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DAY 7 : 15TH FEBRUARY 2013
We are still in Agra and will be visiting the Agra Fort before heading back to Delhi. The Agra Fort is a counterpoint to the Taj Mahal not because that it's red sandstones contrast the white purity of the Taj Mahal but more because it is a place of sorrow for the builder of the Taj Mahal - Shah Jahan.
A. THE AGRA FORT
We checked out from our hotel, the Mansingh Palace. We will be heading for the Agra Fort visit another handicraft center and leave for Delhi after that.
We entered through the Delhi Gate (the Hathiya-Paur) entrance. Except for its red color, from the outside, the Agra Fort looks like any other medieval fort or castle.
A fort with cold rampart walls...
... and moats that were once filled with water and crocodiles. Yes, it does feel like a cold - cold place of war.
But once you step beyond the entrance, there are landscape gardens, and the buildings inside are more meticulously designed. The place starts to give out some warmth and a certain homeliness.
We walked along a ramping corridor, at the other end of this corridor is another entrance arch. This arch has two heavy timber gates, protecting what lies beyond - the inner bastion for the king to reside during times of conflict.
In the inner sanctum, there are two large square lawn, encompassed by buildings on four sides. The buildings here look more like palaces instead of a fort, these Mughals really know how to live life - even in a fort.
At the path between the lawn is an inscribe marble panel showing a plan of the Agra Fort.
Up here, it does not feel like a fort. There are even cozy paths for strolling through the gardens.
To one corner can be seen the Moti Mosque.
Further on, we went up another ramp and passed by two more arches to yet another upper section.
Up here there is another smaller landscaped lawn, and to one side is the Dewan Am (Public Hall).
Inside this hall, the Mughal inspired arches cast a symmetrical pattern.
I climbed the stairs to yet another level.
Here there are corridors to walk round, overlooking the lawns below.
Spaced along these corridors are domed arches. Their Anglo flowery design and the column headers are reminiscence of a British past.
Here too, can be seen green parrots, nesting away in the nooks. They are many of them flying around the fort, and they just add to the warm atmosphere of the place.
At one end of these corridors is a roofed terrace with rooms attached to it.
These rooms overlook the Yamuna River.
And in the distance can be seen the Taj Mahal.
It is here that Shah Jahan was imprisoned for eight years until his death. What sorrow he must be going through viewing and pinning for his beloved Mumtaz.
To the other side of this place are colorfully landscaped lawns. Viewing at this, at least Shah Jahan can work out his solace with some calm.
Leaving the place, my feelings were one of admiration of the place. But I was also heavy-hearted, thinking of Shah Jahan's lonely plight.
B. U.P. HANDICRAFT DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Next we visited another handicraft shop, the Uttar Pradesh Handicraft Development Centre.
An ornate, antique cast iron spiral staircase led us up to the first floor. There were several rooms here.
In one of the rooms, we were shown many different types of Indian textiles - like this nice green one for a sari.
On the shelves behind were other textile - shawls, veils, saris, etc.
and also Kashmiri carpets. So one can get these carpets here and don't have to go all the way to Kashmir. But my advise is - Don't miss Kashmir!
One of our tour buddy tried on a beige, golden trim sari. Looks glamorous doesn't it?
I lingered here for a while, but decided to leave the purchasing to them and headed for the other rooms to satisfy my passion - art!
Here, they also have marble pieces inlaid with semi-precious stones. This black marble table top looks real grand.
And this unique table top, carved with hexagonal patterns.
A large carving of Buddha's head carved in black stone.
An elephant carving in white marble, inlaid with semi-precious stones.
C. AGRA TO DELHI
We had lunch at the Priya Restaurant, before heading back up to Delhi.
Lunch was white rice or Briyani rice with curries. It was good, but after more than a week of Indian food, our stomachs were yearning for something different.
After lunch, we headed back towards New Delhi. At one of the rest & recreational area we saw this young couple - a brother and a sister - in traditional Indian attire.
To earn some money, after school, they come here to perform dance for tourists like us. The brother plays the music while the sister dances. They were quite entertaining actually, so we tipped them well.
Continuing our journey, we were most surprised to see cow dung patties everywhere - on the road dividers, road shoulders, atop huts, etc. This is a common site in India, cow dung patties are dried and then used as fuel.
We are at the outskirts of New Delhi now, these trishawmen waiting for business at the road side.
Finally, after a five hours bus ride we reached our hotel in New Delhi - the Park Plaza.
This is where we will be spending our last night in India.
After dinner, a few of us went for a walk near the hotel to buy local tidbits to take back home.
It was getting late, and the cows were getting ready for bed.
And so shall we.....
Good night.
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