Blogs from Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia - page 4

Train & Agra Day 22. Friday 22nd December Got up at 5.45 and met the sleepy Reedies at reception at 6. We had paid all our bills last night so just dropped keys off and left with all our luggage. The manager had told us that it wasn’t worth booking a taxi as the station was nearby, so we took his advice and flagged down an auto-rick which happened to have extra boot space. We crammed our bags in there and had plenty of room for ourselves. At the train station we got a porter to carry main bags, mine over a shoulder, 2 on his head and another pulled behind, he went to the end of platform 1 and crossed the track to platform 2. Although our train wasn’t in yet (it was only 6.15 ... read more

Sometimes words or even photos cannot convey the sense of being there. And being at the Taj Mahal is one of those times. The sheer scale of this monument is amazing, let along its beauty and the story behind why it was built. Then you go to the Agra Red Fort and are overawed again. I never thought, 23 years ago, that I would come back here. Some things have changed, only electric powered vehicles (or horse) are allowed in the vicinity of the Taj Mahal, you get silly little bags to wear over your shoes rather than taking them off and they are most of the way through a cleaning programme. But the Taj Mahal and the buildings around it still pull the crowds - big crowds. It is nearly Diwala and everyone is heading ... read more

Our arrival in Agra was a little apprehensive, because there was a possibility of rain predicted for our visit to the Taj Mahal. Although we were travelling at the end of the monsoon season, we had encountered no rain, and the heat was daunting at times. Our hotel was on the main road, not far from the Taj Mahal, and provided a little oasis from the dusty and crowded Road. On our way there, I had been wondering about the amount of dust that might actually settle on top of the foods being sold at the endless stalls along the streets. The roads are dirt in many places, and a small cloud of dust is not unusual due to the heavy traffic. Agra is not as large as Delhi, or even Jaipur, but it is still ... read more

In Agra, we stayed at a wonderful brightly coloured and laid back homestay called the Coral Tree. It was a family run homestay, with all meals taken at the family dining table. Its beautiful garden was adorned with arty statues, and the rooms were littered with jewel coloured heavily embroidered cushions. The homestay had almost a surfer vibe; it was very comfortable, and was a short walking distance from the Taj Mahal. After we had settled in, we were taken around the sights by Mokesh, our enthusiastic guide, who was very keen on Indian history and amateur photography - most of the pictures on this post were taken by him. We stopped off at a well-known restaurant - 'A Pinch of Spice' - for a delicious meal. We were all given tiny flannels on ceramic leaves, ... read more

Who's idea was it to take myself and my fellow client on a 22 kilometer "Holy Walk" at night, through a remote Indian village...Barefoot. Oh right...it was my idea. Sure the Taj Mahal is what everyone comes to India to see...(which we did) but what if you wanted something more than the normal touristy spots and stories? What if you had a chance to experience a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a memory and a story worth telling...one that can't be explained with a simple photo. My first week in India over a year ago, my local Indian friends took me on this very pilgrimage and it opened my eyes to a whole new world I never would have dreamed real if not for my very own eyes confirming the impossible sights around me. ... read more