Agra
We began our day in Agra with a tour of
the Taj Mahal. Pictures do not do it justice. It is much larger
than one would expect and the craftsmanship required to build this
monument is beyond what can be found in the world today. Extensive
efforts are being made to preserve the Taj Mahal from the effects of
pollution and security is very tight. We were fortunate in that
several high ranking representatives were scheduled to be in India
later in the week. As a result, we were able to view it at its best.
The water fountains were operating and the grounds were being
groomed. The weather was also perfect.
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| Taj Mahal |
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| Entrance to the Taj Mahal |
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| Minaret at Taj Mahal |
The mosque is across an open square from the mausoleum and located on the western wall. The mosque is constructed of red sandstone and decorated with intricate marble inlays and frescoes. On the mosque's floor are incised black outlines for prayer rugs. All of the buildings on the grounds are massive and impressive in their own right. The entire complex must be seen to appreciate its beauty.
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| Mosque at the Taj Mahal |
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| Prayer Rug Outline |
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| Mosque Archway |
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| Inlaid Stone and Carved Reliefs |
From the Taj Mahal, we headed to a factory which continues to produce works of art using the same methods and tool as the stone artists who did the inlay work on the Taj Mahal. It was very interesting to see how the grinding and polishing was accomplished. Finished works were on sale in a large display area. The works were very beautiful and also very expensive. However, when one considers the amount of work and cost of materials, we supposed the prices to be reasonable for those who can afford to spend a few thousand dollars to decorate their homes.
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| Cutting and Polishing Stone for Inlays |
Our next stop was Itimad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, also known as The Baby Taj. This mausoleum was completed four years prior to the commissioning of the Taj Mahl. It too, lies on the banks of the Yamuna River. Elements of this burial site and that of Humayun in Delhi were inspirational and copied in a grander scale in the Taj Mahal. The extent of the inlaid stone was remarkable.
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| Itimed Ud Daulah's Tomb - The Baby Taj |
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| Minaret at Itimad Ud Daulah's Tomb |
Our last stop of the day was the Agra Fort. The current fort was built during the 16th Century; however, the position has been fortified for over 1,000 years. In 1558, Akbar made Agra his capital and initiated construction on the fort as it generally appears today. His grandson, Shah Jahan, who commissioned the building of the Taj Mahal, made significant modifications to the fort's interior layout by expanding courtyards and had his palace which was constructed of red limestone covered over with a white stucco which resembled marble and embellished it with inlaid tiles. The fort still serves as a military installation with the Indian Army Parachute Brigade occupying most of the fort.
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| Amar Singh Gate - Agra Fort |
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| Moat and Defensive Walls |
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| Inner Gate and Towers |
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| Palace Archway |
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| Decorative Reliefwork |
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| Restoration Work In Progress |
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