The Incredible Taj Mahal.
Trip Start
Apr 21, 2010
1
70
79
Trip End
Jan 15, 2011
Where I stayed
Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Thursday, January 6, 2011
As we left Delhi the mountains of rubbish got bigger and bigger. Strewn by the roadside there were heaps of all sorts of waste in areas where people and livestock congregate. The local temperature may be low but the ground is still caked in a thick dust and in the midst of the roadside chaos we seen a man lightly cleaning the airborne dirt from a pile of Krishna trinkets.
The drive to get up in the morning out of whatever locale he stays in and stack his wears, with his face at car exhaust height all day, can only be because, by some miracle, he may be able to make a few coins once in a while. We'd say his chances must be slim however...
We have witnessed poverty of a similar degree in previous Asian countries we have travelled through however, India by far exceeds the scale of how many people are living in poverty. At ever turn, there were people asleep at the side of the road or huddled around burning car tyres for heat. In many cases they have nothing, not even any wares to beg with. India currently has one of the best economies in the world but that will take another miracle before it filters down to the most needy of Indians. The 2010 Commonwealth Games, held in Delhi, are a shining example of the corruption that still plagues this country.
In contrast to the sights on the way, and a reminder of better times for the ruling empire of North India, after four hours, in our personal taxi we passed the Agra Fort and went into the Taj Mahal. We could see the Taj peeking through the main gate and as we walked through, the magnificent bright white marble dome grew. It was stunning.
Once inside we witnessed a man just after his wallet had been pickpocketed. Unlucky, but the last place you leave your valuables in any major tourist attraction is in an unguarded pocket! Skinner hand his hand firmly gripping our wad of Rupees.
Despite that, in all that we've seen on our great adventure the Taj Mahal was quite probably the single most impressive thing we have been to.
