by Co-operative Travel carried out last month.

Analysts at the firm predicted that more than three million Britons would spend the festive period overseas – 11 per cent more than during last year’s Christmas season.

Tips to take the stress out of traveling

What is our problem? We’re not in work, we’re with our friends or our family; the people we’ve chosen to be with. We’re most likely in a beautiful setting and yet we feel stressed. Despite the fact conventional wisdom dictates that a vacation is when we should be having the best time, sometimes we feel like we’d just rather be at home.

Ironic though it may be, the stresses and strains of a vacation seem to be all the more amplified because it’s the very place we’re supposed to be at our best. Put very simply, because we feel we should be enjoying ourselves, we don’t. In my view, the first obstacle to a stress-free holiday is to accept that it’s not going to be perfect and to leave any feelings of guilt about that fact behind you.

And of course, we seem to think we should be happy about carrying heavy luggage, standing in lines, going through security checks, dealing with unhelpful airport staff, being worried about being late or waiting around with nothing to do. Of course this isn’t going to make us happy, but accept it and it won’t seem so bad.

More and more of us live for our vacations, working hard to be able to enjoy more and more luxurious, extravagant and different experiences; a spa holiday in an exotic destination for me was the ultimate. Yet the massage I was so looking forward to was one of the weirdest and least relaxing experiences of my life. I didn’t want hot sunflower oil poured over my head; I wanted what I get at my local spa.

I also recall arriving at Machu Picchu, expecting to be overwhelmed. Ringing in my ears were other travelers’ words, their gushing over the total sense of awe they experienced when they saw it. I just felt a bit tired, a bit bored to be honest and quite hungry.

Of course, it may be that on another day, I would have enjoyed having hot oil poured over me, and felt that sense of awe I so desired. But accepting that it’s not always going to happen, accepting that it’s not going to be perfect is surely a step in the right direction for making your holiday experiences better. Anticipate that everything will be an experience – good or unpleasant, underwhelming or breath-taking. It also pays to take solace in the fact that the bad experiences become the best traveling stories.

Of course, we’ve forgotten that we’re probably not traveling alone. Everyone we’re traveling with is likely to have their own annoyances and worries about traveling, be that impatience or concerns about flying. It is all too easy to try and solve everyone else’s problems, but it does help to concentrate on trying to see yourself through any stress rather than taking on other’s worries.

So 3 things to remember: not every minute of your vacation will be perfect, don’t feel bad about it; worry about yourself first and others later; seize the moment, it might be awful but it’ll make a great story.

Updating the Seven Wonders of the World for modern times

Although we might not be able to name them, most of us are familiar with the 7 Wonders of the World. This refers to the ancient wonders and was done in an ancient time. Recently, there was an internet site that had a vote to determine the New 7 Wonders of the World. This group was made up of items from 4000 years old to 34 years old. The final 7 are presented here, in no particular order.

Machu Picchu

He had picked up a 10 year old boy as a scout and guide. “A magnificent flight of stone agricultural terraces, rising 1,000 feet up the mountainside. I climbed a marvelous stairway of granite blocks, walked along a pampa where the Indians had a small vegetable garden, and came to a clearing in which were two of the finest structures I had ever seen. Not only were there blocks of beautifully grained white granite, the ashlars [squared blocks] were of Cyclopean size, some 10 feet in length and higher than a man. I was spellbound.”

This was written by Hiram Bingham as he re-discovered Machu Picchu. This was a city on the clouds, halfway up the Andean plateau and deep in the Amazon jungle that was revealed to the west in 1911. This wondrous city is still being studied and no one is certain just why it was built. I have heard a couple of theories; it was a religious site or it was a place of rest and relaxation for the king, maybe like a Club Med.

Should you ever have the opportunity to visit Mexico around Cancun you’ll be able to visit a place called Chichen Itza. Here you’ll find a Mayan city that is set to impress. Among the more impressive buildings is The Pyramid of Kukulkan. Chances are you’ve seen pictures and would recognize it. It stands 79 feet tall and was used by the ancient peoples as an astronomical building, they knew a lot about the stars and the skies.

The Taj Mahal

From Central America you’d have to travel halfway around the world to India. In the city of Agra is found a jewel of Muslin art, the Taj Mahal. Muslim mogul emperor Shah Jahan built this lovely building as a mausoleum for his dear departed wife. This was done around 1630ad and it is absolutely beautiful. The emperor was, as the story goes, later imprisoned and could only see the gift to his wife through a small window. Upon his death, the Shah was buried nest to his wife.

The building fell into disrepair in the 19th century. India tried to keep it repaired but were concerned about German and Japanese bombers during the war. Fortunately for India, nothing horrible

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