what is to be said that hasn't already been said

After pushing my way for a place in the ticket line in Jhansi, I purchased my ticket to Agra and waited for my train which arrived on time. The short journey between the two cities brought dinner invites from a Delhi leather merchant and introduced me to a young and friendly Japanese student with no English speaking skills, Johai. Arriving in Agra at night with most of the city without electricity left me with little desire to scope out the choicest guesthouse or hotel. Johai and I found a third story double room off the main road with TV which I spent the rest of the evening watching. Indian TV is mighty entertaining furthermore I had not seen TV in months.

01 entrance gate to Taj gardens

The next day I arose at dawn as is my usual practice and did yoga as the Taj Mahal slowly became bathed in the morning light only one kilometer away. I took a cold shower and packed my things to relocate to a quiet courtyard hotel near the eastern gate to the Taj with Johai. We had scoped the place out the night before and decided it had a better Taj view and a peaceful locale that was off limits to city traffic. After signing in I grabbed my camera and set off to see the ubiquitous yet beautiful Taj.

02 the Taj and I

To put into words the sublime beauty of the Taj Mahal, a world famous icon of India, would be a futile attempt. So many people have already said all there is to be said of this monument built by Shah Jahan for his deceased wife. Mughal gardens grace the grounds while the perfectly symmetrical design of the Taj and its mirrored structures float in the deep blue sky. Minarets rise in all four corners and exquisite marble lattices grace the inside with jeweled flowers set into the white marble. It is graceful and solid with an intensity of light reflecting of the white marble in the noon day sun.

Following my slow ramble through the Taj grounds I made my way to the Red Fort, an ancient structure originally built in the 10th century. Over the decades many rulers utilized it adding their own gracious buildings to suit their taste and needs. The thick walls sit imposing and red evocative of the many invasions and owners the fort had sustained over the centuries.

04 minaret and Taj

The pictures will probably do better justice than my ramblings trying to explain what instead should be seen.

05 mosque to the right of Taj

06 women in front of Taj with mosque in back

07 Taj gardens

08 looking up at Taj

09 ceiling of mosque at Taj

10 marble lattice

11 inside mosque at Taj

12 Red Fort entrance

13Jehangir's Palace inside Red Fort

14 detail of courtyard of Jehangir's Palace

15 detail of marble balcony inside Red Fort

16 Diwan-i-Khas inside Red Fort

17 Nagina mosque inside Red Fort

18 details

19 Khas Mahal inside Red Fort

20 in front of Khas Mahal

21 detail of Diwan-I-Am inside Red Fort

22 Taj view from my hotel roof at dusk