Highlights from recent Delhi/Agra trip

Back from what my daughter calls a zigzag adventure in India - from Bangalore to Delhi/Agra to Mumbai...survived the Delhi-belly, the chaotic traffic and had an absolutely fantastic time...Few highlights worth sharing:

Delhi
1) managed to catch the Sound and Light show braving the cold - and it was a great short and memorable history lesson. The traffic to get there was well, an eye-opener! Even my 5 year old now tells us stories of the Mughals...
2) Enjoyed Humayun's tomb, the Qutub Minar; revelled in the beauty of the Rastrapati Bhavan -'looks like the Buckingham Palace, mama', the Jantar Mantar was a maze though could do with better explanations. Kids had fun climbing around.
3) Discovered the Rail Museum (given kids' ages) and thoroughly enjoyed it despite the poor upkeep and maintenance. They even have a steam engine but one needs to check in advance to enjoy a ride on it.
4) Food-wise: Move over Bokhara (at the ITC), its Panjabi by Nature all the way - great North Indian/Panjabi food from kebabs, tandoori, lassi (yoghurt drink with a dollop of home-churned butter) - it was sooo good that we went twice in that one week! They have 4 branches but we went to the one at Vasant Vihar (Priya Cinema Complex). Enjoyed fare at 1911 at the Imperial - have the Muligatawny! And browse the photos from the times of the British raj. We also tried the Indian chinese at Fujiya (Malcha Marg) but were not that impressed.
5) Fab India - over-rated/priced though clothes for kids are good. Much prefer the Bombay Stores in Mumbai.

Agra
My daughter said, and rightfully so, that the only place that's not filthy in Agra is the Taj Mahal! Drove to Agra from Delhi - Innova - not so bad but the roads could be much better...
1) Visited the Taj first thing in the morning - they open at sunrise - and there are only a few 100 people with the security queue being the only real crowded part. It was lovely to see the brightness and luminscence of the Taj change as the sun came up. In the winter, apparently the Taj is a fave with everybody and the crowds in the afternoon get rather unwieldy. So, beat the crowds and get there early. You can get permission 24/48 hrs in advance to view the Taj at night and your hotel concierge will help you with that. We didn't end up doing it, though.
2) Agra Fort was enjoyable though yet again kind of callously maintained. Personally, found Fatehpur Sikri a bit disapointing. Had expected it to be a huge set up and all. It was sad and desolate in comparison...but then most of these monuments pale in comparison to the Taj! The stories about the Mughal kings are fascinating nonetheless...and it is said that Akbar had walked barefoot to the Salim Chisti saint to ask for an heir...
3) Stayed at the Trident - really enjoyed it - and their wood-stoked oven thin crust pizzas!
Oh, and barely missed the Russian president who visited the Taj on our last day in Agra - as they say, saved from the closure and security rigmarole!

Bangalore
Not much to say except do try the Airlines Hotel for a coffee under a banyan tree., we also visited a nice veg eatery called Rajdhani which serves 12 course-Gujarati/ Rajasthani fare.

Mumbai
Was a fleeting visit too...did the usual bit of the Gateway and the Taj hotels/Marine Drive bits... But, do eat at Gazallee, a seafood place in the suburbs where a friend took us. Bought books at the Strand Book Stores near Bombay Stores.

Oh, and the wedding we went for, well, that was zimply one grand affair! Straight out of the movies, well almost!