Agra

Today began with a 4 hour drive to Agra &
The Grand Imperial Heritage Hotel.
We then met our guide, Barber at Salt Cafe for lunch & our first glimpse of the Taj. After lunch, we visited Agra Fort, a fine example of Mughal architecture & the stronghold of the Mughal Empire under successive generations. Originally a military structure made from red sandstone, it became a majestic palace & a World Heritage site. Huge! Barbara is a history buff so there was lots of information imparted!
We continued on for a sunset tour of the Mehtab Bagh Garden situated on the Yamuna River opposite the southern side of the Taj Mahal. The dime is the last piece being cleaned & restored, hence the scaffolding. No chemicals for the cleaning, just cover the marble with clay, let it dry then wash it off. Easy! Dinner back at the hotel was a simple dish of kitchari for me, along with a very pleasant local Shiraz.Read more