Agra has been a disappointment. It is the capital of Uttar Pradesh and as we left Fatehpur Sikri our driver said "Welcome to the most corrupt state in India". It is also one of the poorest states. You notice the difference in the state or repair of the roads but also the fog. The city is full of fog qnd the fog is full of pollution. We got up early to go to the Taj but do not have the iconic picture because if you stood at one end of the rill you could not see the Taj at the other. All the pictures came out white and it took some dickering with them on the computer to see any image; that throughup the other problem with the fog. The pollution is turning the Taj yellow and brown. Not as much as it seems in these pictures but noticeably not pure white.
The decoration at the Taj is of semi-preious stones inlaid into the marble. It is simple compared to Mahgrebi or Turkish design and has obviou Persian origins. The entrance to the tomb is inscribed with the 14th Sutra in Black marble. We had to wear those foot covers they give out in showhouses and a whole swathe of items are banned from entry including sweets, drinks and eatable. They have a car eclusion zone around the Taj of elcctric vehicles only but there seem to be exceptions for scooters, posh hotels and VIPs; anyway it looks loke the horse has bolted.
No comments:
Post a Comment