AMBER FORT
Amber Fort is a breathtakingly striking complex of palaces, halls, pavilions, gardens and temples, all standing in a magnificent state that reflects the royal past of Rajasthan. Located atop a hill overlooking the Maota Lake, this red sandstone and marble fort looks like a fairy-tale palace.
The main entrance to this historic fort is through the imposing Suraj Pol or Sun Gate, so called because it faces the direction of the rising sun. There are two main halls , the Diwan-i-Aam and the Diwan-i-khas, and some of the other noteworthy architectural marvels in the complex are the Sheesh Mahal, Jal Mandir, Sheela Mata temple and the well-laid out garden called Kesar Kyari.

This Mausoleum is simple in line, moderate in decoration, but foreshadowing in its grace the fairer edifices of Shah Jahan.

Apart from housing the remains of an emperor and more than a hundred members of the ruling family including the headless trunk of Dara Shikoh, this place witnessed the surrender in 1857, of the last ruler of the Mughals, the 80 years old, Bahadur Shah Zafar. With him the era of the Mughals ended and that of British rule began. Col. H. A. Newell remarks, “History records nothing stranger, nor more dramatic than the imperial tragedy enacted with the shadow tomb on that hot September afternoon. Here, by the gleaming marble sarcophagus of the first hereditary monarch of the house of Taimur, the last monarch of the famous line yielded up the sword, wherewith Humayun had cut his way to the Empire.”

QUTAB MINAR
The Qutab Minar is the first great example of Muslim architecture. In general the Sultans of Delhi were busy with internal strife and wars to have much time for architecture, and such buildings as they have left us are mostly the tombs that they raised during their own lifetime as reminders that even they would die. Qutab Minar is none of the exceptions in that it is not a tomb. Over 720 years old, Qutab Minar is the chief architectural glory of Delhi and a masterpiece of early Indian technology and art. Considered by many to be the world’s most beautiful example of a tower, it symbolizes Delhi in the same way as does the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and commands a magnificent view from the summit.

According to one belief this world famous tower is said to be the work of Maharaja Prithvi Raj Chauhan, the last Hindu King of Delhi, who build this tower to fulfill the desire of his daughter to view the sacred river Yamuna daily from its height as part of her daily worship. According to this faith the titles of Sultans and verses from the Quran inscribed on the tower were done later.

However, according to another version the Qutub Minar was built by Qutbuddin Aibak as a tower of victory, and also being attached to the Quwat-ul-Islam mosque served the purpose of the Mauzzin to call the people to prayers. He had perhaps succeeded in raising the first storey only and the remaining storeys’ being eventually completed by Iltutmash, his successor.

The Qutub Minar originally had four storeys’ only, the uppermost of which was damaged by lightning in 1378. It was replaced by two storeys’ in marble and red sandstone by Feroz Shah Tughlaq. The three lower storeys are each laid on a different plan, the first having alternate circular and angular flutings, the second with round ones and the third with angular ones. The projecting balconies with stalactite pendentives on its brackets and inscriptional decorative bands on different storeys’ heighten its decorative effect. The Minar’s fluted form tapers from a 50ft diameter at the base to just 8ft at the top. This produces an illusion of even greater height.

TAJ MAHAL
If this is your first visit to the Taj, there is only one thing to remember – everything that has been said about it is at best inadequate. This mausoleum is a piece of poetry in marble; you will find yourself stopping before every marble screen, every bit of inlaid wall to marvel at the craftsmanship of those who created this architectural wonder. Recently the Taj Mahal was voted amongst the Seven Wonders of the World.
The Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan as the final resting place for his favorite queen, Mumtaz Mahal. A monument of marble, it is perhaps India’s most fascinating and beautiful monument. Built by the Persian architect, Ustad Isa this perfectly symmetrical monument took 22 years (A.D. 1630-52) of hard labor and 20,000 workers, masons and jewelers to build.
The red sandstone entrance to the Taj has verses from the Koran inscribed on it. The four minarets, its vaulted arches, the inlaid semi-precious stones are just a preamble to the central dome of the Taj. Right below this dome are the cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. These are just for display, though – far below in a locked basement, hidden from the human eye, the mughal king and his queen lie in their actual tombs, united in death.

How to get there?
Reaching at Siam Paragon Mall is very easy as it is centrally located and located right in front of Siam stop, hop on BTS (sky train) from any of the located stations and you are there and because it’s a famous destination which makes it one of the biggest landmarks of Bangkok so hiring a cab from any part of Bangkok and just letting the cab driver know Siam Paragon will lead you there but due to traffic congestion it is better and time consuming to come by BTS.

Why wait. Go ahead and indulge.

A breath taking appetizer made in which tender pieces of chicken is marinated with a paste of cashew nut, cream, ginger, garlic and yoghurt barbecued and garnished with egg foam to add perfection.

An all time north Indian favorite dish, spinach puree is prepared with ginger, garlic, onion, tomato paste with the touch of spices topped on fresh home made cottage cheese cubes and flavored with butter and coriander leaves.