Taj Mahotsav is one of the biggest events held by Department of Tourism in the city of Taj, Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Since 1992, this festival is being held every year in the month of February from 18 to 27 for 10 days. The venue of this festival is Shilpgram which is located near the eastern gate of Taj Mahal. The purpose of this festival is to show case the culture, art and craft of the country including handicrafts, music and dance. Almost 400 artists from different parts of country perform on stage or display their craft on stalls in this festival.
If you are visiting Agra to see the Taj Mahal in the month of February during above mentioned dates then do not forget to attend this cultural festival. Apart from great local food and crafts you will definitely enjoy the performances of renowned artists who came here from different parts of the country. These artists are perfectly chosen by the authorities to showcase their best talent from all over the country.
This ten days long festival is also a great platform for new artists who want to gain fame in performing arts industry to perform live on stage with thousands of people. Local administrations also invites many renowned artists for live performance and their shows are scheduled each day to cover up the entire festival.
Being organized continuously for last 25 years, Taj Mahotsav also gives you opportunity to see the Taj Mahal in full noon night which would be a bless for you as a tourist. Only limited numbers of tourist are allowed in small groups to see the Taj two days before and two days after the full moon night. Also visitors only have 30 minutes to be inside the premises, so do not miss it.
Taj Mahotsav is not only a festival of dance and music, there is something for everyone to enjoy here. If you are a food lover, you can enjoy many less known dishes from many states such as Rajasthan and Gujarat and believe me you are really going to love them. Also do not worry about children as Fun Fair would take care of them. Fun Fair is organized specially for children but adults will also enjoy it. Thrill rides and Roller Costers are the main attraction of Fun Fair for both children and adults.
When you visit Agra during this festival season, you must stay here at least for a night. This will not only give enough time to explore the Taj Mahotsav but also give you opportunity to see the sound and light show organized in Agra Fort every night. There are many luxury and budge hotels around Shilpgram and Taj Mahal. Most of the hotels are located o Fatehabad road which is very close to the venue. However during these days, you might face difficulty finding the right hotel for you because of heavy rush in the city. It is recommended to make advance booking if you have fixed schedule of your visit.
Although Agra is well connected with the most of cities in India, still if you can’t get a direct train of flight then you can come to New Delhi first. There are many trains and buses that ply on Delhi – Agra route. It would only take around 3 hours by train and 4 hours by Bus. You can also book private taxi from the taxi stand at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations and Sarai Kale Khan Bus terminal. Shared transport is also available from these points which will also save you money. If you want to know more read How to Reach Agra articles for detailed information.
So if you are planning to visit during winter, try visiting during festival season which will make your trip memorable and will also make you familiar with local Art, Craft, Culture and Music.