India: The Golden Triangle and Beyond - 3/6 Agra

Agra

The day started with a trip to Agra’s Red Fort. The fort was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty till 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. The Agra fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Unfortunate incident – Percy was abducted by the security guard n we had to raise 10rupees ransom to secure his release :)

Then on to the famed Taj Mahal. Seriously impressive, unparalleled workmanship a sight to behold.

we all tried but non succeeded :)

We were to return at sunrise when the external marble turns it’s fabled rosy colour but stories of the Delhi smog are not exaggerated. Delhi to Agra turned into something resembling Brigadoon on an off day. Still, double edged sword we got a much needed lie in before setting off again.

A thick blanket of smog lingered all day making our trip to the impressive Fatehpur sikri an opaque experience at best – though it is an impressive site. The building material used in all the buildings at Fatehpur Sikri, palace-city complex, is the locally quarried red sandstone, known as 'Sikri sandstone'. Built during the second half of the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri(the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only some 10 years.

As impressive was the Abhaneri step walls, an amphitheatre well hewn out of the rock, top down, into a most amazing pattern of steps and structures. With 3,500 steps that look like a real-life Escher drawing it's a maze of symmetrical steps appear to form a never ending path deep underground.Also, a short walk up the village, was the remains of an even older temple.