6:15 in the morning, we take an amazing fast train (140Km/h) to go to Agra, home to the famous Taj Mahal. 140 might seem you not that fast compared to the french TGV or german ICE, but considering that our speed travelling by bus is about 25Km/h, this is like heaven. In the train we get water, breakfast (served to your seat of course) and the news paper for FREE!
2 hours later we arrive in Agra and after checking in, go for a tour at Agra Fort, since the Taj is closed on friday, which was not bad since the town was really quiet on that day.
I'm amazed by the majesty of it's architecture dating back to the XVII century, when the mughals where in power. The funny thing is that for its builder, Emperor Shah Jahan who made it to his palace, it turned to be his jail at the end of his days, when his OWN SON emprisoned him here after taking over his trone! from here he would be able to see the Taj Mahal from afar, which he had built as a tomb for his wife! Quite a nice jail though!
On this first day we can spot the Taj from a nice rooftop restaurant and enjoy the city in the dusk
This boy is trying to get me into his family restaurant with WI-FI, which sounds always good when you have to update your blog and are far behind...he asks where I come from (usually after this question they will say that they have been to your country, name you a famous place and say something in your language), so I'm courious what he will say about Colombia....so when I tell him he smiles, thinks and says...people from his family had been to Colombia five times! but he fails the test since he can't say anything in spanish!
His place is sadly so bad that we have to refuse his nice offer
Next day, 6 am in the morning, we finally get to enter the Taj Mahal. Seen from the gate is already amazing!
This guy jumped into my picture to take a picture himself!
You always see pictures of the Taj and from the pictures you can tell it's a nice building, but you just realize its splendour when you see it in real. it's just breath taking!
After about 3 hours in the Taj we go for a sightseeing of the "other" monuments. We stop at the so-called "Baby Taj", not expecting that it would be almost as beautiful as the Taj.
This tomb was build before the Taj and even beeing smaller, the stone work is much more elaborated than in the Taj.
David is not happy when, after paying expensive entry tickets, he has to pay for someone to look after his shoes...especially because for tourist they charge 10 times the real price! But he has no choice and leaves his shoes not far from the shoe-watchman
At the end of the day we get to see the Taj from the less crowded river side, with buffalos swimming and nobody bothering you
Caro
2 hours later we arrive in Agra and after checking in, go for a tour at Agra Fort, since the Taj is closed on friday, which was not bad since the town was really quiet on that day.
I'm amazed by the majesty of it's architecture dating back to the XVII century, when the mughals where in power. The funny thing is that for its builder, Emperor Shah Jahan who made it to his palace, it turned to be his jail at the end of his days, when his OWN SON emprisoned him here after taking over his trone! from here he would be able to see the Taj Mahal from afar, which he had built as a tomb for his wife! Quite a nice jail though!
On this first day we can spot the Taj from a nice rooftop restaurant and enjoy the city in the dusk
This boy is trying to get me into his family restaurant with WI-FI, which sounds always good when you have to update your blog and are far behind...he asks where I come from (usually after this question they will say that they have been to your country, name you a famous place and say something in your language), so I'm courious what he will say about Colombia....so when I tell him he smiles, thinks and says...people from his family had been to Colombia five times! but he fails the test since he can't say anything in spanish!
His place is sadly so bad that we have to refuse his nice offer
Next day, 6 am in the morning, we finally get to enter the Taj Mahal. Seen from the gate is already amazing!
This guy jumped into my picture to take a picture himself!
Taj in the morning light, from the side
Taj in the water
David Holding the Taj
You always see pictures of the Taj and from the pictures you can tell it's a nice building, but you just realize its splendour when you see it in real. it's just breath taking!
After about 3 hours in the Taj we go for a sightseeing of the "other" monuments. We stop at the so-called "Baby Taj", not expecting that it would be almost as beautiful as the Taj.
This tomb was build before the Taj and even beeing smaller, the stone work is much more elaborated than in the Taj.
David is not happy when, after paying expensive entry tickets, he has to pay for someone to look after his shoes...especially because for tourist they charge 10 times the real price! But he has no choice and leaves his shoes not far from the shoe-watchman
David Barefoot
Time to leave, David takes his shoes and goes.....
and the guy: hey you "gringo", you didn't pay! but
David does as if it wasn't with him and the guy gives up!
At the end of the day we get to see the Taj from the less crowded river side, with buffalos swimming and nobody bothering you
For a close-up on the Taj Mahal check my blog:
Caro
Great post guys! Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Claire
Nice post. The picture of both of you in front of baby Taj is cool!
ReplyDeleteNot paying for shoe watchman: awesome!
Keep having fun guys!
btw: David I like your hat!
Cheers
Paul
Hey "gringo" you didn't pay!! ja ja
ReplyDeletebuena david
nice blog you guys!!
Juan Da
Que de détails et découvertes qui rendent ce blog intéressant et attachant.
ReplyDeleteNous aussi nous allons de découvertes en découvertes
Bonne continuation*
Bisous
D&JC
Visiting the Taj Majal: $45.00 on your MasterCard
ReplyDelete...Free shoe-watching: Priceless!!!
Maribel