4.30am saw us up and packed ready to experience an Indian train journey. Certainly a different way to celebrate 25 years of marriage! We were met in reception by the Audley agent who escorted us to our car with the picnic breakfast provided by the hotel. We had a different driver this morning as Allum had left the previous night to be in Agra to collect us at the station when we arrived.
When we arrived at the station, there were 100s of cars all trying to squeeze into the road infront of the station along with as many porters grabbing any bag they could see.mwe were really grateful to have our fantastic Audley representative with us who advised us to stick close to him as we went through the station. He also explained that all the people sleeping on the platform were all waiting for trains and had probably been traveling a number of days. It was quite shocking to see old ladies lying in the floors asleep but it is the way they live and they all seemed to be sleeping soundly.....and I complain when a clock is ticking too loud!
We were very quickly on our train and in our seats with our bags safely stowed above us, we were recommended not to eat the hot food that we would be served but the tea would be fine along with anything packaged. Almost as soon as the train started the hour long breakfast service commenced with orange juice and yoghurt, followed by tea, then a banana, followed by a tray with cornflakes, bread and jam, 10 minutes later came the hot food which we declined.
From the train you really do see the poverty areas of Delhi where animals and humans live side by side with little or no sanitation or fresh running water. The train line is also used to walk to work along or to travel between towns. It wasn't the first time Graham and I have commented on how the UK health and safety officials would have apoplexy!
When we arrived in Agra, the stewards on the train took our cases off the train and we were greeted by the Audley representative who had a porter ready to take our cases. Alum was in the car park to greet us with fresh, cold bottles of water and his smile.
Within 20 minutes we pulled in through the gates of the Amarvilas Hotel and wow what a beautiful place to celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss. From the moment we arrived we were treated with such kindness and respect from everyone. We were taken to the most beautiful lounge area which had a stunning view over the Taj Mahal, we were given cold towers and fresh limes juice before being escorted tour room.
When booking our holiday we had asked for the cost of upgrading to a balcony room but it was so expensive we decided not to as we wouldn't be spending much time in the room. When we walked into our room we were delighted to realise we had been upgraded in recognition of our anniversary....probably helped by the lovely gift of card and champagne from my lovely brother and Julie. We decided it would be silly not to use the balcony so opted for a private dining experience.
Before that we had our first tour of Agra which included going over the river to a park to view the Taj Mahal from a different perspective, a visit to the Mini Taj followed by the Red Fort.
Mehtab Bagh is a garden on the other side of the river Yamuna to the Taj Mahal, we were the only people there apart from a couple of local ladies by the river and three local boys with their goat.
We then moved to the tomb of l'timad-us-Daulah or Baby Taj.this building et a precedent as the first Mughal building to be fa end with white marble inlaid with contracting stones. It is much more intimate than the Big Taj but still beautifully ornate. The tombs was built for Ghiyas Beg and his wife, Ghiyas Beg worked under both Akbar and Jahangir (3rd and 4th Mughal Emperors). Their daughter eventually married Jahangir and she built the tomb Following her father's death.
Finally we visited Agra Fort also known as the Red Fort which was built by Akbar and dominates the centre of the city surrounded by 2.5km of walls and ramparts.
Akbar built the walls, gates and the first buildings inside. Shah Jahan (5th Mughal Emperor) built the imperial quarters and Mosque while Aurangzeb (6th Emperor) added to the ramparts. At the end of his life, Shah Jahan was deposed and restrained by his son, Aurangzeb, in the fort. It is rumoured that Shah Jahan died in Muasamman Burj, a tower with a marble balcony with a view of the Taj Mahal, the tomb he built for his wife.
We then headed back to the hotel to continue our anniversary celebrations...to be continued in the next post
When we arrived at the station, there were 100s of cars all trying to squeeze into the road infront of the station along with as many porters grabbing any bag they could see.mwe were really grateful to have our fantastic Audley representative with us who advised us to stick close to him as we went through the station. He also explained that all the people sleeping on the platform were all waiting for trains and had probably been traveling a number of days. It was quite shocking to see old ladies lying in the floors asleep but it is the way they live and they all seemed to be sleeping soundly.....and I complain when a clock is ticking too loud!
We were very quickly on our train and in our seats with our bags safely stowed above us, we were recommended not to eat the hot food that we would be served but the tea would be fine along with anything packaged. Almost as soon as the train started the hour long breakfast service commenced with orange juice and yoghurt, followed by tea, then a banana, followed by a tray with cornflakes, bread and jam, 10 minutes later came the hot food which we declined.
From the train you really do see the poverty areas of Delhi where animals and humans live side by side with little or no sanitation or fresh running water. The train line is also used to walk to work along or to travel between towns. It wasn't the first time Graham and I have commented on how the UK health and safety officials would have apoplexy!
When we arrived in Agra, the stewards on the train took our cases off the train and we were greeted by the Audley representative who had a porter ready to take our cases. Alum was in the car park to greet us with fresh, cold bottles of water and his smile.
Within 20 minutes we pulled in through the gates of the Amarvilas Hotel and wow what a beautiful place to celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss. From the moment we arrived we were treated with such kindness and respect from everyone. We were taken to the most beautiful lounge area which had a stunning view over the Taj Mahal, we were given cold towers and fresh limes juice before being escorted tour room.
When booking our holiday we had asked for the cost of upgrading to a balcony room but it was so expensive we decided not to as we wouldn't be spending much time in the room. When we walked into our room we were delighted to realise we had been upgraded in recognition of our anniversary....probably helped by the lovely gift of card and champagne from my lovely brother and Julie. We decided it would be silly not to use the balcony so opted for a private dining experience.
Before that we had our first tour of Agra which included going over the river to a park to view the Taj Mahal from a different perspective, a visit to the Mini Taj followed by the Red Fort.
Mehtab Bagh is a garden on the other side of the river Yamuna to the Taj Mahal, we were the only people there apart from a couple of local ladies by the river and three local boys with their goat.
We then moved to the tomb of l'timad-us-Daulah or Baby Taj.this building et a precedent as the first Mughal building to be fa end with white marble inlaid with contracting stones. It is much more intimate than the Big Taj but still beautifully ornate. The tombs was built for Ghiyas Beg and his wife, Ghiyas Beg worked under both Akbar and Jahangir (3rd and 4th Mughal Emperors). Their daughter eventually married Jahangir and she built the tomb Following her father's death.
Finally we visited Agra Fort also known as the Red Fort which was built by Akbar and dominates the centre of the city surrounded by 2.5km of walls and ramparts.
Akbar built the walls, gates and the first buildings inside. Shah Jahan (5th Mughal Emperor) built the imperial quarters and Mosque while Aurangzeb (6th Emperor) added to the ramparts. At the end of his life, Shah Jahan was deposed and restrained by his son, Aurangzeb, in the fort. It is rumoured that Shah Jahan died in Muasamman Burj, a tower with a marble balcony with a view of the Taj Mahal, the tomb he built for his wife.
We then headed back to the hotel to continue our anniversary celebrations...to be continued in the next post
Wow you really are having the most amazing time. It sounds wonderful and a real experience. Most locals probably are not as well informed as your blog, it's a history lesson Bell style. Keep on having fun thanks for blogging x
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