We traveled to Agra yesterday morning, with frequent stops for photos of Indian rural and small town life.
After checking in to our hotel, a swim and some shopping, we headed for the Agra Fort where we had out first glimpses of the Taj Mahal. There is much more to say about that but its mostly history. Besides, with the Taj sitting across the river it was pretty hard to concentrate on the history lessons. Last night we headed to a cultural show. There was great music and dancing, and a dramatized introduction to the love story that resulted in the Taj Mahal.
We were up with the birds this morning to go to the Taj. There are lots of ways to get there. Horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, tuk-tuks, and rickshaws all converge on the gate dropping off early birds there to see the Taj in the early morning light. After passing through security (men in this line, Indian women in that line, foreign women over there) and a gentle pat down, we were anxious to get through the gate to see one of the seven wonders of the world.
It does not disappoint. The beauty of the white marble, the perfect symmetry, grand gardens and pools that you see so often from afar are even more magnificent up close. What look like innocent markings are revealed up close as carefully inlaid precious stones--carnelian, jade, black onyx, torquoise, jasper--creating swirling images of jasmine, hibiscus and lotus flowers. Every inch of the sparkling white marble, unique in this part of the world, is carved with images and decorative elements. It is simply the most elegant structure imaginable, a mausoleum built for Emperor Shah Jahan to fulfill a promise to his dying wife Mumtaz Mahal. She was his third and favorite wife, and died giving birth to their fifteenth child. He did such a bad job of looking aftr the Empire after her death and his greedy son was anxious to take over, so the poor Shah was imprisoned in Agra Fort. He did however have a lovely view of the Yamuna River and the Taj from his prison quarters where they are now both buried.
The love story continues daily with couples hanging on to each other and posing for selfies.
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| Brick factories for miles and miles |
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| A dung factory, I think. Dung disks are stored for heating in the winter. |
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| Ahhhh...great coffee at Costa |
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| The outskirts of Agra |
After checking in to our hotel, a swim and some shopping, we headed for the Agra Fort where we had out first glimpses of the Taj Mahal. There is much more to say about that but its mostly history. Besides, with the Taj sitting across the river it was pretty hard to concentrate on the history lessons. Last night we headed to a cultural show. There was great music and dancing, and a dramatized introduction to the love story that resulted in the Taj Mahal.
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| There it is...seen from the Agra Fort |
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| The Islamic detail--arches and carving--is spectacular. |
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| More detail of the inlay (carnelian, jasper lapis lazuli, jade) at the Agra Fort |
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| We were only a little conspicuous with our white hair and fair skin. |
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| Women and children are friendly, and always dressed so beautifully. |
We were up with the birds this morning to go to the Taj. There are lots of ways to get there. Horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, tuk-tuks, and rickshaws all converge on the gate dropping off early birds there to see the Taj in the early morning light. After passing through security (men in this line, Indian women in that line, foreign women over there) and a gentle pat down, we were anxious to get through the gate to see one of the seven wonders of the world.
It does not disappoint. The beauty of the white marble, the perfect symmetry, grand gardens and pools that you see so often from afar are even more magnificent up close. What look like innocent markings are revealed up close as carefully inlaid precious stones--carnelian, jade, black onyx, torquoise, jasper--creating swirling images of jasmine, hibiscus and lotus flowers. Every inch of the sparkling white marble, unique in this part of the world, is carved with images and decorative elements. It is simply the most elegant structure imaginable, a mausoleum built for Emperor Shah Jahan to fulfill a promise to his dying wife Mumtaz Mahal. She was his third and favorite wife, and died giving birth to their fifteenth child. He did such a bad job of looking aftr the Empire after her death and his greedy son was anxious to take over, so the poor Shah was imprisoned in Agra Fort. He did however have a lovely view of the Yamuna River and the Taj from his prison quarters where they are now both buried.
The love story continues daily with couples hanging on to each other and posing for selfies.
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| Monkeys on the roof of the security clearance gate |
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