AGRA VISIT  JAN. 26, REPUBLIC DAY

Today was a holiday for all India, when the Republic was declared. So there were big doings/ parades in most cities. I watched part of the parade in Delhi on TV where part of the French Army marched, lots of Indian troops, motorcycles in formation with a pyramid of people on top, all very colorful. Security was tight and I didn’t hear about anything untoward happening. 

Daisy and Lee entering one of the gates.

Interesting "star of David" star had nothing to do with Judaism but was a Hindu star sign.

Part of the water "air conditioning" system in the fort that ran through the floors.

An attempt at faking marble. Didn't work!

Samples of inlayed stones in marble - a dying art!

Part of the harem area in the fort. 

We left in heavy fog to go to the Red Fort first, built by Akbar, the third Mughal ruler crowned in 1556 at age 14. It was constructed between 1565 and 1571. It is massive, with double red sandstone walls, a moat around that used to have crocodiles. It covers a triangular area of one and a half miles. The magnificent towers, bastions and ramparts and majestic gateways symbolized the confidence and power of the third Mughal emperor. It was added to later on by Jahangir and Shahjahan (who built TM).  It was in really great condition but a lot of the decorated panels with inlayed stones had been removed. The Shah who built this, as well as the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife, was eventually imprisoned here for the last 7 years of his life, by his evil son (who had killed his brothers so he could be Shah). At least he respected the father’s wishes to be under house arrest there so he could view the mausoleum he had built to his evil son’s mother! He eventually was buried there beside her, which is the only unsymmetrical thing about the TM! 

The previous evening/late afternoon when we had arrived by bus in Agra, we had gone across the river to these gardens where you got a view looking across at the TM. It was foggy/smoggy so it wasn’t a great view but you take a chance at this time of year with weather. Daisy said the two things she really has no control over are whether we spot a tiger at Ranthambhore (we did!) or have a foggy view of the TM. So we got a look that afternoon and took some pictures in case it was worse in the morning when we were scheduled for an actual visit.

From across the river.

Four pillars leaned slightly out, so if they fell in an earthquake, they wouldn't fall ON the mausoleum

Our chef, Nivya!

The Sikh bride leaving the hotel! Gorgeous!

Our hotel was lovely, HUGE with 450 rooms, with lots of other tour groups and a beautiful Sikh wedding going on. Dinner was on our own and Barbara and I went to the 24 hour cafe for two Kingfishers and nachos!! They were delicious! The cute young chef Nivya came out to our table to ask how we liked it. She had worked there for a year and a half. She went to get us some more toppings to finish off the chips. That was our dinner that night!! 

As we were at the Red Fort the weather started to clear so Daisy changed plans and we headed to the TM. Getting off the bus and getting inside was kind of a hassle, with all the hawkers trying to see you stuff, and it was very crowded. We had more expensive tickets that the huge lines of Indians so we got in a bit faster. Security again was very tight and Tom lost a keychain tiny knife that was confiscated. Once inside the crowds were thick and groups taking photos everywhere. OAT has a photographer that took a group photo of us (complimentary) with the TM in the background. Then you could pay extra (100 rupees) for additional photos. 

The fountains were working that day, it was pretty clear (Daisy was amazed for this time of year!) and we walked down to enter, donning white paper booties over our shoes to preserve the marble inside the tomb. Inside his wife, Me  j   was buried below the ground, but you can’t visit her tomb any more. A duplicate, copying the beautiful inlayed marble was built above that you can view. And then Shah Jihan was buried beside her in a beautiful decorated tomb. A screen was surrounding both but you could peek through if you could fight the crowds! When  the Shah had promised his wife, on her deathbed as she had just delivered their 14th child, that he would build a monument to their love (they were married for 19 years and never apart! She followed him to battlefields, wherever he traveled. 

Aerial view photo that I bought.

Beautiful inlayed marble.