Agra
From peaceful, quiet countryside back to bustling, crowded, dirty, noisy city. This time we are in Agra, home to Taj Mahal. We arrived in late afternoon and went to see the Taj across a river with the setting sun shining on it. However, the smog was so bad that one can barely see the sun through it, let alone have it shining on the Taj. It still was a beautiful sight and we enjoyed the garden area.
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- lunch spot
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- welcome to hotel
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- Taj Mahal
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- kami berdua
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- Taj in smog!
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- interesting sign in garden
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- egrets
The following morning we got up early to see the Taj in the morning light. Security lines were very long as they do a thorough search of everyone. The Taj Mahal is a national gem. It was built by the Mughal emperor in memory of his favorite wife who died in 1631. We won’t say much about the Taj because it is well known. We do, of course, have lots of photos. It is massive; it is beautiful. It was also in the smog and there were thousands of others there also! It was hard to really enjoy.
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- Taj in smog
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- guesthouse
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- entrance
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- mosque
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- entrance to Taj Mahal
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- decoration
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- corner of Taj
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- sidewalk pattern
We visited the Agra Fort built in the mid-1500’s of red sandstone. It had four defenses – a wet moat with crocodiles, an 80 foot wall, a dry moat with tigers, and finally another 80 foot wall. If one got past all those, above the gates were spouts for pouring hot oil on the enemies! There were beautiful courtyards, pavilions buildings. There was even the tower where the Emperor was imprisoned by his son.
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- entrance to fort
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- moat
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- entrance
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- entrance
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- decoration
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- public hall
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- decoration
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- decoration
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- harem
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- ceiling
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- decoration
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- carvings
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- garden area
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- pillars
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- marble carving
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- ceiling
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- carvings
A highlight was our stop at Sheros. This is a café and business run for and by women who have been acid attack victims. The program gives the women confidence to appear in public after being disfigured. It may have been by a husband, a mother-in-law, or a friend. It attracts 500 customers on an average day in its two locations. It is the first initiative of its kind to reintegrate survivors back into mainstream Indian society.
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- Sheroes
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- women
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- women who served us
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- painting on wall
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- painting on wall
One evening our guide gave all the women in the group a chance to have a henna painting. The artist painted. It dried and then was scratched off. Oil was then put on painting.
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- getting henna painting
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- dark painting
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- final product
Interesting street scenes.
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- recyclables
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- really??