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 is gorgeous and giant, and was completed in 1575… over 430 years ago! So what’s the danger here? Falling stones? Tripping hazards? Lightning? Nope… Let’s keep walking across the expansive courtyard to the arch towering at the far side. But remember, because this is a mosque, your shoes must be off! (That is a hint…)

At the back of the mosque, steep stone stairs lead from the town up to a massive, ornately carved arch entrance. Now, look carefully at the next photo, displaying this entrance. Do you see the danger lurking? (No, it’s not my husband’s treacherously handsome face in the lower right corner, though that is a valid answer.)
Did you see it? The arches are studded with dozens of big, fat wasps’ nests!!!! As a result, the ground for hundreds of square feet below is littered with dead, dying, or simply reclining waspities, just waiting to pierce the unshod foot of an unsuspecting visitor. YIPES!
Needless to say, the archway was still swarming (forgive the punny word choice) with tourists and locals in naked feet. Inches from the wasp carpet, I took this photo, below, of two serene siblings looking out on the colorful town beyond.
Our teacher group painstakingly tiptoed around the wasps and back through the arch into the courtyard, breathing a sigh of relief once the danger had been surmounted. Who would have thought that a historic tourist attraction could pose such a threat to our innocent little toes?
Luckily, the danger at this stately site is easily avoidable if you know where to look, and the beauty and importance of the mosque make up for any worries. I wonder, though: is this wasp nest situation a common phenomenon? Do old-time arches frequently hold sizable insect homes, or other creepy crawlies? Readers, what have YOU seen of this topic in your world travels? Do share.
Love the beautiful architecture of mosques? Check out the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, and the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi!

The author, Lillie Marshall, is a 6-foot-tall National Board Certified Teacher of English, fitness fan, and mother of two who has been a public school educator since 2003. She launched Around the World “L” Travel and Life Blog in 2009, and over 4.2 million readers have now visited this site. Lillie also runs TeachingTraveling.com and DrawingsOf.com. Subscribe to her monthly newsletter, and follow @WorldLillie on social media!
Roshan Kumar
Thursday 26th of November 2020
Nice post, the images are too good. Thanks for making people aware of these hidden dangers of these historical places.
Lillie Marshall
Thursday 26th of November 2020
Thanks, Roshan!
Laila Hopkins
Thursday 8th of January 2015
The wasp thing is very terrifying!!! Good thing you mentioned the jeopardizing danger of the Jama Masjid Mosque, because I would be very unaware of my surroundings.
Dusty
Thursday 1st of May 2014
The third to last photo is stunning. I love the siblings sitting gazing out over the town, and the colour of the buildings is superb. Thank you for sharing. Photos like this make for own trip to India later this year all the more exciting.
Lillie
Thursday 1st of May 2014
Thanks, Dusty! You will have a fabulous time!
Monnette
Friday 25th of April 2014
I can't imagine how you could marvel at something at eye level or above it while taking care not to step on wasps...
Alora May
Thursday 24th of April 2014
I've encountered rough or uneven ground after mandatory shoe removal but never wasps! Glad you made it through unharmed.