Benares via Agra

When I first discovered that I would be given the opportunity to spend a summer in India it didn't even occur to me that my trip would include a visit to one of the 7 man made wonders of the world, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that our overseas cultural and historical studies would include a visit to the famous Taj Mahal. Our team of 8 along with two local workers made our way out of Delhi early one Saturday morning and boarded a train to Agra. We would only spend one day there but the team's expectations were high. The Taj did not disappoint, nor did the lesser known Red Fort or any of the other landmarks we visited. Rather than use a lot of words that won't do justice to the sights I thought I'd make this a picture post - If you can I'd highly recommend a visit to the Taj Mahal - it's easily one of the most incredible landmarks I've ever seen, and I've seen a historical landmark or two.



We arrived in Agra about mid morning and after navigating various security checkpoints that included bans on toys, food, gloves, and other random things that we couldn't identify we found ourselves here, at one of the three identical gates to the Taj Mahal - which was stunning in and of itself.

There she is! Traffic moved pretty slow through these gates with all the tourists taking snapshots...including myself.

The team left to right: Jake, Brittany, Dorcas, Me, Wagner, Nate, Davi and Kristen
{mini history lesson: the Taj Mahal was built as a tomb for one of the Mogul emperor's favorite wife. in their culture they believed that the defining feature of heaven is perfect symmetry - hence the incredible symmetry of the Taj Mahal - or so said our tour guide}

Arabic writing that frames the arches
and doorways - again, solid marble

beautiful flowers carved all around the base of the Taj and some of the arch ways. Note this is all carved in solid marble.




The main entrance to the Taj where the emperor/king's wife is entombed.

 

The inside, the lamp in the center hangs down over the tomb of the empress,
which is completely fenced off from the public by a lattice - so you can see. but it's hard to get pictures.

Leaving the Taj - those umbrellas aren't because anyone's expecting rain, though it would have been welcomed - the sun shone down at 120 degrees that day, and you are supposed to take of your shoes at holy sights like the Taj Mahal, which I'll remind you (again) is made of marble and gets very very hot in the sun.

The Red Fort was our next Tourist spot. The Red Fort was the Royal palace of the man who built the Taj Mahal. In my opinion it is almost more impressive than the Taj, and the security isn't nearly as strict, so even though the heat was taking it's toll on our energy levels we had lots of fun exploring



One of the many arch lined corridors leading from one section of the palace to another -
this was facing the women's quarters.

The interior of the women's chamber, in order to keep the rooms cool they often built water canals and fountains into their rooms...I still can't get over the detail.



One of the many guard towers along the palace
walls

the corridors around the inner court of the Red Fort



After we finished exploring the Red Fort and took a little lunch break our feet were killing us so we stopped in for a Thailand style foot spa treatment which basically consists of little tiny fish nibbling at your toes...it tickled so much!

After our foot nibbling experience we headed to the very little known 'Baby Taj' which had no security whatsoever and allowed us to explore to our hearts' content.

Overlooking one of Agra's river from the Guard
Tower of the Baby Taj...

...then Kristen and I got to Ride a Camel!!



...And then we almost got to fall off of a camel, but we survived.

 

Our last destination was one last glace at the Taj from the opposite side of a dried river bed then it was on to the train station and on to Benares, otherwise known as Varanasi.  

Stories and Pictures from Varanasi to come soon! Hope you enjoyed.

~Shaela