TAJ MAHAL!!!

INDIA DAY 4:

 Today, finally, we see the Taj Mahal!  Like always, we had an outrageously early wake up call to start the day’s adventures.  We took busses to the train station where there were hundreds of people sleeping on any open floor space they could defend.  There was a distinct order to the arrangement of all the sleeping bodies on the floor, however.   Some noticed us walking through and didn’t miss the opportunity to ask for our water bottles and leftovers from the boxed breakfast.  It was a bit of a relief once we boarded our first class, air-conditioned train and didn’t have to worry about being pick-pocketed from every direction.  However, I would have rather been in a train with the local people to see how they travel and have the chance to talk to them.  I am learning a lot for the next time I travel in India. 

We arrived in Agra a few hours later and immediately I could see a significant difference between the lifestyle here and in Delhi.  People were pooping on the side of the street and women were collecting cow dung to form into paddies for fuel use.   The city has much less infrastructure and is dirtier.  Water buffalos wandered in herds or independently while children swarmed us at every tourist destination.  Everywhere there were beggars with missing limbs or severe deformities.  It really was hard to walk past them without stopping, but we were told that if we give something to one person dozens more will appear expecting the same.  This happened to me in the train station when I started to give out stickers to the little kids begging.  Luckily I had enough for everyone, but adults and kids alike all wanted the shiny smiley face sticker.  

Our first stop in Agra was an ancient Persian city called Fahte Kapur Sikri.  It had architecture representing many different cultures and religions.  After lunch we visited Agra Fort, a red sandstone structure with beautiful views of the Taj Mahal in the distance.   Finally, we made our way to the world famous Taj Majal.  There were camels and water buffalo outside the gate along with tons of storekeepers trying to explain that their Taj Mahal souvenirs were better than the rest.  We entered through the East gate into the front garden area before going through the first building to see the Taj.  It was crowded, but somehow once I got to the front and could see the Taj Mahal across the pool of water it seemed more magnificent than I’d imagined.   The reflection was just as it is pictured in postcards and the shimmer of the building was real.  The dome was huge and everything was perfectly symmetrical.  Unfortunately we were only given an hour and a half at the Taj Mahal, so I didn’t get to see the exterior buildings, but the main tomb was fantastic.  It had lower domes on the inside to give an intimate effect and the wall design cast detailed shadows over the tomb from the sunlight coming in.   We had a chance to buy our souvenirs and had to head back for dinner before catching our train to Delhi.  We didn’t get back to the hotel until 11:30pm that night.  Our group as a whole was incredibly disappointed with the tour guide giving us such little time at this historic site, but as I’ve said I know I will be back to India soon.