Day 5 -- Bus to Agra, Akbar's Tomb, Taj Majal, marble inlay factory
We take a bus ride down to Agra, and see lots of farmland along the way.
A shot up a river that we are crossing over, including various water buffalo, etc.
A sample of the traffic, with cows, bicycles, tuk-tuks, cars, trucks, and busses all competing, and
with the ever-present honking.
We visit Akbar's tomb.
Note that the English word "mogul" comes from "moghul", the Indian word for Mongol.
The main entrance gate.
The grounds are home to two different types of deer.
It is spring, so the bucks are starting to duel.
The walkway up to the main entrance...
...and a close-up of the entrance.
Much of the stone still retains a lot of color.
As is customary, this is the fake tomb, and the real one is down below.
A view back to the entrance gate from inside.
Moving through Agra to our hotel, we pass another large Sikh temple, or Gurdwara.
Upon reaching the hotel (Trident Agra), we are given a blessing upon entering.
A statue on the way to the Taj Mahal
You cannot park close to the Taj Mahal, so we take electric carts to the entrance.
Waiting for all of the group to clear security.
This little fellow jumped down on a woman's shoulder, stole her food, and jumped back up, all in about one second.
The entrace gate...
...and our first view of the Taj Majal.
A view partially from the right side. The Taj is breathtakingly beautiful from the outside, but really
not too much to look at inside.
Kimberly from the base of the Taj looking back (a little windblown) toward the entrance.
Trying to capture the reflection in the pool. It was a little breezy, so the water is not very still.
The iconic picture that every couple has to take there.
We sat and watched the sun go down for about 30 minutes, as the colors changed on the Taj.
One last attempt to get a reflection.
After the Taj, we visit a marble inlay factory where they do the type of cutting and inlaying that was
done across much of the Taj.
A person fitting pieces together.
The finished products, all sturdy yet beautiful, but quite expensive.
