Agra

Our Wednesday started quite early with a 6:15am train from Delhi to Agra. The plushness of First Class definitely set the bar way too high for our expectations for the rest of our train travel. Upon arriving in Agra, we hired a driver for the day. Our first stop was the former capital of the province, Fatehpur Sikri, about 25 miles outside of Agra. The buildings, which date back to the 1500s, were only used for 20 years before the entire town moved away. Today the ruins stand basically untouched for 400 years.

Fatehpur Sikri

Next we drove back into Agra to see the main attraction - the Taj Mahal. The Taj was absolutely amazing. Although it's several hundred years old, the exterior looks like it was constructed recently. The building and grounds are pristine and it's hard to look away. The real beauty is on the outside though. After waiting an hour in line to walk through the Taj's innards, Melisa and I were less than impressed.

Taj Mahal

To finish up the day, we had our guide show us Agra Fort and some of the local merchants. There are several types of handmade artistry that Agra is known for - inlaid marble, Persian-style rugs and needlework. Melisa and I both blew some coin and bought handmade rugs.

After a harrowing experience on the train - which is a story for another day - Melisa and I made it to Jodhpur at 9am on Thursday.