Very, very early – out of the door for 5:45am
Just means it’s an earlier happy birthday celebration to Dave ????

Drive sleepily to nearby where we pick up a guide

We hop on an eco/electric rickshaw nearer to the West Gate

Walk the final bit of the way to the ‘frisking section’ – men and women divided but reunited shortly

Wondering through towards the Main Gate within the complex where we hear about the intricacies of the details on the gate

Made completely of red sandstone with white marble and semi-precious rocks for details

And… the Taj Mahal is in sight, and what a sight indeed ????

Walk through and we’re met by the merticulously designed gardens

Lots of lovely shots – definitely memories being made!

Fog sets in more than it already has and, by the time we’re around the masoleium, we can barely see further than 10m ????

We’re told the history of this wonder of the world:

Boy (prince) falls in love with girl (Persian), he’s promised to someone else so has a first arranged marriage… as she doesn’t produce children for him, he has his first love as a second wife

They have 14 children (unfortunately 8 die as premature births) and the 14th takes its toll on her and leaves her with little time… now king wants to spend her remaining time together – she guides him, as a dying gift to her, to make sure he achieves his dreams

As such, he dreams to make a beautiful place where she can finally rest (to be the Taj Mahal) – he starts construction after she passes and just 22 years later (with the help of 20k workers and 800 elephants) he completes her tomb where he aspires to lie after his reign too

The sights are so beautiful and we enjoy this romantic monument before heading back to have some breakfast, a rest and freshen up for the rest of the day’s activities

(Also manage to change rooms in our hotel – unfortunately, we didn’t get too much sleep with the noise from the road and other guests – new room is an upgrade even though it doesn’t have a window ????)

Past midday, we’re off out to some lunch: Mutton 199 Restaurant

A feast for the birthday boy, we have a mixed platter to share ????

After, we get in the car and are introduced to our new guide

We arrive at Agra Fort – the queue in is prolific! Thankfully we are treated like VIPs and just walk past the queue ????????

It used to be the capital of India and even the British, when we ruled here, used it as a base

From the outside, you notice two separate moat-like fortifications below: one was filled with water and alligators and the other wild animals, such as lions!

It has three fortifications, that can be seen within, which are supported by being angled to defend from potential invaders

We go through towards the religious building Akbar the Great created

In order to try and unite the religiously divided people, he decided to show by example through having 3 wives of 3 different religions to show how to be kind to anyone

We’re then taken through to the palace within the fort where the history we learnt at the Taj Mahal really unfolds:

The king, who made the Taj Mahal, was actually held here under house arrest by his only remaining son for the last 8 years of his life

Known as his ‘only son’ because this son killed his other three male siblings so as to be the sole air and imprisoned his father to get to power faster!

The king was imprisoned, in a somewhat paradise nonetheless, and was with his two daughters – one commited herself fully to caring for her father in the remaining years of his life and even had him in her lap as he met death’s door

The gardens within the palace are in English style as they are to cover what they previously were: an area the king grew his vineyards for wine

These are surrounded by 28 rooms which signifies the countries India used to have ownership of during Mughal leadership

Note: Mughal are people from Mongolia who created a dynasty in India for hundreds of years – something alike to a government building

We go where there are more gardens adjacent

After, we leave and head towards the 16th descendants of the original producer of the Taj Mahal decorators

The whole process is very time consuming and the definition of ‘made with love’

So many different, intricate designs of table tops to coasters – we opt for two little animal trinkets as our piece of India to take home

Poor Dave has to wait for some admin as we get some more cash out before heading back to the hotel for a well deserved rest!

Time for a chill with some Mario Kart on the Switch ????

Getting hungry, we head to the hotel’s roof restaurant and bar, Hicklee

Not a traditional meal but nice, nommy treat

Have a beer, or two, as well as a cocktail

Off to bed!