Page 156 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SPRING 2023 SPECIAL CRUISE EDTION

AGRA

We transferred from Jaipur to Agra by pri- crowds and nature at its finest, we met before
vate coach, about 140 miles. Agra has grown dawn the next morning for our tour. We were
fast recently with increased tourism business, rewarded as the sun rose without clouds and
including as a favorite spot for Indians, but the we moved around the manicured grounds look-
infrastructure hasn’t kept up. Our skilled driver ing for new perspectives and watching the
and guide from Greaves Travel made the drive changing colors spread over the marble sur-
easy and interesting, including providing back- faces of the mausoleum, with the aroma of
ground on some of the issues involved in plan- fresh flowers everywhere.
ning and funding improvements. A metro is The mausoleum is flanked by two identical
under construction to ease congestion, which is buildings, a mosque facing east and its jawab, or
as chaotic as any of the bigger cities at times, twin false mosque, on the opposite side facing
but the completion date isn’t clear and it could west. Both are built from red sandstone and
disrupt a local commute: cows wandering in the contrast with the white marble of the Taj. Upon
open space between the roads and under the closer inspection during the tour inside, the
incomplete concrete columns. marble is decorated with gemstones, big and
The Taj Mahal, the marvel dating from the small, in intricate patterns. It took some 20,000
17th Century, is the main attraction for all of workers and artisans more than 10 years to
India. It was commissioned by Shah Jahan in complete the development on 42 acres, one of
1631, to be built in the memory of his wife the seven wonders of the world. According to
Mumtaz Mahal, who died while giving birth to Wikipedia, various types of symbolism have
their 14th child. The mausoleum was completed been employed in the Taj to reflect natural
in 1648 and the surrounding buildings and gar- beauty and divinity.
den five years later. The area has two other popular UNESCO
Every room in our hotel, the Oberoi Amarvi- world heritage sites: Agra Fort and the ancient
las (102 rooms), the restaurant and lounge had city of Fatehpur Sikri, from the 16th Century.
a view of the Taj Mahal, just 600 meters away. It All three are monuments to the competition
is almost hypnotic to watch the dome shimmer among the different rulers to leave legacies
in the changing light throughout the day. For more impressive than their predecessors (my
the best possible experience, with fewer tomb is bigger than your tomb).

156 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SPRING 2023