Rolled right off the flight from London, through immigration, and met GK – our guide for the entire trip – at arrivals holding a sign with my name on it. Our driver, Kishore, rolled up in a Toyota SUV packed with drinks and snacks and we were off to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal and keep me awake on this first day of battling a 12 hour time difference. 

The drive to Agra is about 3.5 hours, once out of the sticky Delhi traffic mostly down a wide open and seemingly brand new toll road. On the way GK introduced me to some facts and figures about Delhi and the history of Agra, in addition to the goings on in the country around the Diwali holiday. We stopped mid-way for a coffee and before long arrived at our destination.  

GK wisely chose to have Kishore drop us about a 10 minute walk from the entrance to get me up and moving.

 There isn’t much to say about the Taj Mahal that hasn’t already been said – it’s magnificent, a work of unreal art, monumental, etc. – fortunately it wasn’t overly crowded so we got some great views unimpeded by people. 

After examining it from all sides and interior, we set off for Agra Fort for a view at some of the more every day lifestyles of the Moghul emperors. I especially liked the riverside views of the Taj from the imprisoned emperor’s cell. At least his son let him see his monument to his beloved wife before he ruined the symmetry by entombing him next to her inside the Taj. 

By this time it’s getting on towards 3pm and we are all a little worried about the traffic heading back into Delhi, so we hit the road and forego a sit-down lunch. Make a quick stop at one of many chain-restaurant rest stops along the way, and after at least an hour in gridlock traffic we arrive at the Leela Palace to meet up with Derek (whose driver has beaten us there coming from Noida).  

Leela room service and passing out in bed is about all I can muster. Big, busy day!