Day 7 Ghana Bird sanctuary and Agra

Up at 5:45 am to be ready to go to the Ghana Bird Sanctuary for bird watching. Unfortunately, the train was about an hour late so we didn’t leave until 7:15. We were a little miffed because we could have slept an hour longer. The sanctuary was worth it, though. We had an hour or so bicycle rickshaw ride through two bird habitats – the grasslands and the wetlands. We saw many species of birds and a few deer. A naturalist was following us on a bike and giving explanations. Then a short train ride to Agra to visit the Agra fort and the Taj Mahal. The fort or rather fortified palace was the main residence of the rules from the Mogul dynasty in the 16th and 17th centuries. It is spectacular. It was built by the grandfather of the maharaja who built Taj Mahal. Both monuments are amazing, of the two, we thought the fort was more interesting. After visiting the fort and a nice lunch in a hotel overlooking Taj Mahal, we went to see this legendary building. We were afraid that there would be huge crowds, but we were pleasantly surprised. We used the VIP entrance and once we were inside the complex, it was very spacious and uncrowded. We spent a lot of time admiring it from the outside and taking pictures, and then got out booties so we don’t dirty the white marble floors, and we went inside. You move in single file around the central tombs of the maharaja and his beloved wife, and admire the inlay work made of colorful semi-precious stones in the white marble. Photos are prohibited inside and so is talking. Lights are dim…After Taj Mahal, an obligatory shopping stop – this time for marble/inlay goods. We bought 2 coasters. Then back on the train for the farewell dinner and the night ride to Delhi.