Agra Fort, baby Taj, and the Taj that never was

After surviving the battle of the inlay marble store, and refreshed after some dal and roti for lunch we head out for the rest of our Agra sightseeing.

Next up is the Agra Fort, which is a bigger and more impressive building than the Red Fort in Delhi.  Built by Emperor Akbar in 1565, and further added on by his son Shah Jahan (who built the Taj Mahal), this building has walls 20m high and is 2.5km in circumference.

Amar Singh Gate

Gardens inside Agra Fort

Naturally we bypass all the security and ticket checks as our guide was the official tour guide to Tom Cruise.

Next up is Itimad-ud-Daulah, or baby Taj.  This is a smaller but equally impressive building than the big Taj.  Built by Nur Jahan, the mother in-law of Emperor Shah Jahan (of big Taj fame), it is a shrine to her parents.  This is the first Mughal building built from white marble, and was clearly the inspiration for  the Taj Mahal.  

Baby Taj

Entrance Gate to baby Taj

We enjoyed the baby Taj just as much as the big Taj, especially as we had it almost to ourselves.

Finally we visit the Mehtab Bagh, a garden across the Yamuna river from the Taj Mahal. This is the location that Shah Jahan was planning to build a mausoleum for himself – similar to the Taj Mahal – from black marble.  He was unable to build this as he was in later life imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb in 1658.  On his death Shah Jahan was buried next to his wife Mumtaz Mahal in the Taj Mahal, upsetting the perfect symmetry of the original design.

Rear view of Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh

Mr M