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

“Auntie Norma wouldn’t like it”

After our busy morning our guide takes us to a marble inlay shop from which we nearly never escape to complete the rest of our around the world adventure. 

We enter the shop and are shown the special art of marble inlay made famous by the Taj Mahal.  

Marble inlay from Taj Mahal

We are then shown every possible piece of inlaid marble in the shop – big, small, for inside, outside, plates, boxes, elephants, vases – you name it it was inlaid! We know that neither of us are interested, but the shop keeper was very insistent – after all “his home was our home” and we were being shown “the fantastic Indian hospitality”.  Eventually we say “not today” for marble, and are then taken to the jewellery room, then the hookah room, then the Pashmina room, then the sari room ….. “surely there is something here that you like - all at good price for you”….  Weary of the shop and salesman we finally find an escape hatch. 

We agree that from now on if such a situation arises we will say that “we are looking for a gift” , but if we need to escape say that “unfortunately we don’t think Auntie Norma would like it”!

Mrs M

Taj Mahal Tour – From Tom Cruise’s Guide

After a quick stop at the hotel to freshen up after the train we head off for our first stop of the day – Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum built by the Emperor Shah Jahan in loving memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.  Started in 1631 it took 20,000 labourers 22 years to complete.  Mrs M enquires what I would build for her? I seek clarification, is the new path in the garden not enough?

When first seeing the Taj it is truly stunning, and just gets more lovely the more you see it.

Taj Mahal - First View

Constructed from Indian Marble – we are told the most pure marble in the world !- it is also lavishly decorated with inlay of precious and semi-precious stones.

As we make our way closer, our tour guide decides to take some ‘tasteful’ set poses of us in front of the Taj.  

'Manly Pose' please...

'Pick-up the Taj'

 Not exactly our cup of char, but we are assured it is alright as he was the official tour guide of Tom Cruise earlier in the year!

Mr M