Delhi to Agra

Started the day with a yummy hotel buffet breakfast, particularly enjoying the Dalia (sweet porridge), and swerving the usual Dahl for a change.

We learned a bit more about India from Anu. The current prime minister is in his 3rd term, has been in charge for 13 years, and overall people are happy with his investment in infrastructure, education and public health (he’s also a practitioner and big advocate for yoga!).

Next we spent time with Salman, a former street kid, who was helped by the organisation “Salam Ballak”, and is now a tour guide and Bollywood actor. His story was really moving, and he shared the shocking realities and reasons for children living on the streets in India. This was really sad, but the organisation has an 85% success rate with their rescued children, with many over the years growing into inspirational adults with a range of careers. They even had a (heavily guarded) visit from Prince William and Kate, and have received various international awards.

Reflecting Dehli’s cultural and religious diversity, we then visited 2 sites a Gurudwara (Sikh temple) and Mosque (Islam temple). These were both starkly different from each other, and again from the Hindu temple we visited yesterday.

Entering the Gurudwara was incredible. The sound of music, drumming and Punjabi-language prayer carried around the large carpeted hall, at the centre of which was a large heavily decorated four poster altar. Although Hindus worship 1 god and 10 gurus, they have no statues or idols, but do have an abundance or colour, intricate paintings, and ornate decoration. Gurudwaras are also known as a place of service, and we saw the small community kitchen that makes hundreds of meals per day for anyone regardless of religion, wealth or status. Eating here is considered a blessing.

In contrast, Jama Masjid, India’s largest Mosque, was a large ornate yet comparatively simple open air building, made from red sandstone and white marble. The archways and alcoves had no statues or paintings as worshiping idols is not permitted in Islam, but people still knelt and prayed within these.
The site was constructed by the same king that built the Taj Mahal, and was completed in 1656. We became the tourist attraction here though, as many families asked to stop and take photos with us. This has happened a lot in India (due to our minority skin and hair colour), but the first time we have had a few in succession. It’s nice to ask to take one in return, especially given the beautiful outfits, and most people do enjoy a chat practicing their English first.

We then drove to Agra with a lovely lunch stop at “Highway Masala” on the way (sampled delicious cauliflower pathara and aloo puri). Once out of the city the roads quietened down (the toll roads were especially quiet). It was nice to watch the flat green fields of wheat and mustard pass by, spotting the occasional farm or large factory building.

We arrived in Agra just before sunset and were treated to spectacular conditions to admire the Tomb of l'timad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj). Constructed by Noor Jahan (the wife of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir) to house her father’s tomb, it was completed in In 1628 (before the Taj Mahal); and the first building to be fully constructed in white marble. The impressive colourful patterns were created with precious stones inlaid and chiseled into the marble by hand, and beautiful surrounding 4 gardens representing the Islamic belief of 4 rivers in heaven. As the sun lowered behind the distant domed roofs, there was a juxtaposition of being unable to take our eyes off the beautiful building; but struggling to look at some of the poverty and conditions we saw today. An eye opening day for many reasons.

We checked into our lovely home for the next 2 nights and had a fun evening at a quirky restaurant/bar called Molecule (amazing momos, fried/topped spinach leaves and cocktails!). The group is starting to gel well already - a lot of laughs and fun today!Read more