Train to Agra

Today we woke up early to experience the train to Agra. This allows us to spend only 90 minutes traveling in comfort instead of 3-4 hours in a car. We may our way through the crowded station to our platform and then hop on the car we are reserved in to take our seats. The car is very clean, with a nearby toilet, and we are offered a meal and tea during the short ride. We arrive in Agra where we meet up with our driver again and with another new guide, Sanjay. We head out for lunch first as we cannot check in to our rooms yet. I order the Biryani here, which is a rice and chicken dish.  

Then we go next to see the Taj Mahal from the opposite side of the river. The Taj Mahal's design was borrowed from Humayun's tomb in Delhi. But Shah Jahan, as he was building it to be his wife's mausoleum, made adjustments to give it a more feminine look, including lightening it to white marble. Here lies first his wife, and then later himself as his plans to build an identical one for himself across the river could not be completed before his son killed him. 

This spot allows some impressive views, and even though the monsoon rains are pouring, we enjoy seeing the building from such a magnificent vantage. Typically you would try to visit from this angle at sunset, but as the clouds are not cooperating we decide to get it over with quickly so we can just relax until dinner that evening. 

On the way back, we stop at an artisans workshop where we get to see how the stonework is done, as we watch an artisan sitting at his wheel and sanding down the stones to set in marble. We learn all about white marble and its special properties, and how incredibly hard it is to chisel out to lay the stones in. They use Lapine, onyx, cornelian (also known as firestone), malachite, and turquoise. mother of pearl, and jasper for the inlaid gems. The Taj Mahal has over 2,000,000 stones on it for the intricate work. These artisans get in on Fridays to restore any pieces that need it to keep the Taj Mahal looking amazing.  Next, we are shown a showroom with pieces for sale that you can carry with you on the plane or have shipped back to your home. 
We return to the ITC Mughal for dinner in one of their restaurants this evening. They offer a great restaurant where you can watch the cooks at work. The Kastoori chicken kebabs here are amazing, and they coat it in egg and then grilled it to provide a crispy outside coating to the meat.