Agra to Jaipur

It was Diwali, and we had a long and very full day travelling from Agra to Jaipur across the flatness of Rajasthan.   So much to fit in!   I can't do it justice in this post, so may have to come back later with more details.   We explored the deserted (but very well preserved) palace of Fatehpur Sikri (occupied only for 14 years by Emperor Akbar), had lunch at the Raj's palace at Bharatpur (now as luxury hotel), inspected the Chand Baori Stepwell at Abhaneri before arriving in Jaipur to a lavish Diwali Festival dinner.

Bus decorated for Diwali

One of several courtyards at Fatehpur Sikri

Detail in the stonework

Stepwell

Welcome to Dewali dinner!

Fireworks for Diwali, and then more fireworks!

Agra Fort

Our early morning visit to the Taj Mahal was followed by a civilised breakfast, then the obligatory tour of a "marble inlay workshop" complete with an excessive amount of time while captive to allow for "shopping".   This was expensive even by Australian standards, but these interludes are part of the deal when signing up for a tour, and a number of our co-travellers appear to revel in every "shopping opportunity" that comes along.   Oh well.

We then headed to Agra Fort.    This is indeed an imposing structure. Much of it was build by Emperor Akbar (whose tomb we visited the previous day).   It's largely built from red sandstone and includes an enormous array of courtly buildings, rooms and courtyards, representing a whole range of styles.

From the higher parts of the structure, you look out over the Yamuna Rover and can see the Taj Mahal in the middle distance.    By the time the tour finished, we were ready for a pleasant buffet lunch before declining the opportunity of an auto-rickshaw tour. Instead we rested up for dinner which was in the hotel.

The following day we headed to Jaipur.   A long day, and it was Diwali, so more to come on this (when I get a few spare moments!)

 

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The Taj Mahal

Well, that's why you visit Agra, isn't it?    In fact, it's why you come to India - to see the Taj Mahal?  Well, actually no, because there are lots of monuments as well as other sights.    But, at 6 am, we were lining up ready for when the gates opened.   And yes, the Taj Mahal is magnificent with a little early morning river mist, and to see the changing colours as the sun rises is impressive.

You could indeed sit there and contemplate its beauty and appreciate the effort and workmanship that went into its construction.

For a few moments you might even forget about the photographers prowling around, whose intrusiveness fades into nothing by comparison with the guys selling a wide range of trinkets back at the car park - the most persistent we've yet encountered (and that's saying a lot!).   And there was hardly any queue for entry at 8 am, when we left.

To Agra

The road from Delhi to Agra is mostly a tolled expressway so we moved along quite nicely.    However, by the time we had a morning tea stop then lunch before checking in, it was mid-afternoon before we were established in our (very nice) accommodation.    It wasn't long before we were off to the 3rd Mughal (Akbar) emperor's tomb at Sikandra, 4 km northwest of Agra (and reached by means of congested local roads).

The tomb complex includes over 100 acres of well-maintained gardens, and includes a large entrance building as well as the mausoleum complex itself.

I could add more, but we need to have an early night because we're up early in the morning to see the Taj Mahal.

Entrance gate complex

Mausoleum

Mausoleum

Tomb

Street scene, Agra