Agra is a smaller city compared to Delhi (and let’s admit it, most cities are smaller), and didn’t have nearly as many tourist attractions. However, it does have the most impressive structure I have ever seen, the Taj Mahal.
Listed as one of the new seven wonders of the world, erected by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as his wife’s tomb, the majestic main structure and 4 towers were breathtaking. Built using the hardest marble in the world, masons sculpted exquisite details into every slab. 35 types of precious and semi-precious gems were embedded alongside streams of black marble and limestone. 60,000 to 130,000 daily visitors come to the Taj Mahal, making it a very hectic place. We had VIP tickets, which skipped the line that wrapped around the building.
Locals kept asking to take pictures with Selma and myself, which is apparently a sign of good luck. Selma had to politely refuse multiple times while I wanted to charge them 🙂
The emperor that built the Taj Mahal wanted to construct a second one in black marble, on the other side of the river. His son thought this was madness and placed his father under house arrest in the Agra Fort, a majestic fort of red sandstone on the banks of the Yamuna river. From the emperor’s balcony, he could see and admire his first creation.
In order to preserve the Taj Mahal for as long as possible by reducing pollution, no industrial machines of any kind are allowed for many kilometers. This means everything produced in Agra is manual and handcrafted. We visited a shop where they engraved gemstones into marble and another where they made handmade carpets. Impressive workmanship!
