Under Pressure's blog

Tips for Visiting the Taj Mahal, India

A prominent landmark on the bucket-list of many an adventurous traveller, the Taj Mahal is an architectural wonder that is definitely worth making the trip to see.

This immense mausoleum carved in glowing white marble was constructed in 1648 and was dedicated by Shah Jahan, a Mughal Emperor to the memory of his beloved wife. It is one of the world’s most impressive and best-preserved tombs, and a true masterpiece of Indian Muslim architecture. You will have seen it hundreds of times in photographs, but nothing compares to the awe-inspiring experience of walking through among its ornamental gardens, reflecting pools, and stunning ornately-carved stonework.

Taj Mahal Tips

Here are some helpful tips to remember when visiting the Taj Mahal:

• Remember to switch off your mobile phone when entering the complex and that eating and smoking are forbidden.
• You might want to bring a handheld torch with you, because the interior of the palace can be dark even in the daytime and you will need some light to appreciate the beautiful carvings.
• Keep in mind the Taj Mahal is a religious site, so you should show your respect and dress conservatively. If you also plan on visiting the mosques within the complex you will need to have your shoulders and legs covered.
• The best time to visit the Taj Mahal, and India as a whole, is in the months of November to February. This is when the weather is the most pleasant, and otherwise it will be unbearably hot and rainy.
• If you can get to the Taj Mahal earlier in the day you will avoid the large crowds of tourists. If you can get there early enough to watch the sunrise, you can see this beautiful white marble structure change colour with the tones of the sky.
• If you plan to stay in Agra overnight, you should stay in the suburbs. Most of the hotels near to the Taj Mahal are questionable in quality and the noise from the visitors will keep you awake. Choose a hotel in a suburban area outside of the city where there is less noise and pollution.

How to Get There

The Taj Mahal can be found within the city of Agra, in the northern state of Uttar Predesh approximately 200km away from Delhi. There are many direct routes to India, and flights to Delhi.

An easy way to get the the Taj Mahal is by rail. The main railway station in Agra is Agra Cantt, and it is connect by high speed rail services to other cities such as Delhi, Varanasi, and cities in Rajasthan.

You could also rent a car and drive to the Taj Mahal, which will probably take around 4-5 hours from Delhi because of how crowded the roads can be. There are also bus services connecting Delhi with the city of Agra.

Enjoy exploring this amazing architectural work of art!

Etihad is the fastest growing commercial airline - ever

A video about Etihad  Airways from its launch in 1993 and how it became the fastest growing commercial airline of all time flying to destinations in all 4 corners of the world.

Based in UAE the airline is perfectly positioned to be a hub for international routes including international transfers which are served by  flights to Dubai via Abu Dhabi International Airport.  Etihad prides itself on providing levels of comfort and service to its guests that will ensure its continued growth.

Going Down - Sent to Australia

With all the shake ups of Vox (ah lament) blogs moving over to TypePad it was cheering to see this funny video that mocks the British "punishment" of yester-year by sending wrong doers to Australia.

In the video, made by th4e Australiand Tourist Boards to encourage more passenger to visit Australia (some flights to Sydney from The UK are less than 24 hours) and soak up all the sun, surf and fun that continent has to offer.

Etihad Airways Boeing 787-Dreamliner Aircraft

Calling all plane-spotters — Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, hailed as the biggest advance in aircraft design since Concorde, lands in Britain today, and just in time for the Farnborough airshow.

The revolutionary aircraft is, in effect, the world’s first plastic airliner — the fuselage is built from lightweight, high-durability carbon-fibre composites, and the wings are made with a combination of composites and titanium graphite laminate. The result is a plane that is considerably lighter, and therefore more fuel-efficient, than any other commercial aircraft and has recieved many compliments about its recognition of the impact of climate change due to increased passenger demand for both leisure and business air travel.

More than 50 airlines have placed orders and the first flights are likely to take off before the end of this year, operated by the Japanese airline ANA. The British charter carrier Thomson Airways has ordered 11 planes, with the inaugural flight scheduled for January 2012.  Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates based in the UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi. has ordered 35 of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner

Currently Etihad offers flights to 64 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa, Australia and Asia.

Unlike the Airbus A380 superjumbo, which was designed to move huge numbers of passengers between hub airports, the Dreamliner — which is the same size as a Boeing 767 — is designed to take passengers directly to their destination. Its fuel efficiency, combined with long-haul capability, means that tour operators such as Thomson can now open exotic destinations such as Bali, Borneo and the Maldives to the masses and national airlines will be able to offer scheduled long haul flights to Mumbai, India from Europe and return flights to London from Australia and Asia

While the cabin interior is unlikely to be noticeably roomier than current configurations, it should be more comfortable. Unlike aluminium aircraft, which maintain a cabin pressure equivalent to 8,000ft altitude, the 787’s more resilient composite body can be pressurised to 6,000ft, possibly reducing the effects of jet lag. Cabin lighting, which will mimic daylight intensities, will mitigate those effects further, and the Dreamliner’s noncorrosive body construction allows for higher humidity levels, leaving passengers less dehydrated.

The windows, at 18in tall, are the largest on any commercial aircraft, and come with adjustable electrochromic dimmers. In-flight entertainment will be delivered via a wireless network that will also allow passengers internet and email access.

Will the Dreamliner prove as popular with passengers as the A380? Many airlines are reporting that passengers are choosing to fly only on A380s — postponing trips unless seats are available — because of the reduced cabin noise and increased personal space.

Environment ‘Killer shrimp’ discovered in UK waters

Aggressive “killer shrimp” that wipe out weaker native species and destroy insect populations have been spotted for the first time in UK waters.

The invasive species of freshwater shrimp, which has much larger and more powerful jaws than its British rivals, is notorious for its vicious and destructive behaviour. It kills or maims every insect it comes across, attacking even when it is not hungry and leaving its prey uneaten.

Its victims include damselflies and water boatmen, with knock-on effects for the fish that feed on them. It even attacks young fish and tends to dominate any habitat it enters.

The arrival of Dikerogammarus villosus, which originates from the region of Eastern Europe between the Black and Caspian seas, was discovered last Friday by anglers at Grafham Water reservoir in Cambridgeshire. They sent samples to the Environment Agency, which identified the species with the help of an expert in the Netherlands.

We are devastated that this shrimp has been found in Britain, and very grateful to the keen-eyed anglers who found it

The species has spread rapidly through western Europe since the early 1990s after travelling 2,000 miles up the river Danube and into the Rhine. It has altered the ecology of many rivers and lakes, wiping out native shrimp (Gammarus duebeni) and a less aggressive North American invasive species (Gammarus tigrinus).

Scientists predicted a decade ago, when the shrimp reached the Netherlands, that it would be only a matter of time before it invaded Britain.

An experiment in 2000 at Queen’s University Belfast demonstrated the lethal capacity of this tiny killing machine. It put the shrimp into aquariums with ten other species, including native shrimp, damselflies, water hoglice and fish leeches. It killed them all, with the uneaten remains found at the bottom of the tanks. Its success is partly linked to its rapid breeding and ability to withstand changes in oxygen levels, salinity and water temperature.

Biologists are testing the water at Grafham to see what action needs to be taken. Anglian Water said that the shrimp pose no risk to drinking water supplies. However, it has introduced precautionary measures for the thousands of fishermen, sailors and windsurfers who use the lake. These include requiring them to clean their equipment before it is used on any other lake or river.

The Environment Agency said that the shrimp could have arrived at Grafham in a variety of ways, including on boats and fishing equipment, during fish stocking or naturally via birds that have flown to the United Kingdom. It can be distinguished from native shrimp because it is much larger — about 30mm long — and often has striped or spotted markings.

Paul Leinster, chief executive of the Environment Agency, said: “We are devastated that this shrimp has been found in Britain, and very grateful to the keen-eyed anglers who found it.”