Taj Mahal, India Photo Gallery
Cochin is our first stop in India, and where we get our flight to Delhi, the most populous city in the world. India is now the most populous country in the world.
Chinese fishing nets were established on these shores between 1350 and 1450 AD.
The Cochin port area and city seemed nice to me.
Many people were out to see our ship as we cruised by.
More port views.
One of the few crosses that I saw, so I had to take a photo.
A pretty lake area that we passed on our 1-2 hour bus ride through the city to the airport.
This was Raj, our guide on this whole trip in India. He did an excellent job mixing history with what we saw. He was very proud of his country.
Movie billboards were all over and our guide said that movies are very popular, they make a bunch of them which aren't the best quality, and they have to have a good ending. Sounds like Hallmark movies.
Finally, the airport, which is completely powered by solar energy.
We're going to fly on IndiGo.
The sunset from the plane was beautiful!
When we arrived at New Delhi they put these marigold leis around our necks.
Hotel ITC Maurya, which was very nice.
The Gateman at our hotel.
The big bowls of rose petals at our hotel were beautiful.
At the Hotel ITC Maurya.
A beautiful decoration at our first hotel.
Part of the buffet that was waiting for us at our hotel at midnight
We were a BIG group at the hotel. See all the buses. They even split all the cruise people into 4 groups.
They drove us through the very nice embassy area. This is Qatar's.
Still in the nice embassy area and our guide said that they would show us the best and the worst, so different like night and day.
We were greeted at the train station with drums and flowers tossed over our heads.
The station put out the red carpet and decorations, and people were there to watch us.
There were Ultimate World Cruise chair covers on the train, which was supposed to be a 2&1/2 hr express to Agra. It ended up being around 6 hrs because we had to stop all the time to let other trains through..
The trash near the train tracks was so bad, but even worse is that people have to live in those conditions! This was the worst the guide had warned us about.
A local train with a car that does not have air conditioning. Now I know why people like to sit beside the open door.
Some tent homes under a bridge.
More trash and homes, it was never ending in Delhi.
I wonder if these friendly boys are going through the trash to find treasures.
This must be the main street of this area, because while we were stopped I saw person after person come this way.
The friendly boys without their big bags. I love their big smiles.
A tiny house along the way with solar panels.
A brick factory along the way.
Waiting at a train station along our route.
I love all the colorful clothes that the woman wear.
We saw many people lying and sitting on the platform waiting for a train.
A storage shed in the fertile farming region.
Cows roaming the farm fields.
Another kind of storage structure.
Family at the train door.
Another drum and flower welcome, this time to lunch at Hotel ITC Mughal, our hotel in Agra.
The gorgeous dining room at our hotel.
The salad area of our next hotel buffet.
The main food line.
Some desserts.
The nice pool at our hotel, which we had no time to enjoy.
Gwen beside the Gate guard.
One of the hotel attendants.
A monkey at the Taj Mahal. You don't get near them because they can have rabies. Our neighbor on the ship got bit and had to get a rabies shot.
Taj Mahal Western Gate.
The Taj Mahal, but no water in the fountain area.
The detailed carvings on the marble walls were beautiful .
The Marble Inlay art of the Taj Mahal, the technical name of the artwork is Pietra Dura.
We wore covers over our shoes to go on the marble inside and around the Taj Mahal.
The Indian people all looked so beautiful dressed in their best.
Some of the details on the Taj Mahal.
This pillar is 4 side, although the stripes make it appear 8 sides.
Proof that I was there. It was very surreal, because I never imagined that I would go to the Taj Mahal.
Another shot at the Western Gate.
The sun is reflecting in little spots where the glass or gems are located.
Proof that Brian was there.
One last shot as the sun was setting.
Interesting sights in the bus parking lot at the Taj Mahal.
I just can't get over all the beautiful, colorful clothing. One lady actually asked to have her photo with me. I wish Brian had also, taken a photo when that happened.
Kids have fun all over the world. These ones were outside of our bus.
As we were traveling very early morning, before the sun rose, we saw this bus that had sleepers on it (2X2 A/C sleeper). I have never seen a bus like this before.
Buildings in NOIDA, India, which is short for New Okhla Industrial Development Authority.
A building in NOIDA. NOIDA is considered the help call center of the world.
Modern building in NOIDA.
Microsoft building in NOIDA.
Wall art in Delhi.
Cows on the road in India.
Looks like some more temples along the road.
In south Delhi.
Purple school uniforms in this town.
I'm not sure what this building is but I found it interesting.
At the port of Goa. We flew here from Delhi after visiting the Taj Mahal to get back on the ship.
Goa is a mining town, and is also considered the Vegas of India. As we were only riding from the airport to the port we didn't see much of this town.
At Goa port. Look at all the tires piled up on the port.
This boat was full of military people.