Sunday 31 October 2010

DEHLI TO AGRA

Sorry about the lack of photographs but we have not got wifi access at the moment, we will back up later when the chance arrives. The first 'wild' bird photo was for you chicken enthusiasts to show you what the wild equivalent looks like and it was also the first look at the new Blackburn Rovers chairman!
We are now with the Explore group and have visited a number of sites in Delhi and have just returned from our daybreak visit to the Taj Mahal. Trying the metro and cycle rickshaw rides with 18 people was even more trying than when we attempted similar journeys on our own. The transfer to a high rise and swish hotel was a shock and the view from the window just stressed the air pollution in this huge city. In New Delhi we saw India Gate which commmemorates their dead from the First World war and the parliament buildings but security around there is so tight that you are not allowed to even stop to take pictures. Just to keep the birdwatchers involved I found a White Breasted Kingfisher perched on the fountain! we also visited Humayuns tomb, a great example of early Mughal architecture in persian style and using acombination of white marble and local sandstone.
In Old Dehli we visited the Chandi chowk ,old bazaar area and wandered through the streets to the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India holding 25,000 people. We then took the cycle rickshaws back into the bazaar and drove passed the many little shops selling a variety of goods including at the moment the Diwali fireworks.
We then had our 5 hour bus journey to Agra with a stop for lunch on the way. The traffic was the usual organised chaos but it all seems to work well ! We began to see more cows walking around the streets and roads and also the odd pig,goat and also an elephant going down the inside lane on the way out of Dehli.
This morning we were up at 5 o'clock to visit the Taj Mahal and it really is as good as its hype.
When we arrived it was still misty and the marble was whitish/grey but by the time we left the sun had turned it a soft cream colour and the semi-precious stones were glinting as the caught the light.
The building is beautiful but even more amazing is the detail of the inlay work and carved marble when viewed close up. Truly magnificent !
We are off to visit the Agra fort this afternoon.

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