AGRA to JAIPUR

We travelled  for (240kms) which all up,travelling and stopping, to visit the monuments took six hours.

We were picked up at 5.30am to go and see the Taj Mahal at sunrise. We only saw the back side of it yesterday from across the river as it is always closed on Fridays. We drove a little out of town and then caught a bus up to the ticket office of about one km. Cars aren't allowed any closer  because of pollution so they have these little electric buses to transport people. The Taj Mahal is an enormous mausoleum complex commissioned in 1632 by  the emporer/King Shah Jahan to house the remains of his beloved wife. Constructed over twenty years on southern banks of the Yamuna River in Agra. What an amazing monument. To see it at sunrise was very special and then as the sun was coming up, it slowly lit up the building. And a little later there it was this beautiful building sitting under the blue sky.

As we walked through the gates there it was. Day light was just arriving still a little dark with the morning mist.

 

The sun still hasn't come up still a little dark

The sun is just coming up shining through the dome. 

A repleca of  the tombs of  the King and Queen. The queen has the centre one as the king built the Taj for her . He is to her left. The bodies are in real tombs below floor level.

The front entrance. You can see how the marble is changing colour as the sun hits the building. Also note the fine detail of the marble.

Now the sun has come up see out the marble colour has changed from a white/grey to a golden colour.



Looking at the side of the building looking down the river and in the far distance you can see the Agra Fort where the king was living and he could look down over to the Taj at his wife.

Now the sun is right up and the sky is blue and the reflections are now looking good.

As we were leaving we turned round to have a last glimpse .

We now went back to the hotel for breakfast after this great experience. After breakfast we then checked out for our trip to Jaipur for two nights.

On route we stopped at Fatehpur Sikhism, the deserted red standstone city to visit the Bulund Darwaza. Pictures below.

 

After this we headed to Abhaneri a Village situated on the Agra..Jaipur road 95km before Jaipur. Here we visited the Chand Baori a stepwell built over 1000 years ago. The wells have steps built into the sides that lead down to the water. These were built to supply water all year round. It is not used as a well anymore. It's about 64ft deep. It's India's largest and deepest steepwells with thirteen floors. Photo below.

Another two hours driving we finally arrived at Jaipur at about 5.00pm long day after our 5.30am pick up. Just drove through Jaipur but what we saw a much tidier clean city. Will see more tomorrow on our days tour here. Our guide and driver are picking us up at 9.30am for the start of our new day.