March 5, 2015, Thursday, Taj Mahal

Dev still has surprises up his sleeve this morning.  We are given lessons on how to tie a turban on the men, and then put on the dhoti pants.  All the men look very auspicous.  Then the women get silk square scarves with gold fringe and we learn how to tie them over our heads and have them not fall off.  We can buy the scarves.  I wore my indigo skirt I purchased yesterday and got a scarf of green and pink diagonal stripes.  I plan to wear this at the Taj Mahal for my photos there.  I am very excited to see it.

But that's not all!  We must get into this vehicle which is a combination of tractor, cart, and truck.  We all stand in the bed of the open wooden truck bed.  Music plays.  We careen through the dirt alleys of the village and arrive at our destination, which I thought would be the bus.  

A gentleman greets me with a garnet necklace which I graciously accept.  But then I realize he is trying to sell it to me!  David strikes a bargain from asking $30.00, to one of $10 for two.  Later, on the bus, they are offered for less than $5.00.

We have arrived at the Ahbaneri Step wells and temple.  They only decided to restore this remarkable way of collecting water a few years ago.  There are steps down to the water at every level.  It will hold a great amount of water.  there were several wells like this in the area.  There are columns and decorations surrounding the well area because nobles decided to make it into a resort area at one time.  There are decorated reception areas at different levels.  Restoration is ongoing.

Step well

steps in step well

Now we are finally on the bus, continuing to Agra on the national highway.  This highway is considerably better than any other roads we have traveled on from Jaipur to the OAT Camp. But you still caon't go very fast, I would say 50 is the maximum.  Motorcycles, huge trucks carrying chaf and sand are on the road.  We passed a town that makes bricks.  Chimneys are scattered in the fields.  Each of the towns looks basically the same at least along the roadway.  Small low brick buildings with garage door shuttered small areas of businesses and mostly men bustling about.   Lots of motorcycles parked everywhere.

Colorful temple we stopped to see.

I am now among the group of people in the world who have seen the Taj Mahal.  I was overwhelmed.  

The sun was shining on the facade we saw when we entered.  You could catch a glimpse as you went through the archway and then it revealed itself in all its luminescent glory.  The view as you emerged from the gate was spectacular.

  The view from the garden walkway was spectacular. 

 the view from the platform in the middle of the waterway leading up to the edifice was spectacular.

  We put on shoe covers to enter the tomb area.  Foreigners pay ten times the price of locals, and we get a shorter line to reach the level of the tombs.  No photos are allowed, but of course everyone was stealing a photo or a selfie.  David and I walked around the tomb enclosure several times.  Sha Jahan's tomb is shorter and placed in the middle of the enclosure.    Mumtaz's grave is taller, but to the side.  There are 8 sides to the masoleum.

I didn't' want to leave.

outside the tombs

details of inlay work.  about 15 semiprecious stones are used.

We visited the museum where we saw pictures of the Shah and Mumtaz.  There were also examples of calligraphy which is also superb.  There were examples of all the 15 different semi-precious stones used in the marble inlaid designs.  They came from as far away as Iran.

I was overcome upon leaving and had to keep looking back, catching a glimpse as I slowly left to get our bus.

Our hotel in Agra is quite nice, the Jaypee Palace.  We had the evening to ourselves.  David and I chose to eat in the Indian restaurant.  We were the only ones there when it opened at 7:30pm.  There was a stage with Indian musicians and a singer, all sitting crosslegged.  We were entertained during our meal.  Later a lovely young Indian couple came in who seemed to be newly wed.  The beautiful woman was lively and talking a lot to the man, but the man didn't seem to be paying attention.  I wondered if this was a newly married couple in an arranged situation.

This was the best Indian meal we had so far.  The price showed it, but worth every penny as we really like this food.

OAT BROCHURE:
Overland to Agra, Abhaneri step wells
As we continue to explore India, we experience the vast rural countryside of India as we ride toward Agra.  En route, our Trip Leader entertains us with a discussion of the history of the mughals.
We break up today's long drive with a stop at Abhaneri to view an ancient bails, essentially a step-well or waterway built to provide a constant water supply to local inhabitants.
After lunch in Bharatpur, we continue to Agra, where we'll check into our hotel and enjoy time at the Taj from 3:00 to 5:00 pm closing.  Dinner at an Indian restaurant at the hotel.  This was the night we had a splendid meal alone in the restaurant with entertainment. Jaycee Palace Hotel.  The Taj is closed on Friday so we had to see it today.