Internationally renowned music idol Mark Knopfler, who arrived here Friday for his first tour of India, dreams of returning to the country to see the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Knopfler, who will play two concerts in India - in Mumbai Saturday and in Bangalore Monday - said the tight schedule for his tour would not allow him to see the 17th century monument of love during his current visit.

"I would love to see the Taj Mahal but this is an occupational hazard (of the music business). I'll come back with my family, I am determined to do it," he told a news conference at Taj Land's End Hotel here Friday night.

Knopfler, best known to millions of music fans around the world as the voice and guitar of Dire Straits, said he was also open to the idea of collaborating with Indian musicians.

"It's possible, I love collaborations. If there was a project that was interesting, I would love to do it," said the soft-spoken music journalist-turned-rock star.

Currently touring the world to promote his latest album "Shangri-La", Knopfler is the latest in a growing list of international artists who have added India to their tour itineraries. His tour of India comes nearly a month after Sting played in Delhi and Bangalore.

Talking about his latest album, Knopfler said: "Everybody has their idea of Shangri-La, and I have mine. That song ("Our Shangri-La") is really about teaching myself to enjoy the present, the now, because it's not going to happen again."

Dressed casually in a black t-shirt and jeans, Knopfler was given a traditional Indian welcome by a group of children when he arrived at the hotel, his forehead being adorned with a vermilion streak.

Asked about his legendary style of playing guitar and what tips he had for youngsters picking up the instrument, Knopfler turned to his well-known self-deprecating sense of humour.

"The guitar is just something that I write songs with. I would be a nightmare student for a real guitar teacher," said the man whose guitar playing had featured on albums by Bob Dylan, Steely Dan and the Jeff Healey Band.

"I do everything wrong. It's a combination of doing things wrong. I used to fall asleep playing and I seem to have perfected that," he said, with a smile.