Agra

We arrive at the elegant Jaypee Palace Hotel in Arga.



Our room at the Jaypee Palace and view from our balcony.

Taj Mahal

After a restful night's sleep we take a short bus trip from our hotel to a parking lot near the Taj Mahal. We didn't get to ride in these horse drawn carts, but due to parking restrictions we did ride an electric vehicle part of the way.



The Taj Mahal complex is surrounded by a red sandstone wall and we enter through the Great Gate (Darwaza-i rauza), the gateway to the Taj Mahal. From the Great Gate we get our first look of the Taj Mahal framed by the gateway entrance.



Commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is one of the world’s most celebrated structures.



From a distance the Taj Mahal looks to be a gleaming solid white marble structure, but as you get closer you will notice the detail of the carvings and inlays of precious and semiprecious gemstones in the white marble.



A view of the southeast corner of the Taj Mahal showing the vaulted archways.



The main entrance to the interior chamber shows the stone inlays and calligraphy on the walls.



Carvings in the ceiling of one of the vaulted archways and an example of a detailed marble carving.



The Taj Mahal stands on the southern bank of the Yamuna River.



On the east side of the Taj Mahal is the jawab which may have been used as a guesthouse.


Visitors to the Taj Mahal must remove their shoes or wear shoe covers to prevent damage to the marble floors.



A view of the Taj Mahal from the charbagh or Mughal garden.



Rose-ringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri) nested in the trees in front of the Great Gate entrance to the Taj Mahal. (My camera developed a lens error after this picture and I had to use Mary's camera for the rest of the tour)

Tomb of I'timād-ud-Daulah

After visiting the Taj Mahal we travel to the tomb of I'timād-ud-Daulahthe, located to the north of the Taj Mahal on the Yamuna River. The tomb of I'timād-ud-Daulahthe is often described as a "jewel box" or the "Baby Taj", and is often regarded as a draft of the Taj Mahal.



The elaborate decorations on the walls and  delicate window screens of intricately carved white marble.



The walls are white marble  with semi-precious stones, such as  cornelian, jasper, lapis lazuli, onyx, and topaz.





View of the Entrance Gate from inside the tomb.

Agra Fort

Our next stop is the red sandstone Agra Fort, also known as the Red Fort. Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was the residence of the Royal Family and the Mughals known for their opulence.



Jahangir Palace is the largest part of Agra Fort and was the palace for women belonging to the royal household.



A view of the interior of the Nagina Masjid in Agra Fort. The Nagina Masjid was built for the ladies of the Royal family. This private mosque is also known as the Gem Mosque or the Jewel Mosque and has three majestic domes and wonderful arches.



Detailed carved marble with a view of the Taj Mahal in the background.



A view of the Taj Mahal and Yamuna River from Agra Fort.

Agra Restaurant with Show

This optional dinner at an Agra restaurant featured a performance by a dancer and a taste of the local cuisine.



Mary and others from the tour had henna designs applied after the meal.



After a wonderful stay in the Jaypee Palace Hotel it's time to board our motor coach for a short ride to the railway station where we take the Shatabdi Express train to Jhansi. A statue of the Hindu gods Shiv,  Ganesh and Parvati on the dash of the motor coach.



At the Agra Cantt railway station. One of the railway workers inspecting the rail line.




Our train, the Shatabdi Express arrives at railway station. A view of the countryside from the train.



A relaxing train ride to  Jhansi.



We arrive at the to Jhansi train station and then head to Khajuraho by motor coach.



Link to our next stop, Khajuraho