Agra

We departed Delhi after breakfast at the Imperial Hotel.  We rode four hours on a divided highway to Agra.  We checked into the hotel, had lunch, then set off by 2 pm, with our guide and driver for Agra Fort.  Agra Fort is an historic Mughal fort in Agra, also known as the Red Fort.  “Mughal emperor Humayun (whose tomb we visited in Delhi), was crowned at the fort in 1530.  It was later renovated and added to by the Mughal emperor Akbar from 1565-1573 (present day structure was completed).  Architects laid the foundation and the fort was built with bricks in the inner core with red sandstone on external surfaces, over 94 acres.  Some 4000 builders worked daily for eight years to complete the fort in 1573.  It served as the main residence of the rulers of the Mughal dynasty until 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi.  It was used by various rulers through the next two centuries, and was the site of a battle during the Indian rebellion of 1857, which caused the end of the British East India Company’s rule in India and led to a century of direct rule in India by Britain.”  It is a grand royal fort.  We were in awe of Agra Fort and enjoyed being there with so many Indian tourists.  They enjoy their heritage and historic places.

We drove across the river from Agra Fort to the “Baby Taj.”  The Tomb of I’timad-ud-Daulah is a Mughal mausoleum, commissioned by Nur Jahan, wife of Jahangir, the fourth emperor of the Mughal empire, for her father.  Baby Taj is described as a jewel box and is regarded as a model for the Taj Mahal.  The gate buildings were built primarily from red sandstone and the mausoleum was built of white marble with inlay.  It is a beautiful site.  

Delhi

We flew into Delhi from Singapore last evening.  We sailed through customs with the assistance of our tour company, then met our tour guide and driver, who drove us to our hotel, The Imperial India.  The hotel was built in the early 1930’s and inaugurated by Lord Willingdon in 1936.  It has remained under ownership of the same family since it opened.  The Imperial “is a confluence of a rich historical past with international appeal.”  It has over 5000 pieces of rare and unique art. I took a walk around the gardens early this before breakfast.  

Our tour guide met us at 8, to begin our tour of historic sites in Delhi.  Our first stop was at the Qutb Minar Monuments.  Qutb Minar is the tallest stone tower in India, built between 1192-1210, attached to Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque.  The tower was struck by lightning twice and was repaired and an additional story added in 1351.  The Mosque was built between 1193-1197, using carved columns and other architectural pieces of 37 Hindu and Jain temples.  Much of the Mosque has crumbled, but the site is impressive.

We drove north to Old Delhi, passing on of the India gates, then we parked in front of the Red Fort and took a tuk tuk down Changi Chowk Road to the traditional market. 

We visited Humayun’s Tomb, commissioned by Humayun’s wife and built in the 1560’s.  It was the first garden-tomb built in India.  The 27 acre site includes several other tombs, with Humayun’s Tomb housing cells of over 150 Mughal family members.  Humayun was the second Mughal emperor, who ruled over territory in what is now eastern Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Northern India, and Pakistan from 1530-1540, and again from 1555 to his death in 1556.  It is a beautiful place.

We returned to our hotel by 2, for lunch at Imperial Hotel’s Spice Route, known for its Asian cuisine and its interior decor of ancient temple pillars and murals.  Lunch was delicious!  Afterwards, we took a tour of the hotel’s art collection.