Agra, The Taj, and Food

We arrived in Agra around 6:30AM local time on Saturday the 18th. After thoroughly researching hotels on tripadvisor.com, we decided that our first night stay in India should be upscale, so we booked the 5 star ITC Mughal. The rates were reasonable and the reviews were amazing. True to the reviews, it was nothing short of amazing. If you are spending a day or two in Agra, we highly recommend it!

Our day started with a quick lunch at one of the restaurants in the Hotel. I had Aloo Matar Kathi (something akin to an India flatbread roll) and Sarah had a veggie burger. Good stuff, and it fueled our trip to the Taj Mahal.

The Taj is pure opulence. Built as a temple to a king's dead wife, it is definitely a worthy monument. So many details went into building the Taj that it's hard to imagine it was built in only 22 years. It was built with symmetry and perspective in mind as well as practicality. Case in point, the outer spires of the Taj were built leaning out so that if there was an earthquake, the spires would fall outward instead of inward toward the center building. The engineering was marvelous and the design breathtaking.

After visiting the Taj, we took in the Agra Fort which was a stronghold for Mughal emperors. It's fortifications were on as grand a scale as the decoration of the Taj. In fact, the entrance gates were built on curves to prevent the largest animal known (the elephant) from gaining enough momentum to knock down the gates! In the royal living quarters, a fan system run by 2 full time servants was built into the structure. During the Mughal rule, the emperors would hold court to hear complaints from the general population. In that time there were Muslim, Hindu, and Christian populations who were treated with respect by Emperor Shah Jahan.

After sight seeing, we headed back to the ITC Mughal hotel very hungry. So, we cleaned up and had a relaxing drink at the bar. My drink was an Indian version of whiskey sour that had Cardamom spice and Sarah's drink (in the martini glass) was a delightful mixture of gin, prosecco, pineapple juice and a hint of rosemary. Drinks led to a wonderful Northern Indian dinner at their restaurant Peshawari. I had their signiture lamb Kabobs and Sarah had a potato dish. Add in some Naan bread and black Lentil Dal and we were set. The meal had a perfect amount of spice that complimented the dishes well. The lamb was so tender that most of it literally melted in our mouths.
All in all, it was a great dining experience. Unfortunately, less than 5 hours of sleep in the last 36 hours really caught up with us and we hit the sack pretty early.

What keeps coming to mind about Northern India is the integration. Muslims, Christians, and Hindu all live in the same areas and for the most part get along. In addition, animals are a part of every day Indian life. You'll just as easily see a Camel cart driver on the road as you would a car. On the sidewalk you're just as apt to see a monkey, dog or cow as you are a human! It's an interesting blend that works very well here and you have to respect that.