Inside the Taj Mahal, is it as beautiful as everyone says? What are surprises and tips about visiting that we learned during our 2012 India teacher tour? Without further ado, here are 12 things to know about visiting the Taj Mahal: the world’s most famous monument to love, built by emperor Shah Jahan in 1653 in… [Read More]
India
Monkeys, Imprisonment, and a Fall at Agra Fort, India
“This is where they say Shah Jahan, the man behind the Taj Mahal, was imprisoned BY HIS SON.” Our India teacher tour guide paused dramatically, and our group gazed around Agra Fort, soaking in that shocking history. Agra Fort in Uttar Prasdesh, India is really more of a giant walled city than a mere fort,… [Read More]
Surprises in India at Keoladeo National Bird Sanctuary
Let me be blunt about the first surprise of Keoladeo National Park and Bird Sanctuary in India: On the day we went, the air was so cloudy that we could have seen further by sticking our heads into bowls of oatmeal. Look how ghostly the birds appear in the next photo… We had to squint… [Read More]
The Hidden Danger of a Famous Tourist Attraction
Some dangers are so surprising, they become funny. Let’s see if you can guess this one, spotted during my teacher tour in India last year. The scene takes place at the Jama Masjid mosque in the town of Fatehpur Sikri, near Agra, the city most famous for housing the Taj Mahal. The Jama Masjid mosque… [Read More]
Can You Believe the Size of This Hole in the Ground?
In the romantic Indian state of Rajasthan, in the dusty village of Abhaneri, there lies a massive hole in the ground. To be specific, this hole is called Chand Baori, and is one of the largest ancient step-wells in the world, plummeting down 100 feet to slurp water from the earth for the thirsty local… [Read More]
Wow! I Never Thought I’d See THAT On The Road…
As I re-learn to drive with a new baby in the car here in Boston, I thank my lucky stars I am not re-learning to drive in India, which has some of the most hectic roadways I have ever seen. Check out these shocking (well, for my sheltered American eyes) vehicular sights from our teacher… [Read More]
