India

Introduction and things to do

Agra means Taj Mahal. I don't think we have to explain much about this arch famous monument. Many people have the opinion (though this is quite difficult to say, I think) that this is the world's most beautiful building. That it is the great monument to love, and that.

I don't know if it is the great monument to love, it seems that, at the end, it is not that much, but, in spite of the extremely high expectatives that it creates, doesn't seem that anybody gets disappointed by it. Its color change with the light, its white and clean inmensity, its almost mythical aura, makes it an absolute must visit in our stay in India. Not even the ridiculously high prices that the Agra municipality, that holds a lasting fame of being extremely corrupt, makes pay to the tourists at the entrance of the building, seems to decrease the interest for it.

Because it seems that in Agra, a part from the Taj Mahal (like it was nothing!), is quite ugly, dirty, overpopulated, disgustingly corrupt and over the top full of people that tries to sell you anything with all kind of arts and try to convince you to bring you to their chosen shop or their chosen hotel.

Maybe because the shadow of the Taj Mahal is so long, or maybe because of all this annoyances that the city undoubtly boosts, but it seems that Agra is not really apreciated among the tourists. However, here we can also find the reputated Agra Fort (if we are not tired yet of forts), and, 40 kilometers away, making it a perfect half day trip, the abandoned imperial city of Fatehpur Sikri, that was built with all luxury and abandoned just 40 years later, because it seems that the water supply system was not well designed and it became dried after a short time.

So. Everybody knows that these very rich ones sometimes don't think very much on how they spend the money!

Accomodation

Even though Agra is a highly polluted city, around the Taj Mahal there is a 500 metres pollution free belt, where engine vehicles are not allowed in. And in this area is where we can find our hotel, the Sheela. Quite basic, but with a quite preety little garden, and less than 100 metres away from the Taj, looks like a perfect option.

Getting there and away

We will arrive from Jaipur some time not defined yet during the 29th of december (remember the trains are frequent and relatively short, only 4 hours), and we will leave the 31st in the evening, in an overnight train destination Varanasi. Yes, exactly that, we will spend New Year's Eve in a train. But sinecrily, seems as good place as any other else, and we will expect it to be festive in its own way or, at least, it will be a experience to remember.

To make our day trip to Fatehpur Sikri, we will have to take one of the very frequent buses that go there, taking around an hour each way.

External links

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agra
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatehpur_Sikri
• http://www.hotelsheelaagra.com