Immediately upon arriving at Agra, we were taken to Mother
Theresa’s orphanage. It was a somber
experience but I’m grateful I was able to visit with my children. We brought a massive bag of children’s clothes
as well as candy and monetary donations.
The nun provided us with a tour explaining that several of the orphans are
disabled and were just abandoned on the street because their parents did not
know how to care for them. The orphanage
was divided into three sections: men, women, and children. It was also so clean. We walked quietly around, and I only hoped my
children recognize how blessed they are and how necessary it is for them to
continue to share their blessings and to give back.
The Taj Mahel is one of the 7 New Wonders of the World, but
when I returned from India and began to share my amazing experiences, the topic
of discussion centered on elephants, elephants, and elephants. Oh and as a side note, we went to the Taj
Mahel. I did a great disservice to this magnificent
monument. For others, it is the number one reason people travel to India.
The Taj Mahel is absolutely B-R-E-A-T-H-T-A-K-I-N-G! In my lifetime, it is the
most beautiful piece of architecture I have ever seen. No other building is comparable. It is a tomb built by the Mughal Emperor Shah
Jahan for his wife. It took 17 years to
complete the tomb and 22 years to complete the entire complex, including the
additional mosque and gardens.
Everything is symmetrical in the complex. The Taj Mahel, built along the Yamuna River, is
made with gorgeous marble and there are precious and semi-precious stones
inlaid in the marble that oftentimes give the appearance of the changing colors
of the Taj Mahel during sunrise and sunset.
The entire Quran is on the tomb. If a light is shined on the stones, it gives
the most glorious illumination I have ever seen. No words. Simply no words.
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| it almost looks photoshopped. |
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| I love this picture of Brandon! |
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| Our guide was our photographer. The Taj Mahal is a tomb but the story behind it is a great love story. |
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| hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| There are pools throughout the grounds. They were being cleaned when we visited. |
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| admiring the work. The way some of the tomb was designed, it gave the illumination of being one solid piece when it was more than one (hard to explain), You can see in the photo above some of the writings from the Quran. |
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Outside the grounds with the view of the library/museum at the Taj Mahal
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| Entrance into the Taj Mahal |
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| a mosque that was built so the workers who built the Taj Mahal could pray. You could see the Yamuna River to the right. |
We hired a government guide for two days of touring, and I’m
so thankful for his service, because it was through him that we learned the
most about Indian culture, life, and history.
He was one of only 40 government guides.
He also took us to the Tomb of I'timād-ud-Daulah. This is the tomb of the Emperor Jahan’s
maternal family, and it also was the inspiration to the Taj Mahel. Hussein, our guide, explained how you could
differentiate between the male/female tombs. I dont even know how to pronounce the name of the tomb, but it is also known as Little Taj or Baby Taj. Like the Taj Mahal, you could not wear shoes on the grounds of the tombs.
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| Along the Yamuna River. I learned from Hussein that not only do several Indians bathe in the river, but it is used by them to wash clothes and animals are seen it it. He also told us that about 10 percent of the population unfortunately drink from the river. (It may have been 8 percent--cant remember) |
Our government guide shared information about the children beggars,
the homeless people on the street, education, driving, marriage, and the
cultural life of India. It was
fascinating. Our guide also took us to the Marble Palace where we were given a demonstration on how the precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the marble. This is how the precious stones were inlaid into the Taj Mahal. The art is still being done today by the descendants of the people who built the Taj Mahel. It can take them months to do a very small piece of work. It is all done by hand, and it is a very slow, tedious, time-consuming process. We all even had an opportunity to try carving. It was NOT easy. These descendants are doing the same work, following the same process as their ancestors. It was quite amazing to watch.
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| Hussein, our government guide, but I kept calling him Josan. |
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| The descendants of the workers who built the Taj Mahal. They are doing the exact same work as their ancestors. |
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| Dylan and Brandon learning the technique. |
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| a semi finished piece that took months and months to do. |
We also toured Agra Fort, which served as the residential
palace of three Mughal emperors, Shah Jahan, his father, and grandfather. The entire palace is built with Redstone
except for the area built by Shah Jahan.
It is built with his preferred white marble. Emperor Jahan was imprisoned in this palace
by his youngest son. He spent the last
seven years of his life under house arrest, but he had a view of the Taj Mahal
during this period. Only 20 percent of the fort is open to the public as the India army occupy the remainder.
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| Agra Fort |
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| Inside the fort |
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| Inside Agra Fort in Shah Jahad's palace which is noticeably different with the white. |
In the evening, we watched a play retelling the love story
between the Emperor Jahan and his wife.
We were so exhausted from the travelling that I don’t think we were
truly able to appreciate the art.
Brandon and Mia fell asleep during the performance.
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| going to the Indian theater. It was a great show regardless if we were half asleep. |
These two days in Agra were so different than our first day
in Delhi. I felt completely safe with
Gets Holiday. They helped us manage not
only the traffic and activities, but all the street peddlers as well. They took
us to restaurants that was suitable for “westerners”. Brandon ordered chow mein as his first meal
in an Indian restaurant. I enjoy Indian
food. It is a little too spicy for
Lance, but overall, I think it is absolutely delicious. After several days eating it though, I, too,
grew tired of it and was craving something different. (However, I am now back in the states, and I
want to eat Indian!)
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| one of our Gets Holiday representatives |
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| We stayed in the Marriott, which was our only luxurious accommodations. |
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| our room. Ah, we were in heaven for a day! |
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| food. |
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| our first official meal at an Indian restaurant and Brandon orders chow mein. |
After we ate at one of the restaurants, we walked out to
discover a snake charmer. Like typical
tourists, we took photos and then Dylan did the unthinkable. He sat down next to the snake charmer with a python around his neck. The snake charmer took the cobra and put it on Dylan’s head and
then right next to Dylan’s face. I
gasped!!! I later learned that this is
illegal in India, and I feel horrified about it. The snake charmers sew the cobras mouth shut
and they die a slow, agonizing death from starvation. It makes me sad.
After two days of touring Agra, it was time to depart for
Wildlife SOS. This is what we came to
India for….not the Taj Mahel, but Wildlife SOS.
I was ready and so very, very excited.
Next Stop: Wildlife SOS
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