On Saturday, the athletes and the delegations of the Commonwealth Games headed to the city of Taj Mahal after Delhi’s mega sporting event same to an end.
The Indian Railways, in tie-up with the Organising Committee (OC), organised eight trips between October 6 and October 16 to ferry foreigners to the city of India’s cultural symbol.
“We had organised the trips for the CWG visitors to bridge cultural ties,” Northern Railway’s spokesperson Rajesh Khare stated to the media while on board the Commonwealth Games Express train which was ferrying the delegates, athletes and the media.
For visitors moved by the majestic beauty of the 16th century monument, the visit was a dream come true, as they swarmed around it, clicked pictures and showered adjectives like “incredible”, “beautiful”, “masterpiece” and “terrific”.
“It is a lifetime experience. I am elated to the core. I want to take a replica of the Taj Mahal back to my country,” Karinki, a Kenyan delegate stated to the media.
Meanwhile, Canadian delegate, Jamie Shakur said, “it is a dream come true to visit the Taj, thanks to the Railways and the OC.”
“I have seen ancient buildings in Greece and the Great Wall of China in Beijing. My dream to see Taj has finally came true. The Games could not have been better,” said Herman, a Jamaican delegate.
Meanwhile, Marathon Gold medallist John Ekiru Kelai termed the visit as one that made him part of history.