'Tonga' Package for Agra Tourists

Agra: Colorful horse carts that trot off to historical sites, with guides clad in white kurta-pyjamas and Lucknavi jooties for company, could soon put a charming old world spin to tourism in this city.

If the Uttar Pradesh tourism department has its way, guides at various historical monuments in Agra, including the17th century Taj, will be seen attired in white kurta-pyjamas with Lucknavi jooties. Another interesting directive from him relates to giving a new lease of life to the dying tonga, or horse cart, culture in the city. According to a plan, well-decorated colored tongas will now be available to tourists to visit various sites in the city.

The state's DG of tourism, Parthsarthi Sen Sharma, on a two-day visit to the city, issued the directive, causing quite a flutter. District authorities have been asked to ensure that the sartorial switchover takes place at the earliest. The local office of the tourism department has been asked to monitor the progress of the changeover.

D.K. Burman, Joint Director, UP Tourism, told www.mediabharti.com that the ideas are interesting and welcome, but their implementation could pose some problems as many agencies are involved. "A few years ago, the Archaeological Survey of India had asked the National Institute of Design to suggest a uniform for guides. Certainly kurta-pyjamas in Agra's hot and humid weather would not only provide an ethnic touch in harmony with the monuments but also provide for comfortable wear which the guides would enjoy." As for popularizing tonga tourism, the only hitch is the distance between monuments. "If the tourists get held up in traffic jams on Agra roads in this weather, the whole fun of a tonga ride can turn into a nightmare," said a tourism department official.

"Certainly between the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort, a distance of about two kilometres, the tonga ride could be a fascinating experience," admitted Surendra Sharma, President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association. But, "Fatehpur Sikri" is too far off and going to the "Itmad-ud-daula" tomb across the river Yamuna would prove a waste of time, he added.

The city's tonga population is fast dwindling with hardly a few dozen left at Purani Mandi near the Taj, Loha Mandi, Belanganj and Bijlighar. "We hardly make Rs.100 these days and it's so hard to maintain a horse, but some patronage from the state government will surely help us," said Noora of Taj Ganj, whose son works with him, ferrying mostly domestic tourists from the Taj to Dayalbagh via the Fort.

"Yes, many foreign tourists enjoy tonga rides and they just love talking to us to get an insight into our culture," said Mohana, another tonga wallah.

"Some hotels have horse-driven buggies for foreign tourists and they all enjoy the experience," according to Sandeep Arora, a hotelier in the Taj Ganj area.

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