ON PLANNING THE AGRA TRIP The main attractions are the Agra Fort and Taj Mahal. I bought tickets for these and visited them on the same day to get a 50 rupees discount. I visited Agra Fort first then Taj Mahal just in time for sunset. It's beautiful because the Taj got some smooth yellow light on its side. I spent two days in Agra, just right for me to see around, observe, and shop a little.
TAJ MAHAL
Agra is well known for Taj Mahal. The moment I saw it, I thought, you just couldn't miss it. I reckon it's the most visited place in India. There were lines of tourists, both international and Indians! And I could understand why. It's just so magnificent because it's huge, and because it's all in white, you're drawn into the shape and balance of the structure. It's inviting, and as I came closer, there's more design to see! I am not sure what to feel if a man would build me something like this, like Shah Jahan. Hehe. But maybe yeah, it's the greatest testimony of love as they described it.
 |
| I call this the-everybody-has-this-shot. Hehe, but it's still amazing! This is a view just after sunset. |
 |
| At the gate. Like I said, it's inviting. I can still remember these kids (the shadows) saying "Aaah," all of them excited and expressing their awe. I got excited too. I got goosebumps! |
There's two long lines to go inside the mausoleum, one for international tourist and another for local tourists. Inside are tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. It's just a quick turn around the cenotaphs of the tombs and then you'll have to go outside right away to give way to others. It got a bit disappointing because inside there were noise from the tourists and the guards' whistles. I guess I expected too much, expected it to be a bit solemn because it's a tomb.
 |
| Calligraphy etched on the frame of the arched entrance, with marble inlay floral designs just above the arch. Notice the calligraphy as you view up? The size doesn't change. It's because it's written to gradually get bigger as it gets higher :) |
 |
| Calligraphy from above which looks the same size as the one below. On the right is one of the minarets. |
 |
| The domes |
 |
| Locals waiting in line, on the background is the Taj Mahal Mosque |
 |
| Yamuna river, view from the Taj Mahal |
THE AGRA FORT
As the tourist information says, it is the most important fort in India and the country was ruled from here. Great Mughal leaders lived here too, and it was here that Shah Jahan was crowned as leader. It was recorded that this was made of bricks, but due to ruins, an emperor ordered to rebuild it using sandstone.
 |
| The massive entrance |
