Udaipur, Agra & the Taj Mahal

Another early morning sunrise at a park ..... The Keoladeo Ghana National Park and bird sanctuary, home to migratory birds from all over the world during the winter months ..... rare Siberian crane, painted stork, night herons but all I saw up close and personal was this little kingfisher who kept an eye on me as I tried to move ever closer to the little duffer :)

This energetic fellow cycled both Hilary and I throughout the park ... earned his tip :)

On the bus .... Markus and Margit from Austria, Doug from US, Jeremy smiling in the background ... good fun group overall ....

Pichola Lakeside scene ... morning ablutions perhaps

Lakeside wash day ... forbidden but apparently no one pays attention ..

Udaipur on Lake Pichola

Details on walls of Mor Chowk in the
City Palace in Udaipur

The crown jewel of the Mughals, Shah Jahan's tribute to his favorite beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal ..... The Taj Mahal! It is actually a tomb to honor her .... wow, I wonder how he treated her when she was alive ... probably like a, well, a queen :)

Outside walls of the Taj .... loved running my hand along the cool texture of the walls. We had to don red slippers over our shoes to walk anywhere near the Taj :)

Stereotypical Taj pictures :)

Decorative floral patterns inside the Taj Tomb ... The Mughals were great naturalists and believed flowers were the symbols of the "divine realm"

Carved flower relief work ...

Beautiful calligraphy on outside walls

Nice Group Smiles ... comprised mostly of Americans, a solid handful of Brits, Austrians, Germans, Swedish and one lone Canadian ...