Agra - Taj Mahal

Thursday, March 15' 2013

Day 13 Agra

 

Travel by train to the Mughal city of Agra (approx 5 hrs).

Agra is home to one of the world's most recognisable monuments, the Taj Mahal.

Visit the Taj Mahal - a masterpiece of shimmering white marble set amid beautiful formal gardens. Built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his wife Mumtaz, this 'teardrop on the face of eternity' (as it was described by writer Rabindranath Tagore) lives up to all expectations.

Hop on to your cycle rickshaw for a tour of the city - a truly fun and Intrepid way to see the monuments of Agra. Note that during summer and winter months on days when the weather is particularly hot or subject to dense fog, the cycle rickshaw tour will be replaced with battery powered rickshaws.

Visit Agra Fort on the banks of the Yamuna River. Built in 1565 by Emperor Akbar, the fort was originally designed to be a military structure. It was converted to a palace in Emperor Shah Jahan's time and eventually became his prison after he lost power in 1658.

See Akbar's Mausoleum - a beautiful sandstone and marble tomb built for the greatest of the Mughal emperors.

**********

The Taj Mahal is spectacular!  Words cannot, and even pictures cannot, fully convey the magnificence of the Red Fort and Palace of Emperor Shah Jahan and the Taj Mahal which built for his queen, and where both of them are interned. 

We spent the afternoon until sunset Taj Mahal gazing as the colors changed and the sunset.  Wow, a most worthwhile experience and check on the bucket list.

We leave for Delhi and the last full day of our Nepal-India Intrepid adventure.

All is well with the Worrall Travel R's