Agra in the Blink of an Eye: Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal, Indian tour bus style

Before heading to Amritsar, home of the Golden Temple, we decided to spend an extra day in Delhi so that we could take a day trip out to visit the Taj Mahal. What was supposed to be a day trip turned into a nearly 24 hour adventure (aka a living nightmare): they shoved us into the back of the bus where our seats would not only not relcline, but were voted (by us) the most uncomfortablte seats in the world. It was like our seats were working to make us uncomfortable. And, while there should have been 4 people on that back bench, they squeezed 7. Seven full grown adults (fine, there was one baby...but it was still really really really squished). And we were running five hours behind schedule and we were covered in a swarm of mosquitoes and the bus ride was bumpy and the horns were honking and the ride was seeming to last for all of eternity...Suffice it to say, Indian tourist buses are one of a kind.

Okay, enough complaining. We arrived in Agra around 1 pm. We took a quick bite to eat and then headed out to the Agra Fort, where we were told that we had 45 minutes to explore. After heading to the bathroom, we realized that we only had 31 minutes left to explore the Agra Fort in its' entirety. We knew we had to hurry (even though that goes against every bone in our body). But we figured we should tak the self made challenge...so we ran (aka walke at a speedier pace). This next series of photos you should scroll through as fast as you can, just so you experience the Agra Fort in a similar fashion.



















Arriving at the Taj Mahal. Here they gave us a generous hour and fifteen minutes, which we begged them to extend (and they obliged) to walk around and soak up the beauty and grandeur of the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal was built by a grief-stricken Emperor Shah Jhan when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died in childbirth. Built in the 1640's, this exquisite mausoleum is one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture.

We have heard, from many a traveler, that this is one site you do not want to pass up...we agree, full-heartedly.

Long live the Taj Mahal!