Golden Triangle of India

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Sunday, 27 November 2016 - Arrived in Agra after a long flight from Delhi, visited the Tomb of I'timad-ud-Daulah with its intricate marble inlay and Mughal architecture, walked through Mehtab Bagh gardens across the Yamuna River to watch the sunset on the Taj Mahal, observed parrots and a religious gathering near the site, photographed the Taj Mahal in soft light, and returned to the hotel for the night.

india2016 — After a long flight we slept for 6 hours and then drove to Agra from Delhi. We only had a few hours in Agra, and the first stop was the Tomb of I'timad-ud-Daulah.

This beautiful building is a Mughal mausoleum. Sometimes called the "Baby Taj", the tomb of I'timad-ud-Daulah is often regarded as a draft of the Taj Mahal.

india2016 — Some of the marble lattice work - from a single carving. In the foreground is the tomb.

india2016 — Virginia Ann and Cal outside in from of the marble screen

india2016 — Inlay and painting on wall of little Taj

india2016 — The entire building was covered in designs of precious stones. This would continue to the Taj Mahal and many other buildings. There is no paint all the designs and images are made using inlaid stones.

india2016 — At one end of the garden where the garden wall met the Yamuna river is a nice tower to enjoy the view.

india2016 — The tomb, built between 1622 and 1628 of marble with stone inlay represents a transition Mughal architecture from red sandstone with marble decorations, as in Humayun's Tomb in Delhi - to one based on white marble and inlay, most elegantly realized in the Taj Mahal.

india2016 — The tomb has a front gate and a rear gate overlooking the Yamuna river. This is the gate made from sandstone facing the river.

india2016 — Leaving the Tomb of I'timad-ud-Daulah, we had to back up to let a few wedding floats pass on the road. Here is the last one - an Elephant float.

india2016 — From Tomb of I'timad-ud-Daulah we took the short ride to the Mehtab Bagh gardens opposite the Yamuna river. From here we watched the sun set on the Taj Mahal.

This building is the mirror image of the Mosque on the other side of the Taj Mahal. The shadow of a Taj Mahal minaret is on the face of the building.

india2016 — Taj minaret with the shadow of another minaret on its face.

india2016 — Several parrots congregated on a building near us while we waited for the sun to set.

india2016 — In the same area there was a religious gathering and as they broke up the monks came to view the Taj Mahal in the sunset.

india2016 — Virginia Ann with the setting sun at her back watching the Taj Mahal. She was a bit tired after our long journey so she sat on a chair on top of a hill lording over all the tourists.

india2016 — Taj Mahal in the setting sun from across the Yamuna River.

india2016 — Sunlight on the Taj Mahal

india2016 — The Taj Mahal in nice light. If you look close you can see hundreds (thousands) of people standing in line to get into the Taj Mahal.

india2016 — Details of the Taj Mahal domes

india2016 — One of the entrance arches to the Taj Mahal. The marble inlayed with designs including the calligraphy all around the outside of the arch.

india2016 — Sunset over the Yamuna River

Back to the hotel for the night

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