Monkeys: Enjoying the view from our room early in the morning, I noticed a couple of monkeys making their way along the roof line of the hotel several stories below us. Those few monkeys soon turned into a steady stream, all disappearing around the corner heading toward the back of the hotel. I grabbed my camera and headed downstairs to see if I could find them. It didn't take long to locate them congregated in a couple of trees abutting the hotel.
Taj Mahal: After breakfast we set out to visit the most famous site in India, the Taj Mahal (Crown Palace). Gas and diesel engine vehicles are forbidden from getting within several hundred meters of the palace complex, so our driver dropped us off and we hired a horse drawn carriage to transport us to the east gate. On our return trip, we rode a battery powered bus.
Although the mausoleum is the most recognizable building within Taj Mahal, it is actually made up of several buildings and expansive gardens. In order to reach these gardens, visitors must pass through the Darwaza-i-Rauza (Great Gate).
Construction of Taj Mahal began in 1632 by Shah Jahan, one year after the death of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, whose dying request was its construction. The mausoleum is white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, carvings, paint and stucco. Its decoration includes vegetative motifs, abstract forms and calligraphy of Quranic verses. It is a mixture of Persian, Mughal and Hindu architecture. The entire complex was completed in 1653.
On either side of the mausoleum are two identical buildings. The building to the right was constructed as guest quarters while the one on the left is a mosque. Out front are expansive gardens laid out in typical Mughal style, divided into fourths by walkways and water courses. Each of these four sections are further divided into four smaller sections.
Agra Fort: Also known as the Red Fort of Agra, the Agra Fort is one of the most important and best preserved heritage sites in India. A fort has existed on this site since before 1080 and has changed hands many times as various rulers governed their kingdoms from here. The look of the fort has also changed over the years as new buildings and fortifications were constructed, reaching its current state during the rule of Shah Jahan. It is located on the Yamuna River and has a clear view of the Taj Mahal. Only half of the fort is open for touring, while the other half is used by the Parachute Brigade of the Indian Army.
Jahangiri Mahal: After entering the fort through the Lahore Darwaza, popularly known as the Amar Singh Darwaza, we ascended a long ramp and, turning right, faced the entrance to Jahangiri Mahal, built by Akbar and used as the principle Zenana Palace (Palace for Royal Ladies).
Khas Mahal: Our next stop within the fort was at the Khas Mahal (Private Palace). It was built by Shah Jahan for his two favorite daughters. It is made of white marble and consisted of a central hall connected by porticos to pavilions on either side, where the ladies resided. Contained within the Khas Mahal is the Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace), a room inlaid with glass tiles on its walls and ceiling used as a dressing room. Out front sits the Anguri Bagh (Grape Garden).
Musamman Burj & Diwan-i-Khas: Shah Jahan constructed the Musamman Burj, again in white marble, for his most beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. This was a place where the ladies of the court could gaze out through marble lattices at the Yamuna River below while remaining unseen. For the last eight years of his life, Shah Jahan, along with his favorite daughter, was imprisoned in the Musamman Burj by his son, Aurangzeb. It is said that when he finally died in 1666 at the age of 74 he did so with his eyes affixed on the Taj Mahal, where he would later be interred next to his wife.
The Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) is located next to the Musamman Burj within Agra Fort. As with most of the structures in the fort constructed by Shah Jahan, it is made of white marble.
Agra Fort Mosques: During his reign, Shah Jahan built three separate mosques within Agra Fort, all constructed of white marble. The Mina Masjid (Heavenly Mosque) was built for his personal use. The Nagina Masjid (Gem Mosque) was constructed for the exclusive use of the royal ladies. Near the Nagina Masjid is the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque), which was used by members of the royal court. Of the three, we only toured the Nagina Masjid.
Diwan-i-Am: Our last stop within the fort was at the Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience). Just as in the other forts we visited, the Diwan-i-Am is the place within the fort where the mujahara met with the public. His ministers would gather petitions, hand them over to him, and then he would dispense justice.
The Diwan-i-Am at the Agra Fort consists of a large, rectangular courtyard. Centered on one of the long sides of the courtyard is a big pavilion and a raised platform inset in the back wall where the mujahara sat. Along with the Red Fort in Delhi, it was also one of the sites for the Peacock Throne, considered one of the most majestic thrones ever built.
I'timad-ud-Daulah's Tomb: I'timad-ud-Daulah (Pillar of the State) tomb was build for Mirza Ghiyas Beg by his daughter Nur Jahan, wife of Jahangir, between 1622 and 1628. It is particularly significant in that it is the first departure from traditional architecture of red sandstone with marble inlay to architecture of white marble with pietra dura inlay. This new style of architecture culminated in the design and construction of the Taj Mahal. Like other tombs, I'timad-ud-Daulah's Tomb has a grand entrance gate and is centered in a grid-like pattern of gardens divided by walkways and water courses.
Return Trip: In order to make the ride back to Indira Ghandi International Airport in Delhi, we awoke early the next day and checked out of the hotel at 4am. We got to see a lot of the countryside before hitting Delhi traffic. Security was tight at the airport, requiring us to show identification and proof of our travel plans just to get inside. We made it back to Bangkok without incident, where we stayed several days while Peep worked a travel trade show. Finally, on Monday, 8 June we arrived back in Savannakhet.