Posted by Adam on April 07th 2007
The Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal
We took the 6 am flight to Delhi. By about 9:30 am we had all gotten our bags (I actually got mine this time) and were packed in for our 4 hour journey south to Agra, the one time Capital of India and the home of the famed Taj Mahal. My original plan was to get some sleep in the car on the way down. I am not sure if it was because the insistent honking horns or because of the hot, sticky car but I didn’t get my nap in. It was an interesting drive though.
Once we (finally) got to Agra and stopped for directions twice we arrived at the AgraFort. As we piled out of the car we were immediately greeted by man named Rajiv. Rajiv was kind enough to offer us his tour guiding services. As no one in the group was at all familiar with the Agra Fort or even Agra for that matter, we took him up on his offer. It took us quite a while to get though the whole place. There is a lot to see, a lot of interesting architecture, including a running polyreligious theme. The attention to detail is amazing. We were shown one room (that for some reason cost everyone an additional 100 rupees to see) that was tiled with small mirrors. From another room you can see the The Taj Mahal from across the river.
After a lunch break at a restaurant that for some reason was called ‘Quality’ we were off to see the Taj. Its funny because when I said that we might go see the Taj Mahal to some of the guys at the office it was always pointed out that the Taj is one of the 7 wonders of the world. I believe it.
When we finally did get to the Taj Mahal it truly is an incredible sight (one that definitely deserves to be on the list of the seven wonders of the world). The building itself was constructed by Shah Jahans as a memorial to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal who died giving birth to their fourteenth child*. The building and everything surrounding the building is made of white marble, which has this really cool transparent quality to it when light shines though it. Another quality that this stone has is that it gets ridiculously hot in the sun. Shoes are not allowed in the building itself. Most people just walked barefoot through. But because we were perceived as huge wimps by Rajiv he made us wear these embarrassing accessories.
All in all, this was a good day, exhausting but good. The sun was begining to set as we headed off on a camel that evening and children were peddling miniature Taj Mahal keychains and men were getting a trim and a monkey watched the activity below. I know that it is pretty far out of the way, but if you get the chance, I highly recommend going to Agra.
* after fourteen kids in 16 years building this thing was the least he could do.
Your blog makes you sound like a Preston. It’s amazing that it is so detectable. Glad you had good times in India. Have a great week!
well well well. i see you’ve gone and done it. you’ve gotten yourself up and shipped off to India. How did this occur?
on serious note – what an amzing opportunity. be safe