Agra

We had a bit of trouble with Agra.  The first time the train was supposed to take us Delhi—>Agra in about 4 hours.  It took 9 and the Taj was closed by the time we got there.  We had to leave that night for Varanasi, so we just saw the Taj from the rooftop.  The train ride was so delayed because of fog, but it got to be unbearable when it stopped for long periods, for unknown reasons.  The main issue with trains is that you never know what is going on.  There is no loud speaker or friendly conductor going around you letting you know it will be 5 hours late.  You just have to guess and infer based on other stops. 

Long story short, Mike and I fit it in between Calcutta and going to the farm.  The train was only a couple of hours late this time and we spent the night and saw it in the morning.  It was well worth the wait and extra trip.  The Taj just leaves you breathless and wondering who the heck had the time and abilities to make it.  Pictures do it better justice than my rambles:

The gateway:

A peek of the Taj Mahal:

There are two symmetrical buildings on either side of the Taj.  The one on the west is still an important meeting place for Agra’s Muslims and to the east the jawab was probably used for extra accommodation.  They were beautiful and had fantastic domes and decorated arches.  There was a security guard that wanted a picture with Mike.  He had a huge gun, so who were we to argue? 

 

The details of the Taj and the tilework were incredible.  They had precious gems inlaid into elaborate flower designs, both on the outside and on the tomb. 

It seemed like nothing in the design work was left unnoticed or unplanned.  The domes were detailed and the arches had beautiful script and different angled marble.  There were also really cool birds (that we see everywhere in India) flying in and out of trees that added to the serene effect.