India - Khajuraho/Agra

We spent two days in a village called Khajuraho situated on the road between Varanasi and Agra. Khajuraho is a must-see sight for its huge refined temples, fully sculpted on the façades and in the interior. Those temples are famous for the Kamasutra/erotic scenes sculpted there. In reality those scenes are maybe one percent of the sculptures on the temples and only on its outside façades. The other carvings represent god and goddesses, real or imaginary animals, floral patterns and so on.

Lakshmana Temple

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple

Lakshiman Temple

Interior of the Lakshmana Temple

There is a dozen of well preserved temples, the western group of temples, disposed in a very quiet and well-cured park. The ensemble is really beautiful – another Unesco world heritage site – and deserves a long walk, only disturbed by the obligation of taking off ones shoes before entering every temple.

 

In Nandi Shrine

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The little village is also pleasant and relaxing. We knew it would be useful to rest there before going to the tourist mainland: the Taj Mahal!! This wonder of the world fully deserves its reputation of beauty and grace. We were lucky enough to admire colours changing on the marble of its dome and walls during the sunset. At that moment, we completely forget everything we got through to arrive there, the tiredness, the back pain and the stomac disorders.

Southern view of the Taj Mahal

Western view of the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is located in a city called Agra. This huge mausoleum comes from a love story: it was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to grieve, honor and burry his third and favourite wife who died giving birth to their 14^th child.

We all have in mind images of the Taj Mahal with the dome and the four minarets. But we were wondering what the interior looks like.. And it was kind of a deception for us. Now what we remember of it is the strong smell of bare feet! :/

 Interior chamber, tombs of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal

 The Great gate, gateway to the Taj Mahal

The two main sites in Agra are related to Shah Jahan. Agra fort was his residence. Shah Jahan spent his last seven years emprisonned in this fort by his son. He surely died in a tower with a marble balcony with a view of the Taj Mahal:

Tower Musamman Burj with the Taj Mahal in the background

Agra fort is a typical Indian fort with huge red sandstone walls and spendid pavilions. It was inhabited by several emperors who had time to embellish the construction. Agra fort is smaller but more beautiful and better structured than the Red Fort in New Delhi.

Entrance of Agra fort

 

Inside Agra fort

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India is a real paradise for vegetarians, the first country we visit where vegetarians seem more respected than carnivores. In fact, every manufactured product has a green logo to indicate it is suitable for vegetarians!! Thank you!!:))

And after 13 years, Axelle was finally able to eat a Mc Donalds meal with a Mc Veggie burger! Not that she really missed it but it is necessary to take a break from Indian food once in a while. Even when a meal is supposed to be not spicy, for example sweet curry, we have to drink one liter of water and eat three tandoori bread each!! And the mouth is still burning afterwards!