There is the story of Mughal emperor Shah Yahan who lost his beloved wife Mumtaz at the birth of their eighteenth child who built the Taj Mahal in her memory. So romantic. But... it took 22 years to finish (20,000 labourers) and in the meantime he went and married Mumtaz' sister, then he was overthrown by his own son and locked away in prison for the rest of his life.
I went to see his prison today. Don't think a dark, dirty cell... think Minas Tirith.
The Red Fort in Agra. Built nearly 500 years ago it is still magnificent and huge. Deep rusty red sandstone with great murky, hazy polluted distant views of the Taj.
Fabulous carvings, exotic gardens (no flowers) and a myriad of chambers and court rooms. Complex and virtually unchanged in hundreds of years, We went round and round, through gates and ramps and past courtyards; deliberately built to make siege impossible and the emperors safe, we eventually came to the inner sanctum which was all in white and built to house the court and the emperors harem. This was where Shah Yahan was imprisoned.
Unlike any historic building I have seen. Nothing like Warwick Castle, Hampton Court or the Tower of London. More Minis Tirith. With the river Yamuna running along one side. Sublime.
We went then to see the Baby Taj, Further along the banks of the Yamuna. Again, super stuff.
Had hot spicy lunch (hot, spicy vegetable patties with my breakfast) and still my tummy holds out... oh yes!! What's for dinner?
Saw Indian carpets being made this afternoon. Fascinating. But very expensive.
Then saw marble inlay tablets being made. Gorgeous. But also costly.
And tomorrow, the last leg of our Explore, we have an early start and a journey to Jaipur. I really feel I have arrived now and settled into routine. But I am also aware that my new Explore friends are going to be leaving me alone in a couple of days.... gulp!!
I went to see his prison today. Don't think a dark, dirty cell... think Minas Tirith.
The Red Fort in Agra. Built nearly 500 years ago it is still magnificent and huge. Deep rusty red sandstone with great murky, hazy polluted distant views of the Taj.
Fabulous carvings, exotic gardens (no flowers) and a myriad of chambers and court rooms. Complex and virtually unchanged in hundreds of years, We went round and round, through gates and ramps and past courtyards; deliberately built to make siege impossible and the emperors safe, we eventually came to the inner sanctum which was all in white and built to house the court and the emperors harem. This was where Shah Yahan was imprisoned.
Unlike any historic building I have seen. Nothing like Warwick Castle, Hampton Court or the Tower of London. More Minis Tirith. With the river Yamuna running along one side. Sublime.
We went then to see the Baby Taj, Further along the banks of the Yamuna. Again, super stuff.
Had hot spicy lunch (hot, spicy vegetable patties with my breakfast) and still my tummy holds out... oh yes!! What's for dinner?
Saw Indian carpets being made this afternoon. Fascinating. But very expensive.
Then saw marble inlay tablets being made. Gorgeous. But also costly.
And tomorrow, the last leg of our Explore, we have an early start and a journey to Jaipur. I really feel I have arrived now and settled into routine. But I am also aware that my new Explore friends are going to be leaving me alone in a couple of days.... gulp!!
Sounding very spectacular. I had to look up Minas Tirith though....
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