Agra, Aug 2 (IANS) Heavy overnight rains cooled temperatures in the Taj Mahal town of Agra. Many foreign tourists were Thursday seen enjoying the showers.
The downpour took most people by surprise. Thursday morning saw most low-lying areas in the city under water, courtesy choked drains.
The area around the Taj Mahal and Shah Jahan garden is lush green. Groups of foreign tourists were seen enjoying the cool breeze.
“The tourists had felt tortured and harassed by the long sultry and hot weather. But the sudden change in the weather promises a big turnout at the Taj Mahal,” said a hopeful tourist guide, Aftab.
Next week Shah Jahan’s annual Urs will be the major event, for which preparations are in full swing.
“Learning from last year’s experiences, the CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) has imposed some restrictions on movement of namazis for the Urs and on carrying of food items inside the premises,” said an official.
The Urs of Ahmad Shah Bukhari and Mughal emperor Shah Jahan are to be held from Aug 7 to 11.
In Mathura and Vrindavan, pilgrims have started pouring in for the Hindola darshan and Sawan parikrama of Shiva temples. For a change the Yamuna is full of life again, with boats ferrying pilgrims across Mathura’s Vishram Ghat.