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2008/2009 Nepal & India

Day 68 – Agra, India

5 February 2009

We got up early to enjoy the sunrise at the Taj Mahal, which was considerably quieter than when Scott and I were here two years ago.  There were some very bizarre security changes i.e. you can’t bring in an ipod and you couldn’t bring in my daypack, but after I got grumpy they changed their mind on the backpack – not the ipods for the girl next to me though.  We wandered through the complex and watched the sun rise.  This is the second time I have been here and it is still a wonderful monument and awe-inspiring.

Taj Mahal at Sunrise.
Taj Mahal at Sunrise.
Kathy in front of the Taj Mahal
Kathy in front of the Taj Mahal

Our driver dropped us back at our hotel for a quick breakfast before we headed out to Agra Fort to spend a few hours.  There is considerable renovation work being undetaken within the fort and it was very well maintained and nowhere near as much litter as before.

Agra Fort - amazing architecture
Agra Fort - amazing architecture

We left there and did the obligatory visit to the marble showroom where Kathy bought two marble inlaid elephants.  Next up was a visit to a textile factory where Kathy again did the honours and purchased some shawls.  My shawl I bought in Amritsar two years ago and which I paid only Rs800 was quoted here as Rs5000, so that shows how much things have either gone up or they are ripping you off.

Our driver took us to a travel agent as we have decided to change the first class train ticket tomorrow night for a morning bus, so we arrive in Jaipur in the middle of the day and get extra time there to see the markets.  We also got the travel agent to book our train ticket from Ajmer to Delhi and the hotel in Delhi.  The travel agent also told us where the local Indians get their shawls etc, so we had our driver take us there and the savings were fantastic, even I splurged and bought a silk shawl.  Luckily Kathy is there to ensure that the economy here in Agra is well and alive.

We headed back to the hotel as it was getting late, dropped off our stuff and headed out to the internet cafe to finish up some things before finally having something to eat.