India. Agra

  The main attraction of Agra, of course, is the Taj Mahal. That's what draws attention to this town. The history of Emperor Shah Jahan building the palace in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth, adds special interest to the palace as a symbol of devotion and love. Therefore, this site attracts not only foreign tourists but also a huge number of Indian people, making visits to the "temple of love" more vibrant and colorful. It's heartwarming to see such affection for this grand structure from the Indian residents...

 As we approached Agra railway station, the first views of the Taj Mahal bathed in the soft hues of the morning sun opened up to us...

  Also catching our eye were rows of brightly colored fabrics being dried...

 Arriving at the station, we quickly found a rickshaw and settled into the first guesthouse we came across without much fuss. Our goal was to get to the Taj Mahal as early as possible. And so it happened – by nine in the morning, we were already entering through the central gates into the grounds of this stunning complex...

  Central gates...

 Construction of the Taj Mahal began around 1632 and was completed in 1653, employing 20,000 artisans and craftsmen. Inside the mausoleum are the two tombs of the emperor and his wife. The Taj Mahal itself is a five-dome structure standing 74 meters tall on a platform with four minarets at each corner slightly tilted away from the mausoleum to avoid damage in case of collapse...

 The main goal for most tourists is to be photographed with the Taj Mahal in the background, and we were no exception...

   Indians often approached us with requests to take photos together...

  We also obliged others, choosing those dressed in the most colorful attire... 

  Upon entering the Taj Mahal platform, we had to wear shoe covers provided with the entrance ticket. Indians, however, walked barefoot. Perhaps shoe covers are an option strictly for foreigners, designed for the most fastidious who fear removing their shoes at the temple entrance...

  Inside the Taj Mahal, in the center, are two marble tombs exquisitely decorated with precious stones...

 The building's facade was as beautiful as its interior, perhaps even more so due to the light illuminating the lovely marble walls with inlaid stones. Inside, however, it was dim and somber...

  Verses from the Quran emphasized the religious affiliation of the Mughal ruler, adding a vibrant touch to the mausoleum's appearance... 

  Twin structures flanked the Taj Mahal, serving as a mosque and a venue for official meetings, respectively...

  After a leisurely three-hour exploration of the Taj Mahal and its adjacent grounds, followed by lunch and a bit of rest in our room, we headed to the Red Fort...

 

   By nature, we're not fans of such structures, and to be honest, this fort didn't surprise us much, although it was interesting to see the Taj Mahal from another perspective...

  And here's the most dedicated resident of the fort; he knows all the ins and outs like the back of his hand and easily navigates the most hard-to-reach places...   

 After visiting the Red Fort, we returned to our guesthouse located very close to the entrance of the Taj Mahal. We found a rooftop restaurant overlooking the "temple of love" and ordered a delicious dinner. Thus ended our single day in Agra, which was entirely sufficient for us to explore the sights in full...

To be continued...