Day 25 to 26: Agra, Taj Mahal and a bit a Delhi
Trip Start
Nov 13, 2006
1
9
28
Trip End
Feb 10, 2007
Delhi,
India
Sunday, December 10, 2006
I have got an early train to go to Agra. Agra is 200Km south of Delhi and is home to one of the 7th Wonders od the World: the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is often described the most extravagant monumnet built for love. " A teardrop on the face of eternity" according to an Indian poet. Now a bit of history, the Taj Mahal was built in 1631 by Emperor Shah as a memorial for his second wife, who died giving birth to his 14th child. The construction took 22 years before being achieved.
The Taj Mahal is a an amazing monument, easily the most beautifull one and well maintained one I have seen in India. The pictures posted hardly make the monument justice. You have to see it to realise how stunning it is. So I have done the Taj Mahal in the morning, by the way Taj means "crown" and Mahal means "place, area which in a rough transalation means the Crown Palace
1
. Went for a quick lunch at the roofterrace of a small restaurant, food was so cheap (again) and extremely good, I am loving their lassi drinks (made with yogurt).In the afternoon I visit the Agra Fort. Only 25% of the fort can be visited as the rest is occupied by the army. However, I am very surprised there as the Fort is in perfect conditions and beautifull too. The place is big and has so many rooms and buildings that this time I take a guide with me. The guy is very good and explain in an understandable english the different stories linked to the Fort. One of them is about the diamond, one of the biggest of the world (or the biggest one at the time) which was placed in of one of the main room of the Fort, that way the reflection of the Taj Mahal was spread everywhere in the room thanks to some mirrors.
I return late evening to Delhi, I am quite exausthed from my trip so I am gonna write off my plan of going out in some bars.
Sunday 10th of December
I have hired a private car to go around some of the monuments in Delhi as it is my only there and I am flying tonight to Bangkok. So basically I have done the following monuments:
Gurdwara Bangla Sahib: a Sikk Temple which is quite impressive with some striking golden domes, good thing I have put a trousers today as you can not go there in shorts
10
.Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum: very interesting museum, the place was formely the residence of Indira Gandhi, and explain very well her life, achievement of ultimately of brutal death. She was assassinated in the residence by two of her bodyguards, the exact place of where she died is marked by a red rose. The Gandhi name is somehow associated with the curse of the Kennedy name. Mahatma Gandhi was also assassinated, Indira Gandhi, her son who became Prime Minister after her was assassinated early 90s.
The Lotus Temple: modern version of a temple where all religions are accepted and welcome to meditate in silence.
Humayun's tomb: a very big tomb!!
Rajpath: the Indian version of the Champ Elysee, they held parade there, they have their own Arc de Triomphe (India Gate) and at the end of it you have the President's House and some Governement buildings.
Quth Minar:started in 1193, it's a huge tower (minar) which culminate at nearly 73 meter. Unfortunately you can not climbed on top of it anymore.
So after a very intense day visiting, I make my way to the airport. I arrived in Colombo at 2am where I am in transit for the next 6 hours!! Not so nice!!!
