India Day Eleven: Agra- A Morning Walk, And My First Breathtaking View Of The Taj Mahal.

I finally had some free time when I awoke Monday morning in Agra on my recent trip to India. I was traveling with Royal Q Travels, and our  guide, Aparna and owner  , let the group sleep in a bit after the wonderful, but late, Diwali celebration we had the night before.  I was excited knowing I would see the Taj Mahal later in the day, something I wanted to do since I first saw it on a Viewmaster in elementary school.

Of course, as usual, I wasn’t sleeping in, but took advantage of the free time to explore the community around the hotel.  After some coffee in my room, I left  the Jaypee Palace Hotel before sunrise  to  explore the surrounding neighborhood. The hotel was still beautifully decorated for the Diwali festival.

It was hazy , cloudy, humid and a very warm 72° when I left the hotel. I  first I walked around the grounds and gardens of the  very large and elegant hotel,

After  walking through  the hotel grounds I left the hotel through the security gate. All of the Five Star Hotels we stayed in on our India tour had impressive security at their entrances. After chatting with the guards I walked along the wide Agra Bah Road, a major highway.

Unlike the previous evening, there was very little traffic on the highway  at this early hour. I was trying to get to a park on the other side of the highway but after about a block came to a side street and followed it into a poorer neighborhood.

I enjoy exploring neighborhoods in the cities and towns I visit in foreign countries. You learn so much  about people and their culture seeing where they actually live and not just the tourists attractions.

I heard the laughing and crying of children in the dilapidated homes and was greeted by children, elderly woman, and men walking to work. They looked at me with curiosity, but there was no hostility whatsoever. They were very friendly people.I returned to the main highway walking past murals of panda bears,

and  dancing woman.

As I walked, the traffic,  both motor vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian increased.

I thought this sign was interesting since I did see few children already at work at various stands along the highway.

There were some modern shops and stands,

and some traditional small stands. I offered about ₹100, about $2 , to these folks  for a photograph. I handed the money to the elderly woman, and it was sad when the young man grabbed it and ran off with it. I thought it was her grandson and maybe it was. Life in India could be hard.

I returned back to the hotel just as the sun was breaking through the haze and clouds. It was a nice morning walk. I had a another great breakfast at the hotel and began preparing for our visit to the Taj Mahal.   Here is a link to a gallery with some more photos on my blog webpage from my morning hike. India Day Eleven. Agra  morning walk October 20, 2025.

After breakfast, we boarded our bus and drove through the busy streets of Agraand where only  a short drive from the  Taj Mahal.  We drove past, the now,  very familiar, small shops and tuk tuks ,

This cart was were brightly decorated for the Diwali celebrations. As usual, Aparna informed  us on the history of the Taj Mahal. We  learned about Shah Jahan and and the love he had for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Upon her death in 1631 he commissioned the building of her mausoleum which is the now famous Taj Mahal.

We arrived at the entrance to the 42 acre Taj Mahal complex. There were  crowds of people streaming to the western gate.Over five million people visit the Taj Mahal , a UNESCO World Heritage Site,   each year.

As as I walked toward the gate, I got  my first glimpse of the impressive white marble dome of the Taj Mahal.

We entered through the massive west gate and,

I saw second my second glimpse of the massive marble structure as we walked through the arch of the gate building. . It was awe inspiring and breathtaking.

We walked out of the gate and took in the spectacular scene, which I had remembered from looking at a few master photos as a child. It was amazing to see it in the real life for the first time.

I did not even bother to take photos for a few minutes since it was so spectacularly beautiful.

Aparna had arranged for a professional photographer to take a group

and single photos with the spectacular Taj Mahal in the background.

While while the group was getting their personal photos, I roamed around the ponds,  taking in the beauty of the Taj Mahal.

Our group then  walked toward the impressive structure with the large dome and the four minarets  surrounding the main structure.

The impressiveness and beauty of the structure was  even more striking  as we near the massive  white marble dome

We walked to the entrance to the the interior  of the massive tomb,

we Aperna showed us the intricate flower and plant designs  carved into the marble.  The workmanship was magnificent.

We entered the Taj Mahal, but we’re not allowed to take photos of the tombs of the Shaw and his wife. Precious stones adorned they screens inside the Taj Mahal. I can imagined how beautiful it would be standing their in the light of a full moon. We left the interior Given time to explore the Taj Mahal and the surrounding gardens on our own for about an hour.

The Taj Mahal, it’s located on the banks of the Yamuna River.

I saw these wading birds, I believe they are black-tailed godwits, a lifer for me,   in the waters of the river.  I continued to walk around and explore  the courtyard around the Taj Mahal.

The four  minarets  surrounding the Taj Mahal were amazing in and of  of themselves.

I finally got myself to leave the beauty of this massive structure and roamed the surrounding gardens.

Here I found some wildflowers,

in bloom and these fruits

Our group  met at the Western gate and left with lifelong memories of this seventh wonder of the world.

After our visit, we drove to a marble factory,

Where I watched crafts worker create the delicate images on the marble and the inlay of the precious stones. It was a very long time consuming process.

I had fell in love with the fire stones inside of the Taj Mahal, and, found myself purchasing a small marble table with these stones embedded in the marble. .

After a visit marble factory, our group decided to stop at a local McDonald’s for lunch. I have not ate at a McDonald’s here at United States for over 30 years, but I decided to try their potatoburger. It was interesting.

As was the meatless menu. We returned to our hotel late in the afternoon, and I edited photos and work on my blog before having a delicious meal. Unfortunately,  either the potatoburger or,

this custard like potato dessert cost me some stomach discomfort for the rest of my trip.Despite my stomach issues it  was a great ending  an absolutely amazing day in Agra,. I will never forget the moving love story and the beauty he beauty of the Taj Maha, the 7th wonder of the world. lHere is a link to a gallery with some more photos on my blog webpage from my awe inspiring visit to the Taj  Mahal. . India Day Eleven. Agra   Taj Mahal October 20, 2025.

“The Taj Mahal rises above the banks of the river like a solitary tear suspended on the cheek of time.”
― Rabindranath Tagore

“Rahul had wondered how someone could love their beloved so much that their dedication to them became one of the wonders of the world.”
― Faraaz Kazi

“The world believes it was built by love but reading Shah Jahan’s own words on the Taj, one could say it was grief that built the Taj Mahal and it was sorrow that saw it through sixteen years till completion.”
― Aysha Taryam