We joined the crowds early to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise (actually it was a bit after sunrise). There are separate queues for men and women, and separate queues for Indians and foreigners. Foreigners pay much higher ticket prices. Once inside there are extensive grounds around the Taj so it was not hard to avoid the crowds. We waited for the sun to gain strength and highlight the precious stone inlays which decorate the Taj Mahal, but in reality the smog is so thick at the moment that the sun did not even cast shadows.
The Murghal emperor who built the Taj Mahal as a masoleum for his favourite wife was later overthrown by his son and imprisoned in the nearby Agra Fort. From there he could gaze out across the river at the Taj Mahal. Today we could not even see the Agra Fort through the smoke and haze.
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| The morning sun struggling to illuminate the Taj Mahal |
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| These koranic texts are formed from inlaid stone. |
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| Sue channels Lady Di at the Taj Mahal |
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| The murky Agra air, looking over the Yamunar River. |
