The Agra hotel is so much nicer, and if the fact that it caters to tourists makes it so, fine with me. We'll see the Taj Mahal in the early light tomorrow, so today we drive out of town to the abandoned "town" of Fatehpur Sikri, our first UNESCO World Heritage Site. We are blown away at the intensity of the carvings, detail and quality of the red sandstone buildings and ornamentation. So many dedicated people are required to make such wonders, and there is so much to see! Is there commitment like that in our world today?
Perhaps. Turns out that our road to Fatehpur Sikri is also the route for a local pilgrimage. We passed thousands upon thousands of people walking for three days, on the highway. Rest stops, food and music greet them every couple hundred of meters. Despite the arduous walk before them, everyone seemed pretty happy and celebratory. I'll think of this the next time I think I'm parking "far" away from my destination in the U.S. and have to walk a few hundred feet.
(Click this image for a video from the car...)
The Jama Masjid mosque complex is part of the town. Deepak wisely takes out outside of the complex so we can re-enter properly, through the Buland Darwaza gate. Perched at the top of a huge staircase, it makes for quite an entrance!
Within the mosque grounds is the Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti, carved entirely out of marble. Simply amazing.
Our dinner in Agra, home of the the Taj Mahal, the most famous symbol of India around the world - is at Pizza Hut, which has become quite popular with India's middle class for its "international dining experience". Time for a break from Indian food. Guess who in our group made the request?
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment