The Taj

So, yesterday the 3 girls I work with and I decided to take the day off and go to Agra to see the Taj Mahal during the week when it would not be so busy. After the hassle of getting the train booked and a taxi reserved for 5 am we were on our way. One of the girls I traveled with is of Indian descent and has family in Agra that she had to see. Luckily for us the family invited all of us over for breakfast and lunch and lent us their driver for the day (everyone in India who has even a little bit of money has numerous servants (their unashamed unPC word for it, not mine) - maids, drivers, cooks, sweepers, etc.) . We arrived in Agra at about 830 and were taken to the home for breakfast which was an excellent departure from the toast and watery porridge that we are served every morning in Delhi. Following breakfast we went to the Taj. The structure is as amazing as you would ever imagine. Crisp, gleaming white marble and incredibly grand heights and shapes. The woman this was built for must have been quite amazing. We spent a could hours roaming the grounds and enjoying the building's splendor. Sadly, Agra is quite polluted and smoggy, so many of the pictures did not turn out because of the white marble's similar color to the gray hazy sky. Following the Taj we went to Agra fort. I had never seen a more beautiful, intricately detailed fort in my life. The Islamic art influences were frequent and every corner turned up more artistic detail in carvings and sculpture. The fort also had numerous green squares that were fantastic for sitting and people watching. The king who built the Taj was actually imprisoned at the fort by his own son. He went into such deep depression following the death of his wife for whom he was building the Taj he was no longer fit to rule and was locked in the fort for 8 or 9 years. His son took some pity on him and gave him a cell with a window looking out over the Taj - his wife's burial place.

Finally it was time for lunch. Compared to the bland white rice and dal we eat every night for dinner, the spicy thick dal, fried rice, cucumber and tomato salad, eggplant, green peppers, cauliflower, potatoes, roti, and raita was amazing. We all ate like starving children and were very thankful for a full and nutritious meal. We rested the rest of the afternoon and visited with Alka's family who took us to a Hindu temple in their neighborhood being built. The temple is being made of hand carved marble and the detail is exquisite. Once finished it is said that the temple will rival the Taj. I agree that the craftsmanship and detailed carvings are much better than the Taj, but believe that the Taj is more famous because of the whole complete picture. This temple was amazing up close, whereas the Taj is meant to be seen from further away, so I do not believe that it is fair to compare the two. Regardless the temple was definitely worth seeing and I am looking forward to hearing of it's completion. That evening we did a little shopping and hopped the train back to Delhi for a much anticipated full night's sleep. Fantastic day