Usha Kiran Palace Hotel & Towers Agra

... the King who built it for his wife wanted to build his own Black Taj directly across the river from it. Building the first was an enormous drain on the finances of the Empire - taxes were doubled and people died and starved to build it - so his son imprisoned him and took control. From his prison - a very nice set of rooms he had the perfect view of the monument he built to his wife.<br><br>So ends day 1 in Agra - tomorrow the biggie - the Taj Mahal - I wish I could ...

... br>The grounds of the Taj were also really well kept but we were absolutely gutted the central canal which the Taj normally reflects in was closed for cleaning so had no water in it! This was pretty disappointing as this is a significant feature of the Taj so was disappointed with that but it didn't make it look any less special to us. We spent a few hours chilling in the grounds admiring the Taj and went into the Taj museum which was nothing special ...

Sunday 11th October. Last night we took the train from Varanasi which left at 4.45pm and we spent a sticky night in the 2nd class non aircon carriage. However we had a bunk each out of the 6 in the section. As usual despite having our own bunks which we stake out on with territorial looks as people cram onto any space including the floor and sleep. We carried enough water and thankfully were amply catered for with food as the railway sells dinner packs ( rice, dal etc) and there ...

Our overnight train from Varanasi pulled into Agra fort station at 6:15am and we tooka rickshaw to the guesthouse, deep in the narrow streets of Taj Ganj, the area right next to the Taj Mahal. We had planned to see this magnificent building the day after we arrived, however, we had found out it was closed on a Friday, due to muslims using the mosque inside, so instead decided to go that day. Hurridley we checked in, had a much needed shower, and made our way to ...

... the loo leaving many visitors compelely bewildered!<br><br>Unfortunately I spend a good few hours on the loo and I identified the cause to be that deadly mango juice I had drunk earlier in the day. I did get to see a bit of a sunset but by now the monsoon clouds were too thick to give anything spectacular.<br><br>I went to the station and caught my train to Delhi that evening having overcome my dodgy stomach and without even taking immodium!<br>

... Mum.<br><br>Then the monsoon started (announced by the television along with the news that Indian law may be revised so that homosexuality is no longer illegal and the equally shocking news that Michael Jackson was dead) and my fever broke. The same sense of relief that grip the nation now held me tight. I was well enough to travel-just. However I would still be packing a spare of pants and feeling nauseous. If I come back to India I'm packing a few nappies for those ...

The Taj Mosque was breathtaking. Pictures can not even begin to do it justice. The grounds and adjoining buildings are also amazing. I highly recommend everyone seeing it if they get a chance. Be warned that Agru is the hottest city in India and it was over 100 in the middle of April. The next set of pictures are of the Red Fort. I suggest seeing the Red Fort before the Taj Mosque because nothing can compare to the Taj. INDIA I love India and I hate India, India is a ...

... Taj was next, it really is much more beautiful than photos. It's so massive people look tiny compared to it. Again, not much time so I went around it taking photos, trying to absorb it properly but I must admit I was little peeved at the short amount of time we had so I didn't appreciate it fully. It didn't help that there were hundreds of other tourists there either so getting ...

... since when we arrived at the gate we discovered it didn't open until 7am (Lonely Planet had said 6am). We had breakfast on a rooftop in the area the artist who built the Taj lived, from there we watched the sunrise and shine on the magnificent mausoleum. It was a beautiful sight to see and the man standing near us with a stick to guard us from the mischievous monkeys running across the roof tops was defiantly a nice touch ...

... stench of urine and arms and legs flailing about the carriage. There are 6 people in every open berth with 2 lining the opposite side of the train. Quite ingeniously the 2 top bunks can be folded up to provide seating for 3 along the seat below. I quickly decide the top bunk is the way to go as you have the freedom of sleeping or sitting on the neighbours bunk. The carriages are grubby and basic, with filthy ...