The Taj Mahal

Vrindavan is only a 1.5 hour drive from Agra, where the Taj Mahal is located.  There was no way we would miss seeing one of the seven wonders of the world.

Our driver dropped off us in the main parking lot and we were immediately surrounded by "guides" and touts.  It was overwhelming and my mind immediately went to protecting G and my backpack.  From the parking lot it's a long walk to the Taj entrance and you can't see it at all.  Touts followed us all the way to the ticket gate.

After purchasing tickets - 750 rupees for Americans ($17 USD) - you stand in gender specific lines to be searched.  Once getting through this, and G and I reconnecting with Chris, we made our way to the main gateway (darwaza).

From this side of the gateway you still can't make out the Taj Mahal.  Then you pass through it and you are presented with this amazing sight:

The photo below is taken from the Taj Mahal looking back to the gateway.

I still can't believe I saw the Taj Mahal.  Some say they won't visit it because it's a tomb.  And yes, it is, but what an amazing tomb it is!  Far better than the catacombs at the Vatican.

Before walking up the stairs and onto the actual Taj Mahal, you wait to have someone put these cloth bags on your feet.  You can go barefoot, but it was a little chilly and raining slightly, so we opted for these lovely shoe coverings.

The detail of the marble and inlay is amazing.

The Yamuna River:

So many people asked to have their photo taken with G.  We never let her pose alone, one of us was always in the photo with her.  Eventually not only did she get annoyed with the photo op requests, but so did we.  Some people had a hard time accepting our answer of no.  

G and I couldn't resist the tourist photo.  There were soooo many people doing the same thing. 

We decided to forgo the walk back to the parking lot and instead shelled out a whopping 50 rupees ($1.10 USD) to ride a camel cart.  How many 6 year olds can say they visited the Taj Mahal and rode a camel cart while there?  For that matter, how many 30+ and 40 year old adults can say that?

Our camel cart driver (and apparently headless camel):

We were a little concerned that we wouldn't find our driver once we got back to the parking lot.  But he was actually waiting for us at the parking entrance when we pulled up on the camel cart.  Thus ended our time in Agra, and 1.5 hours later we were in Mathura with our driver at his uncle's tiny little trunk making shop...