We arrived in Agra early evening and as we had been organised and reserved a hotel we were feeling quite smug! We arrive at said hotel to find no they are full?!?! We went to the hotel next door and they said of they do it all the time. I am definatley writing to Lonley Planet to get them to delete this hotel from their prefered list.
We decided to go to Fatepur sikri -an old fort complex and muslim mosque-in the morning and so hopped on a bus. We saw the 3 palaces and a mosque built in 1751
Fatepur sikri mosque courtyard
The fantastic gardens in the outer complex
Yes we make a lovely couple and are very much in love.
These flower borders looked better in the flesh so to speak
We set our alarms for ridiculous- a -clock and got dressed in the dark to join the queue for tickets for the Taj. We then joined another queue to be security frisked and finally at about 6.40 we arrive in the gardens of the Taj Mahal
We have been spoilt with seeing a lot of impressive and beautifully carved temples so this building if i am honest is a bit of a let down, but, if you remember why it was built and also enjoy the peace and quiet in there then it is a beautiful enormous space.We spent a long time there just enjoying and watching the tourist and non tourists as well as taking some cheesey photos!
About 7am
About 9am
Messing around Holding the Taj Mahal
A groom
We also spotted lots of bee hives - wild bees oh wow.
We went back to the hotel and had a lovely lunch/brunch and then headed off to catch a bus to Mathura, a small town with lots of temples and where Krishna was born. We pre booked a hotel and turned up only to be greeted by a lady who actually looked like she was on drugs. I confidently told her we had booked etc and she ignored me just staring at Ravi. He is good looking i know but..... No she was most concerned that he looked Indian, this is because she could not have a white girl and indian man staying in her hotel. When Ravi said he had a british passport she said oh that's ok then. She was unable to give us a reason for her comments and we decided that the Karma was bad there so we looked elsewhere.
We found a GREAT small hotel right opposite a tiny temple - oh dear early morning pooja alarm call!!!
Ravi had a nap and i headed out to find internet and a foot file as my heels are a total mess. As people were staring at me and the chemist owner seemed reluctant to serve me i realised that they do not like tourists! oooops.
Ravi managed to find a restaurant that served only one dish-A GUJARATI thali- so we had that.
The Yamuna river is one of Indias holiest rivers. the next day Ravi and i purchased our flowers, rice and powder and went off to the river. Of course we were accosted by 'fake' priests all wanting to bless us so after a real struggle they left us alone.
Ravi and I did our own thing and said prayers for our loved ones with each flower we dropped in the river and watched the flowers float away. A very special moment.
We headed on a bus to Delhi.....and saw this truck above slightly overloaded
Water channels used to cool parts of the fort using complex paths of water
Beautiful inlaid work around the walls
Outside the entrance to the Red Fort in the heart if Delhi
Ravi looking a bit cool and groovy - his top cost £1
This tower is the highest tower in India It is built in 7 sections - each very different
The ceilings and gardens around the Bahai faith Lotus temple
Below is a sheet of paper they post on your train carriage
Anyway we had a lovely dinner and my first glimpse of the Taj Mahal from our roof top restaurant
We decided to go to Fatepur sikri -an old fort complex and muslim mosque-in the morning and so hopped on a bus. We saw the 3 palaces and a mosque built in 1751
These flower borders looked better in the flesh so to speak
We caught the bus back to Agra and headed off to see the baby taj where we met a group of american/canadian kids who are on a ship studying between land and have been to south africa and mauritius.
Below-we joined them and their guide, and headed off to see sunset on the other side of the Yamuna river bank - what a great place to see the hues changes on the marble work.
We have been spoilt with seeing a lot of impressive and beautifully carved temples so this building if i am honest is a bit of a let down, but, if you remember why it was built and also enjoy the peace and quiet in there then it is a beautiful enormous space.We spent a long time there just enjoying and watching the tourist and non tourists as well as taking some cheesey photos!
Messing around 
My favourite photo-honeymooners take note
A groom
We also spotted lots of bee hives - wild bees oh wow.
We went back to the hotel and had a lovely lunch/brunch and then headed off to catch a bus to Mathura, a small town with lots of temples and where Krishna was born. We pre booked a hotel and turned up only to be greeted by a lady who actually looked like she was on drugs. I confidently told her we had booked etc and she ignored me just staring at Ravi. He is good looking i know but..... No she was most concerned that he looked Indian, this is because she could not have a white girl and indian man staying in her hotel. When Ravi said he had a british passport she said oh that's ok then. She was unable to give us a reason for her comments and we decided that the Karma was bad there so we looked elsewhere.
We found a GREAT small hotel right opposite a tiny temple - oh dear early morning pooja alarm call!!!
Ravi had a nap and i headed out to find internet and a foot file as my heels are a total mess. As people were staring at me and the chemist owner seemed reluctant to serve me i realised that they do not like tourists! oooops.
Ravi managed to find a restaurant that served only one dish-A GUJARATI thali- so we had that.
The Yamuna river is one of Indias holiest rivers. the next day Ravi and i purchased our flowers, rice and powder and went off to the river. Of course we were accosted by 'fake' priests all wanting to bless us so after a real struggle they left us alone.
Ravi and I did our own thing and said prayers for our loved ones with each flower we dropped in the river and watched the flowers float away. A very special moment.
View of the temple and the yumuna river from our hotel window in Mathura
Now in Delhi drinking from a famous milkshake shop using old style uk milk bottles
Delhis famous Red fort
We met up for some yummy food with Kamini, a girl we met in Hampi!
Kamini has adopted Ravi as a brother and took us to a real locals food stall to eat yummy food.
We also met her dad who has a lovely saree store.
Ghandi Smriti is where Ghandi spent the last 144 days of his life and we retraced the steps he took to go and pray on the day he was shot(below)).
Below-We visited Qutub Minar complex
This tower is the highest tower in India
We visited the Swaminarayan Akshardham temple.
OMG we had to queue for 1.5 hours with 'lovely' indian women pushing ahead in the line.
Once we got in it was beautiful - no photos allowed but i can tell you it was stunning.
We watched a beautiful light/fountain show and then had a blessing from the priest.
The temple is the largest Hindu temple in the world!
The Lotus Temple
Below is a sheet of paper they post on your train carriage
Hoorah we made it onto the carriage list!
So I am free to board this train- me looking like a smart backpacker
We visited the lotus temple the day before we caught this train to Haridwar.
We arrived very relaxed as we were in AC class with large comfy seats. There was a mouse sharing our carriage as well as 60 other indians, but miles better than a 'luxury' coach.
Haridwar in a super holy place in India where the foot of the ganges is. People come here to say goodbye to their loved ones and this is where i said goodbye to my father a year on from his death. A VERY moving moment.
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