Agra (Taj Mahal)

We arrived back in the Old Delhi train station at 5 in the morning… and the place was jumping! Luckily, and despite that, we had Kishore and Sowmya graciously and aggressively helping purchase tickets for the next train out: the query and ticket purchase windows were spread apart, sometimes on opposite ends of the station, sparsely staffed attendants were not helpful, and queues were not respected. The Agra station and city were more manageable, and the tourist hawks are getting palpable as we learn market rates.

We set out for Agra Fort, built by the ruler Akbar when Agra was the capital of the Mughal empire. I lined up my shots for when Lulu arrives:

We then visited Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, affectionately called the 'Baby Taj.' Another mausoleum, it was built first and was a transitional piece – the first to use white marble. The grounds were a nice sanctuary from the hustle of the street.

We then caught more Taj views and relaxation from the botanical gardens across the Yamuna River. Another holy river, it joins the Ganges downstream. The intersection at Allahabad hosts the annual Magh Mela and the Kumbha Mela (4 times/12 years) pilgrimages.

In the mood for some comfort food, we dined at Pizza Hut. This would not otherwise be noteworthy if it were not for the energetic and entertaining staff who were performing Bollywood dances.

We woke early to beat the lines. While some monuments can be underwhelming, the Taj exceeded all of my expectations: it was grandiose, pictorial, and imbued the pride of a nation. The mausoleum shows off the love of a departed wife and skill of over 20,000 artisans.

I was most impressed with the inlay work; some of the stones lit up when you held a light to them.

The Taj is booked ended and emphasized by 2 red sandstone mausoleums built for other wives. Overshadowed by the Taj, they are impressive on their own.