Taj-CWG Express: Athletes floored by hospitality, swept by love
Athletes participating in CWG visited the Taj Mahal and realised the value of love as they also heard tales of Radha-Krishna eternal love.
THE TAJ Commonwealth Express, which made eight trips from New Delhi to Agra and back taking players and officials participating in the Commonwealth Games to the city of love, proved to be a date with eternal love for many of them.The exterior of the train is vinyl wrapped in Commonwealth colours and theme while the interior is branded with 231 photo exhibits depicting images of Indian cultural heritage, sports and railways.
The cost of doing the exteriors was approximately Rs one crore seventeen lakh.
It has nine coaches and three extra coaches were attached for the last two trips
The food, prepared by norhthern ralways, was served to the guests by liveried bearers in achkans and safas.
The train made its first trip to Agra on October 6.
It was a seven-hour stay in Agra, which included traveling, sightseeing of Taj Mahal, visit to shilpgram and lunch.
The athletes and others were divided into groups and each group was taken around the Taj Mahal with a guide doing all the explaining – from the architecture to culture to the great bond of love that resulted in the very structure.
The architecture of the Taj intrigued almost all.
But one common reaction that was drawn from the foreign athletes and officials was of disbelief and surprise over how can there be so much love, which the Taj is a testimony of.
Alison Nuttall, an athlete from England said, “Mumtaz was very lucky.”
“It (the Taj Mahal) really symbolizes that the god gifted love between man and wife has to stay. It is the purest bond and should be like the one shared by Shahjahan and Mumtaz,” John Ekiru from Kenya said.
The visitors also praised the upkeep and maintenance of the monument.
During the lunch at Agra, dance performances revolving around Lord Krishna and Radha were presented before them and included ‘raas lila’ and ‘brij holi’, with aspects of eternal love between the two.
The blistering heat, however, was a bit of a spoilsport for some.
Armin Asha, a Bangladeshi athlete said “it is too hot, I am not able to enjoy fully because of the weather. It is not this hot back home.”
The experience on board was also in for praise.
The athletes and officials praised the service provided by the cabin staff, the organization, food, transport, safety and hospitality.
Victoria, a Jamaican athlete had written in her feedback: “This was a life changing experience that tought us about the true Indian culture and the hospitality of its people. I have visited the Great Wall and the ancient building in Greece (Athens) but this was the best journey…”
It has nine coaches and three extra coaches were attached for the last two trips
The food, prepared by norhthern ralways, was served to the guests by liveried bearers in achkans and safas.
The train made its first trip to Agra on October 6.
It was a seven-hour stay in Agra, which included traveling, sightseeing of Taj Mahal, visit to shilpgram and lunch.
The athletes and others were divided into groups and each group was taken around the Taj Mahal with a guide doing all the explaining – from the architecture to culture to the great bond of love that resulted in the very structure.
The architecture of the Taj intrigued almost all.
But one common reaction that was drawn from the foreign athletes and officials was of disbelief and surprise over how can there be so much love, which the Taj is a testimony of.
Alison Nuttall, an athlete from England said, “Mumtaz was very lucky.”
“It (the Taj Mahal) really symbolizes that the god gifted love between man and wife has to stay. It is the purest bond and should be like the one shared by Shahjahan and Mumtaz,” John Ekiru from Kenya said.
The visitors also praised the upkeep and maintenance of the monument.
During the lunch at Agra, dance performances revolving around Lord Krishna and Radha were presented before them and included ‘raas lila’ and ‘brij holi’, with aspects of eternal love between the two.
The blistering heat, however, was a bit of a spoilsport for some.
Armin Asha, a Bangladeshi athlete said “it is too hot, I am not able to enjoy fully because of the weather. It is not this hot back home.”
The experience on board was also in for praise.
The athletes and officials praised the service provided by the cabin staff, the organization, food, transport, safety and hospitality.
Victoria, a Jamaican athlete had written in her feedback: “This was a life changing experience that tought us about the true Indian culture and the hospitality of its people. I have visited the Great Wall and the ancient building in Greece (Athens) but this was the best journey…”
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