[February 7, 2015]
The Oberoi Amarvilas is build to emulate the Mogul style of the Taj Mahal. You arrive in an archway, flanked by 2 marble elephants (wearing carnation leis) and are greeted by doormen dressed in the British mogul style. You cross a palisade of arches and enter a courtyard filled with water fountains. When you enter the main door, you are treated to the smell of rosewater and jasmine. The room is huge and domed and in the center is a large vase of orange tiger lilies. If you lift your eyes and look across to the windows and the horizon, you see the Taj Mahal in the afternoon light, framed through the window. The amazing chaos of India is far beyond your senses - you don't hear it, see it, smell it or touch it. If you only stayed here, you would leave India never knowing the richness of the country or her people.
The Oberoi Amarvilas is build to emulate the Mogul style of the Taj Mahal. You arrive in an archway, flanked by 2 marble elephants (wearing carnation leis) and are greeted by doormen dressed in the British mogul style. You cross a palisade of arches and enter a courtyard filled with water fountains. When you enter the main door, you are treated to the smell of rosewater and jasmine. The room is huge and domed and in the center is a large vase of orange tiger lilies. If you lift your eyes and look across to the windows and the horizon, you see the Taj Mahal in the afternoon light, framed through the window. The amazing chaos of India is far beyond your senses - you don't hear it, see it, smell it or touch it. If you only stayed here, you would leave India never knowing the richness of the country or her people.
Our afternoon excursion was to the Agra Fort, built by
Emperor Akbar. It served as the
prison for the Shah that built the Taj Mahal – the Shah’s son had him
imprisoned for 8 years because he was afraid his father was going to bankrupt
the empire building a second monument/tomb. It was also the site of the battle that ended the rule of
the British East India Company in India.
It was interesting to imagine the Moghul parties arriving on elephant
and camel and traveling through the massive gates in the double walls of the
fort (guarded by a moat filled with crocodiles) – and then entering the palaces
via horse drawn carts.
The fort is made of red sandstone, finely carved and being
systematically restored. The
palaces have fine marble carvings, pietra dura and carved marble screens.
We saw many families and groups of school children touring
the fort – it’s a holiday weekend because of elections, so more were there than
usual according to our guides.
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| The Red Fort of Agra |
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| Pierced marble screens and marble carvings line all the royal chambers |
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| Shah Jahan, who build the Taj Mahal, was imprisoned here for 8 years by his son - from this balcony he could look across the river to see the Taj |
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| View of the Taj Mahal from the balconies of the Red Fort |
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