ON THE WAY TO AGRA - FEBRUARY 3

We are leaving Delhi for Agra today. Agra is about 200 km away, we leave at 9 am, as we still want to visit two sites before actually arriving in Agra. The speed average in India is about 60 km/h, so we have to plan enough time for travelling.

We can experience traffic outside of Delhi. Within Delhi, it is hectic and crazy, like in any other capital city. On the road, it is more than crazy. There are many trucks and many are overloaded, we can see some upside down buy the roadside. It seems there are no rules on the road, the bigger one has priority. Or the one with the loudest horn, we don’t know! And of course, there are still cows crossing the road, anywhere, anytime… without warning… I don’t feel too frightened, as Jessy is very calm and I feel he knows what he is doing. He anticipates a lot, so the worst can always be avoided.

At 11.30, we have to stop at the “border» entering Uttar Pradesh, as there is a tax to pay. While our driver is doing this, we can stretch out a bit and admire the numerous trucks parked along the road. Indian trucks are beautiful, with so many decorations.

At 2 pm, we arrive in Sikandra, 8 km outside Agra, where we visit Akbar’s mausoleum. The third Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great started its construction around 1600. Akbar's son Jahangir completed the construction in 1605-1613. The buildings are constructed mainly from a deep red sandstone, enriched with features in white marble. It is a beautiful site.

There are also numerous monkeys, deer and the cute chipmunks.

At 4 pm, we arrive at Baby Taj, the other name of Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, a Mughal mausoleum often regarded as a "draft" of the Taj Mahal.

The tomb, located on the left bank of the Yamuna river, was built between 1622 and 1628 and was commissioned by Nur Jahan, the wife of Jahangir, for her father Mirza Ghiyas Beg. Mirza Ghiyas Beg is also the grandfather of Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of the emperor Shah Jahan, responsible for the building of the Taj Mahal.

It is a beautiful place here as well… After spending about one hour there, we drive to the Sheela Hotel, situated right by the eastern entrance of the Taj Mahal.

http://www.hotelsheelaagra.com/

It is in a pedestrian zone, so Jessy drops us off a bit ahead, but it is a very short walk to the hotel. We are given 800 Rp rooms, nothing fancy, but we are just one minute walking from the eastern gate of the Taj. We don’t see it though, as it is behind high walls. When we have dinner on a roof terrace, we can glimpse it in the dark. We are very excited! We order various dishes and we can taste once more delicious Indian food. Our bill is 100 Rp more than planned, we check the bill and the total is wrong. On purpose or not? We only pay the 375 Rp that were due… not 475!