Taj Mahal
We left Bandhavgarh for Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. The train (a different company) was on time this time which was great because we were quite tired. We quickly upgraded our cheap 3rd class tickets where our seats were already occupied and where we were stared at continuously to something more private. Fortunately it was an overnight train and we could stretch out and only wake up just before Agra.
Our accommodation was a mere 5 minutes walk from the famous Taj Mahal. We visited this spectacular monument in the afternoon and also again early the next morning.
Neither of us are terribly enthusiastic about touring from building to building, but even Johan was blown away by the beauty of this 350 year old building. Some 20 000 workers spent 22 years constructing the glistening white Taj Mahal - all out of white marble. The cost of building the Taj would amount to about R500million in today's money terms. Made entirely of marble with millions of intricate stone inlays, the structure was designed as a mausoleum for the favourite wife of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. She died giving birth to their 14th child. The building is symmetrical from all 4 sides and surrounded by huge grounds with 4 enormous gates. Parakeets and other birds live in the many tree in the well maintained gardens of the grounds.
The white marble reflects the sunlight and changes colour with the changing light. It was great to see so many local visitors and their colourful clothing reflecting on the white marble. Janine was a real hit with her saree and we were asked to pose for many many photos!
Culture shock: camels wander through the streets; everyone tries to sell you precious stones; you pay extra for cameras and even more for video cameras when entering any of the tourist sites.
Our accommodation was a mere 5 minutes walk from the famous Taj Mahal. We visited this spectacular monument in the afternoon and also again early the next morning.
Neither of us are terribly enthusiastic about touring from building to building, but even Johan was blown away by the beauty of this 350 year old building. Some 20 000 workers spent 22 years constructing the glistening white Taj Mahal - all out of white marble. The cost of building the Taj would amount to about R500million in today's money terms. Made entirely of marble with millions of intricate stone inlays, the structure was designed as a mausoleum for the favourite wife of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. She died giving birth to their 14th child. The building is symmetrical from all 4 sides and surrounded by huge grounds with 4 enormous gates. Parakeets and other birds live in the many tree in the well maintained gardens of the grounds.
The white marble reflects the sunlight and changes colour with the changing light. It was great to see so many local visitors and their colourful clothing reflecting on the white marble. Janine was a real hit with her saree and we were asked to pose for many many photos!
Culture shock: camels wander through the streets; everyone tries to sell you precious stones; you pay extra for cameras and even more for video cameras when entering any of the tourist sites.
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