Agra, Feb 19: Hundreds of people from all walks of life participated in a mini-marathon ahead of the opening of the "Taj Mahotsav", the ten-day annual festival at Shilpgram near the Taj Mahal.

"Around 1000 participants took part in this marathon. The participants included officers, athletes, school children and soldiers. They ran almost four kilometres to reach the finishing line. Through this medium, we wanted to give a goodwill message," said Rajeev Rautela, Additional District Magistrate.

Agra, Feb 17 : Preparations are on in full swing for the "Taj Mahotsav", the ten-day annual festival at Shilpgram near the Taj Mahal.

Bedecked elephants and camels, drum beaters, folk artists and master craftsmen together would recreate the glorious past of the Mughal era ambiance during the carnival that kick starts every year on February 18.

The Taj Mahotsav will display the country''s extensive arts, crafts and culture besides folk music, and classical dance performances as well as elephant and camel rides, games and a food festival, all forming part of the festivities.

Agra, Feb 15 : Residents in Agra are waging a constant struggle against monkeys.

Perched atop buildings, gates, carts telephone and electric wires, these monkeys are constantly on the lookout for eatables and will attack anybody carrying them.

Numerous people have fallen prey to the monkey attacks.

"Two to three people have died after being attacked by monkeys and, dozens are getting treated for monkey bites. It has become difficult to even walk on streets. Nobody can walk freely on the road if carrying some eatables. The monkeys have become so daring that they snatch it from the hands and are not even afraid of sticks," said Deepak Khare, a resident.

US film actress Julia Roberts visited the emblem of Love Taj Mahal on Thursday.

Julia was spotted with her husband Daniel Moder and children.

Wearing a scarf to hide her identity from the large number of fans as well as media persons gathered at Taj Mahal awaiting her visit, Julia behaved like an ordinary tourist preferring to walk towards the edifice from the main gateway on the sidewalk rather than the main platform running along the central vista.

Only a few could identify the US actress though many had laid in wait for her and in vain scanned the road from Amar Vilas Hotel, where she was staying, to the Taj.

Agra, Dec. 29 : Cyclists belonging to different parts of the world are participating in a bicycle rally, organized against terrorism in Agra, the city of Taj Mahal.

The 300-kilometre bicycle rally, which was flagged off from Agra will conclude on January 4 in Jaipur. Participants include individuals from America, Australia Kenya, Dubai, Britain among others.

Spreading the message of love is the only effective tool to fight terrorism, said Raj Bajaj, Managing Director of Adventure World India Private Limited on the occasion.

Agra, Dec. 7 : Taj Mahal, the historical monument of love in Agra city of Uttar Pradesh, has been one of the major tourist attractions not just for the domestic or foreign tourists but also for any world leader visiting India for the first time.

Over the years, the 17th century built Taj Mahal has witnessed a threat to its beauty from rising pollution. Environmentalists and others have expressed serious concerns about the Taj Mahal’s beauty getting affected by rising pollution-level on several occasions.