Agra, The Taj Mahal

AGRA Got to Agra on Wednesday, February 29th which is about 230 km from Jaipur and took about 6 hours. Stopped in Fatehpur Sikri along the way.  Fatehpur is an abandoned City which was built in 1571 but was only inhabited for 14 years due to a lack of water. The architecture is  a mixture of Hindu and Islamic styles and includes a series of buildings and several gates. Worst touts we have come across, very aggressive and we actually had to be a little rude to get them to leave us alone. Took a tuk tuk back to the car and our driver bargained for the price, which I am sure was a lot lower than we would have paid. A young Indian boy hopped on the back of the tuk tuk and I took his picture, showed him and he gave me thumbs up! Drove on to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. After resting at the hotel, Suzanne, Robin and I set out with a guide to visit the Taj Mahal. Colin decided not to come as he has seen it several times. Our hotel was only about one km. from the Taj. The city of Agra has banned any manufacturing industries and cars are not allowed within 1/2 a km. from the Taj to ensure it doesn't succumb to damage from pollution on its facade.  Once you arrive at the Taj and the first view you get takes your breath away. Both Robin and I found it to be much larger/grandeur than we thought it would be. The beautiful marble facade is very clean.  The Taj took 22 years to build,  22,000 workers and was completed in 1653. This memorial was built for Shah Jaha's favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal after she died. It is said to have cost 41 million rupees ( $800,000) and 500 kilos of gold,  considering it was built in 1653 the cost is staggering.  You approach the Taj through one of three gates and you see a large reflection pool called the Lotus Pool, many a picture taken here.  There is no gate on the backside of the Taj, as the Shah did not want anything built behind the Taj, so that it would be the most prominent feature from any location. It looks exactly the same from any view, an exact copy from all sides. Once you get to the monument, you see the beautiful inlaid marble. At first you might think that the marble is painted, but the floral decorations are actually all semi precious stones. On the side of the inlays are large calligraphic panels with Koranic verses. The dome on the Taj is 240  feet high and is surrounded by four identical minarets which rise 131 feet each completing the symmetry of the site. Carved filigree marble screens  and recessed arches surround the tomb. The Shah's wife and the Shah are buried in the basement, which is closed to the public, however the tombs are replicated in the main tomb chamber.  Once again not sure that the pictures we will post will do it justice.  The Taj Mahal is truly one of the wonders of the world and everyone should have the chance To see it in their lifetime. Headed off on a train trip today to Jhansi, picked up by a different driver, then supposedly a 4 hour drive to Khajuraho where we will spend two nights.