Agra- a smelly and romantic city. Agra is romantic because of the unique Taj Mahal. Anyway, smelly due to the bad sewerage system.
We took train and depart from New Delhi to Agra. It took us four hours and this is the time where we experience the most famous train system in the world. I just wonder why this biggest railway station in India is so smelly. The human waste is dispose on the railway and the flies is searching for their lunch and dinner. Disgusting.
Second class sleeping seat is just another bad ventilation cubicle. Most of the facilities in India are not suitable for women due to the hygiene issue. Anyway, I can say this is the most memorable experience on public transport. Haha
Nothing much about today, just having dinner on the rooftop of the Hotel and looking at the Taj Mahal until late of night. Tomorrow will be the climate of the trip...which is Taj Mahal.
Described as the most extravagant monument ever built for love, this sublime Mughal mausoleum is India’s most ogled icon. Many have tried to sum up its beauty-‘a teardrop on the face of eternity’ according to Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore. As an architectural masterpiece it stands alone.
The Taj was built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial for his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child in 1631. The death of Mumtaz left the emperor so heartbroken that his hair is said to have turned grey virtually overnight. Construction of the Taj began in the same year and was not complete until 1653-although there’s some debate as to the exact date of completion. Not long after it was finished, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb and imprisoned in Agra fort where, the rest of his days, he could only gaze out at his creation through a window. Following his death in 1666, Shah Jahan was buried here alongside Mumtaz.
I……..that is Taj…( just this few words). Nothing can describe the power of love. We went there in the early morning to avoid the congestion of peoples. The first step in this one of the seven wonder of the world is truly touching. This is not a stunning mausoleum ..honestly..but…what is interesting about this building is that the sky as a backdrop of this mausoleum, besides the Yamuna river ( looks like heaven in the early morning) and the marble is changing its color gradually..from blue-purple-white-gold –yellow. That is the true definition for architecture.
Fatehpur Sikri
This magnificent fortified ghost city, 40km west of Agra, was the short-lived capital the Mughal Empire between 1571 and 1585, during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Akbar visited Sikri to consult the Sufi saint Shaikh Salim Chisti, who predicted the birth of an heir to the Mughal throne.
The fort divides by two sections which is Fatehpur and Sikri. Fahtehpur is mainly for the government where the Sikri is for the residential. I truly love this fort. Unbelievable. The ventilation system in the wall creates an ‘air-conditioning’ effect. The combination of small marbles on the walls is truly amazing. In contrast, the peoples start to beg from the tourist, the child is following us to sell their postcard. (you aret my brrother, postcard wery cheap, want?).
There is a legend on the performance stage of Sikri. The voice of one of the performer can blow out the light of a candle and the sky will start to rain. Even the performance stage looks simple, but the legend enlightens the mystery of the stage.
Looking at the Indians outside the fort, I just feel that how fortune that I grow up in Malaysia. For those who always complain at the condition of Malaysia, just appreciate what we have. There will be nothing wrong if something is looking for higher quality of life. But, at the same time, just appreciate our warmly home, the playground that accompany with you last time, and our school life.
Can you imagine a people that live under the clothes, playing with the “ s_ _ _”, and collect the rubbish along the roadside. That is India.
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II , a Kachwaha Rajput, who ruled from 1699-1744. Initially his capital was Amber(city), which lies at a distance of 11 km from Jaipur. He felt the need of shifting his capital city with the increase in population and growing scarcity of water. Jaipur is the first planned city of India and the King took great interest while designing this city of victory. He consulted several books on architecture and architects before making the layout of Jaipur.
After the long journey from Agra, finally we reached Jaipur at 5.00pm. Since it is late, we decided to buy the bus ticket for next trip and looked at the suitable hotel.
Around 8.00pm, we were having our dinner in Rajdhani except Chin Keng. We have a luxury food tonight.
The luxury dinner
Raj Mandir Cinema
The number-one Hindi cinema in India, world famous Raj Mandir is an icon of Jaipur. Opened in 1976, the meringue-shaped auditorium is so ugly it’s almost beautiful, while the cream-puff exterior looks ready to orbit outer space. (From Lonely Planet).
Seriously, this is my first time walk into the traditional cinema. The interior is quite colorful with lots of decoration. This night, the only show is Ek Vivaah…aisa bhi *without subtitle. The price of the ticket is RS70- around RM 7. The most important is the storyline of the movie is simple and easily understand, but it took us 2 hours before the interval. Hence, we decided to go back because of the exhausted journey. Furthermore, chin Keng was uncomfortable because of the dirty food from the roadside hawker stall.
Hawa Mahal or palace of wind built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh and designed by Lal Chand Usta in the form of the crown of Krishna, the Hindu god. It forms part of the City Palace and extends the Zenana or women’s chambers, the chambers of the harem. Its original intention was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life in the street below without being seen.
Hawa Mahal is an adorable architecture design. From the façade of the palace, I can say I love it so much. Jaipur is my favorite city so far. Cultural elements+ Fort+ Colorful city= Jaipur. From the street of Jaipur, the fort is so stunning on the top of the hill; you can truly intoxicate with this city. Here, the peoples are suffering with their life, looking at the affluence history- such a sad environment.
Besides that, in front of this palace, I was gazed on the street performance which is the famous scene that always describes the Indian guy. The performance called snake charming..
Jantar Mantar
A Jantar Mantar is a collection of the architecture astronomical instruments, built by Maharaja Jai Singh at his then new capital of Jaipur between 1727 and 1734. It is modeled after the one that he had built for him at the then Mughal capital of Delhi. He had constructed a total of five such labs at different locations, including the ones at Delhi and Jaipur. The Jaipur observatory is the largest.
The observatory consists of fourteen major geometric devices for measuring time, predicting eclipses, tracking stars in their orbits, ascertaining the declination the celestial altitudes and related ephemerides.
City Palace
Built by Sawai Jai Singh, the City Palace of Jaipur still houses the royal family. The royal family of Jaipur lives in the Chandra Mahal Palace, inside the City Palace complex. However, the ground floor of this palace is open to the public. Here, you can see some rare exhibits that are on display. You can also have a look at the exquisite peacock in the courtyard outside the palace. A blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture, the Jaipur City Palace is situated in the center of the walled city.
The first sight you see on entering the palace complex is Mubarak Mahal (palace), constructed by Sawai Madho Singh. The palace dated back to 19th Century. The main purpose behind the palace was to serve as a reception center for the persons visiting the nobles. This palace now houses the museum of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. The museum has a rich collection of royal costumes, folk embroidery, rare and invaluable Pashmina (Kashmiri) Shawls, Sanganeri prints and Benaras silk saris.
Also inside the complex of the City Palace of Rajasthan is the Maharani's Palace, the palace of the Queen. Quite unusually, this palace has on a display of the Rajput weaponry dating back to as far as the 15th century. All the weaponry is exquisite and very well preserved.
Water Palace
The Jal Mahal or water palace in Jaipur is an intrinsic example of Indo-Mughal architecture, stands like a vigilante of peace in the serene and quiescent waters of Man Sagar Lake. With first four floors inside water, the majestic palace stands tall with its top floor outside the water arena. One can enjoy the tranquil waters of the lake while sitting under the elaborately modeled and exquisitely carved balconies and arched roofs, thinking about the royal menus of the duck shooting parties. The maharajah Sawai Madho Singh used to invite royal dignitaries to this leisure palace, who usually rocked the ambiance with their adventure autobiographies. Words flied amidst the misty air carrying the aroma satiated with the chivalry of the Rajput kings. To the south of the lake, there are some alluring gardens and splendid examples of Rajput architectural style, waiting eagerly for the virgin footsteps of enthusiastic travelers.
In water palace, we are not able to go inside the palace, thus we just capture some pictures from the deck near to the lake.
Amber fort
Amber Fort is known for its unique artistic style, blending both Hindu and Muslim (Mughal) elements, and its ornate and breathtaking artistic mastery. The fort borders the Maota Lake, and is a major tourist attraction in Rajasthan.
Amber was originally built by the Meenas in the town they consecrated to Amba, the Mother Goddess, whom they knew as `Gatta Rani' or `Queen of the Pass”. Built over the remnants of an earlier structure, the palace complex which stands today was commenced under the reign of Raja Man Singh, Commander in Chief of Akbar’s army and a member of the Emperor's inner circle of nine courtiers, in 1592. The initial structure of the fort was entirely completed by his descendant; Jai Singh I.Amber was modified by successive rulers over the next 150 years, until the Kachwahas shifted their capital to Jaipur during the time ofSawai Jai Singh II.
A garden for the royal family
Amber Fort is also constructed of white and red sandstone. The Fort is unique in that its outside, an imposing and rugged defensive structure, is markedly different from its inside, an ornate, lavish interior influenced by both Hindu and Muslim (Mughal) styles of ornamentation. The walls of the interior of the fort are covered with murals, frescoes, and paintings depicting various scenes from daily life. Other walls are covered with intricate carvings, mosaic, and minute mirror work.
The scene from the train
