It was the 6th of July... my dad's birthday.. So the day started well with a birthday cake..yum!!!!We had to celebrate early as we had planned to leave to agra that day..
So at 6 in the morning we started our journey to Agra. The Palwal roads were pathetic. it took some time till we reached some proper roads. It was a nice journey as it had rained the previous day and the chill breeze hitting your face. It was almost 10 when we reached Agra. As we neared Agra the roads were so bad. It has a world wonder and is a very famous tourist place yet the approach roads and the surroundings are not maintained well. Its sad to see such a plight.. Finally we reached Taj Mahal. We finally got down in the parking area.
The Taj Mahal is almost 1 to 2 kms from here. You have battery cars and also jatkas (carts pulled by horses), hand rickshaws and camel rides. The rates are very very minimal.
So after a long journey we wanted to use the rest room and asked for one. The guy whom we hired to take us till the taj mahal showed us one. Man i would never step into it again if i was asked to do it. It was so damn pathetic. Absolutely nothing near to even 2 % of sanitation. The agony is the guy charges you for such pathetically maintained rest rooms. I wouldn't mind paying even more if it was kept clean. No proper buckets, mugs, lights, mirrors, wash basin, taps... yuck!!!!!
Then we got back into our hired battery car. The driver was busy giving information about the place. He said as there is a danger of the taj turning black because of pollution, the govt. has ordered that in a radius of about 1 km you cant drive any vehicles. Only pollution free vehicles can run that too only till the entrance. There is no industries here it seems. People have small cottage industry like handicraft work or the hand rickshaw type of vehicles. The govt. has given them free battery car for which they charge very minimal charges for their expense otherwise its free.
The Taj is closed from 10.30 am till 11.30 pm for cleaning. As we were there by 11 the driver took us to the meena bazaar there nearby. We got to see sarees made out of bamboo, banana which would just pass through a small finger ring with no difficulty. They are crease free... Quilts which can be folded into very small package. They are very light and thin too. You can really pick up some nice stuffs from there. All these are made by residents of the Agra jail. Best part is you can return them once you want to discard them too as these materials are re-usable. You get a 50% return value too. Shoes made from camel leather.
Finally its 11.30 and we are all set to go visit the Taj Mahal. There are 3 gates and finally we are at the Taj. Man its a sight to see... I loved the vast expanse.. There was nothing that could hinder your view. Shah Jahan definitely must have been a man with taste. hehehehe.. Lovely environment... beautiful gardens... You almost have to walk to the Taj for about 5 mins... As you enter you have guides and photographers mobbing you to engage them.. I tell you its worth having one. They get you some nice pictures. :) In fact there is a special place allocated for photgraphers. :) They charge you about 50 to 60 rupees(sorry i dont have the symbol downloaded yet :)) per photo and they deliver it in 45 minutes.. We also had few photo sessions done..
Then we strolled towards the Taj hogging as much as we can through our eyes. :) It was drizzling then... Lovely experience... Taj looks beautiful with its blue background (sky)... Everything about the Taj is so artistic... Let me add a few pictures...
Each colour semi precious stones were brought from different countries of the world. If you throw light you will notice its hollow and it gleams in the light. You can find this work everywhere in the Taj... Such beautiful designs.. I was touched by his love for his wife...
It was noon by the time we came out and then we headed to the Agra Fort. You can see the Taj from the Agra fort and vice versa. It was a great feeling being inside the Fort. Though many rooms were not for public view still we can get hold of the life style of the Moghuls.
I was busy capturing them in my camera and finally my battery got exhaushted.. :P My parents and husband were then happy as i was worrying them to pose for the pics and was delaying by taking pics.. :) Typical me... but its a must see place
Other places which you can visit is the Sikandra; Akbar's tomb... Also if you have time you can touch Vrindavan...
It was such a memorable day in my life.... A day with history....
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