Taj Mahal

DSCN2064, originally uploaded by Katy Dobey.

On Saturday, 19th July, we got the train from New Delhi Railway Station to Agra with all the Calcuttans. All the Suas Calcutta teams arrived in Delhi that morning for Global Perspectives Week. The trip to Agra takes about six hours, but it flew by because we all had loads to catch up on.

We stayed in a hotel called Hotel Sheela. It was pretty basic. The decor was very out-dated with white, shiny plastic panelling on all four walls. Mags, Fiona and I shared a room and Mags and I screamed upon first entering because we saw something move above the door. It turned out to be a little gecko. The bathroom wasn't particularly pleasant either and the water was yellow and smelly! But it was very bearable all the same. It was all worth it because the East Gate to the Taj Mahal was literally a stone's throw away.

After dinner in the hotel with two of the three Calcuttan teams (Vikramshila and Sabuj Shanga - DAS booked into Sheela Inn, since Hotel Sheela was full), we went to bed at about 2.30am and the plan was to be up again at half five to see the Taj Mahal at dawn.

The room had no air-conditioning and although I slept my full three hours, when I woke up Mags was sitting up in bed reading her book. I don't think she slept at all. I'm not sure plastic panelling is the best idea for this climate! The sun was already up when we went for breakfast, but I didn't mind.

Entering from the East Gate, you have to walk through a courtyard and through a red brick arch before seeing the Taj Mahal. When you come out the other side of this arch, the Taj Mahal is directly opposite. It looks spectacular, but quite small, from this spot. The water and the gardens before the Taj Mahal are stunning. We sat on a bench in front of the water in front of the Taj Mahal and watched the sun make its way around the side of the dome.

James and Aisling had taken a tour guide and invited us all to walk around with him. He told us the story behind the burial chamber and gave us tips about where to take the best photos.

After taking loads of photos and having a good look around, we headed back to the hotel. We had a second breakfast (French toast). I went back to sleep for another two hours, but was woken at quarter to eleven for check-out. Our bus was to take us back to Delhi at 1pm and we planned to get lunch with all the teams in our hotel at 12pm. I was sitting in the sun and had just started reading my book, when Daragh suggested going to Agra Fort. Nobody else was interested, but I was delighted to go. The others were planning to relax in Cafe Coffee Day, which I really didn't feel like doing.

The fort is really interesting with lots of courtyards and gardens as well as impressive buildings. We took a rickshaw there. As we were sitting in the rick at one stage, I saw Daragh with his mouth wide open staring at the road behind me. When I looked out, there was a huge elephant walking down the road beside us! We were so excited. Five minutes later another one went by! Then later, as we were dropped back to the hotel, there was a camel standing outside. We were on a high after all these animal sightings!

We made it back to the hotel by half twelve and the others were still waiting for their food. We managed to get our order in and eat with them as well. The hotel had put all their tables together in a long line on the lawn. It was really really hot, but it was lovely.