Agra Sunday 9th Feb 2020

We are up early so that we were packed, breakfasted and travelling off with Vikram by 8am.

Leaving Dehli, we see the India Gate which is a War Memorial

We head off on a very straight road (apparently instigated by a map, a pencil and a ruler) in the misty early morning pollution. The flat, rural landscape is dotted with small temples, and distinctive haystacks - probably made from the plants of chick peas, peas or beans.

Duncan has a grand nap

Pleasant pastoral scenes

The haze starts to lift

The road is dotted with toll gates - probably to keep the drivers awake on the straight road.

Most of the toll gates are beautifully decorated

Clarks Shiraz  is a lovely Hotel and wedding venue

If you look very closely you can see the Taj from our room.

Co-incidentally, if you follow the point on out bedhead up to the photo above, you may be able to discern the Taj

 After bananas and grapes for lunch we get our new guide, Emca, who despite being billed as a senior guide, and having a huge store of knowledge, is dour and disengaged. Which is not the best when you are heading to a romantic hotspot like the Taj Mahal.

The Main Gate

Very poor light as we pass through. We could see the Taj above the crowds

Again the foreground has bleached the sky

Suddenly the sky lightens, the crowds thin and I get a good shot.

Selfie

The photo that Emca took - which turned out to be on video.

The marble quarried in India is very tough and white

 The Taj Mahal was built over a period of 22 years by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. He was later also put in the mausoleum when he died. We had to put shoe covers on to be able to go into the temple, and no photos are allowed inside.

Because it is a Sunday, there are many family groups here.

 The Taj has walls and gates on three sides and the River Yamuna on the fourth

 It gives me great pleasure to sit in a courtyard between the Taj and the west gate and admire the exquisite workmanship. Wonderful symmetry, and some lovely mathematical features.

West gate and wall

On the other side is the Taj

 Signs throughout tell us to "Keep Quite". I smile and remember Duncan's Tree Egg Omlette, and the instruction to "Follow directions bellow"
Agra is redoing its drainage system. As with most Indian projects, there seems to be a high degree of inefficiency - much standing around.

Toot your horn as you approach this one!!

The town is dirty and dusty

Family of three - two of the women side-saddle!!

 Our next destination is the Red Fort.

You can see our inhospitable guide striding off in the pale blue shirt.

The Red fort is mainly built out of red sandstone. I really like the moats - the wet one is filled with crocodiles and the dry one is filled with tigers. I later think about the practicality of this and decide it might just be a legend!

They are constructing a viewing platform over the moats.

Then you go through a gate where they could hurl boiling over you, and then there is a zigzag maze to the main fort to slow the attackers down.

It truly is magnificent.

View from the fort out over the landscape Can you see the Taj Mahal in the distance?

Inside there is marble and semi precious stone inlay, some of which is being restored.

Intriguing gardens

The Judicial courts where audiences were held We see this pattern is several other structures.

We are very impressed with this structure and wonder at the lack of construction skills  shown in the squalid slums and markets.
Emca takes us to a marble inlay factory. We are not interested in buying a little marble table. Whilst very pretty it wouldn't suit our house.

They young guy smiling tries to sell us a pendant while the boss man is away.

OK here we are - four on a motorcycle. Only the driver with a helmet!!

Lobby of the Clark Shiraz

We decide to go to the posh restaurant tonight. I am wearing the kimono which goes with my togs. Unfortunately I never get to wear the togs because they tend to have their weddings around the pool, and of course we don't gert to go on the cruise.

Set up for the wedding

The groom arrives on horseback with drums, a parade of towers of lights and the crowd of supporters behind.. This starts at about 10pm at night. Fortunately we are far enough away to get a good nights sleep.