Liked Delhi better today as I got to see and feel the vibe of local life of the city during my morning run. Albeit it was a run through traffic, pollution, and chaos of the morning rush hour of workers and students.
But then it was time to depart, as I got picked up at 9am after a quick shower and breakfast.
A long car ride to Agra during which my driver Danish did some informal tour guiding, shared some Indian jokes / sayings, and we swapped stories, Iike what cartoons we watched. He asked me “90s?” I was so shocked and clarified if he meant to ask if I was born in the 90s? He affirmed it, and I said “No, 80s”, and he asked “88/89?” It was kind of funny and flattering. I also got some shut eye during the ride.
Some down time in the hotel in Agra, then lunch at 3pm, and sight seeing from 4pm:
- Red Fort – build and expanded upon by three successive Murgal rulers, the third king (Akbar), the fourth king (Jahangir), and the fifth king (Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal). At 66, his son overthrew him, and had him imprisoned in the Red Fort, where he could see Taj Mahal from afar. There was also a section in the Red Fort, originally the harem’s quarters, which was then turned into Mumtaz’s living quarters in the Red Fort, where Shah Jahan’s two daughters also lived with him during his imprisonment.
- Tomb Baby Taj Mahal (formally known as Tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah) – built bu Nur Jahan (Shah Jahangir’s chief consort) for her father, where 7 members of her family are buried. Mumtaz was said to have seen it, and asked Shah Jahan to build her a bigger and better mausoleum, just for her
- Taj View Point (near Mehtab Bagh)
The stories my guide told about the Murgal emperors and their wives, and how these were reflected in the architecture were so romantic – mostly Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, but also Shah Jahangir and Nur Jahan, and even the fact that neither Shah Akbar nor Shah Jahangir (both Muslims) obliged their first Hindu wives to convert, and built the Red Fort in Hindu style. I can understand why Agra is also called “City of Love”.
Drop off to hotel, and an early pick up at 05:30 tomorrow!