AGRA

Another great day, our day to explore Agra. We got picked up at 8.00am this morning to go to Agra Fort which is made of red sandstone. We soon realised why we started early as by 10.00am the heat was herendous. This place is amazing and once you get inside the workmanship back in the 15th century is unbeleavable. All the fine detail. But I guess in those days one had all the time to to all of this. The Fort took 95 years to complete.  The emperor Shah Johan lived here and after his wife died after child birth two of his daughters had to look after him in the Fort so they could never marry.  He had four sons and as the oldest son becomes emperor the youngest son killed his three older brothers so he then could become emperor after his fathers death.........

Main Entrance to the Agra Fort.

Another gateway inside.

 

 Our guide insisted taking this photo but I knew it wouldn't come out as he was looking straight into the sun. He didn't have much of an idea on photography as also made us stand near a sign. Not like our guide in Delhi he was also a professional photographer. He kept taking my phone to get me the  right picture.

The grounds inside the Fort. Beautifully kept.

These buildings are amazing. Inside and the pillars are all made with marble which I believe comes from Jaipur where we go next.

Looking up inside, some very fine detail.

This wall under the cover way of the courtyard originally had very fine paintings in each insert like the two original ones top left. But unfortunately they have been stolen.

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A closer look.

The above are individual herb  gardens in the grounds.

Look at the detail in this room



 Close up of the detailed of the fine pieces of marble inserts into the marble pillars.

A different courtyard in the grounds.

The fine work on the marble of this room, imagine anyone doing this these days, it just wouldn't happen, would be impossible with the cost of labour and time......

A peep through one of the windows with the Taj Mahal in the distance and this is where the former King was confined too so he could look out the window to see where his wife was buried in the Taj. This time of the morning is quite hazy looking into the distance.

So much fine work on the  red limestone  external walls of  the fort.

We made it quite clear to the travel company that we didn't want to be taken to any factories and that we are not on a shopping trip which they accepted and understood. But I think that the local guides slip us in as I know they get commission if we buy. Above these guys are carving into a plate size piece of marble then  polishing down fine pieces of different colours of marble to make patterns and then inserting the coloured pieces of marble into the carved out area in the plate. It is very time consuming and takes about two months to complete one plate. So they say!!!! This is probably the old way of doing it, wouldn't put it past them to use machines these days.

Same with this guy weaving carpets we wonder do they do this these days or is it really all done by machines!!!! They will tell you anything to make a sale. I might be wrong!!!!

Went back to the hotel to have some leisure time and to cool down. We were going to be picked up at 4.30pm to go out again. You just need some break from the heat over the middle of the day.

We feel for the poor animals wondering all round the streets lying on the road just looking for food. We just left the hotel to have this little walk down the road to get some photos of the animals.

This chap having a rest on the strip in the middle of the road. Cows are sacred in India and well protected they just wonder free wherever they want to go. If they decide that they want to rest in the middle of the road they will and the cars will just go around them.

This cow is resting behind someone's street shop. They probably feed her.

And what about these poor stray dogs exhausted with the heat and just have to eat what rubbish they can get.

We are now on our way to see the Taj Mahal just before sunset seeing it across the river from the back. We are driving down the road and a cow just happens to be walking down the road. She wasn't dodging the traffic, the traffic was dodging her.

Taj Mahal looking across the river to the back. Left building is the guest quarters and the right building is the Mosque.

They say seeing it just before sunset can give a pink glow over the white building but we were told that hardly happens and sure enough before sunset the clouds built up and that was the end of the sun. But you can see a little glow on the building as it is usually white.

A couple of idiots.

Went back to hotel for a quick 10 minute  change then off to a private home to have a meal. Above was our hostess who did all the cooking

These are the spices she used.

Our meal



The group that joined us. All very nice and nice to get into a locals home to see how they live.

Met the couple at the end of the table from Italy (who were married yesterday)and the couple in front from Holland nice people. Driver waited outside for us then took us back to the hotel. A big day tomorrow leaving Agra and being picked up at 5.30am to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise. We trust there is sun as unbeknown to us it had rained while we were having our evening meal.