~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Below, the massive Agra Fort, home of a succession of Mughal emperors

Within the Fort complex, the marble Hall of Public Audience (“The People’s Court”). There’s a second, similarly constructed  Hall of Private Audience which was for the Emperor’s meetings with ambassadors and other VIPs.

Less like a “Fort” more like a fortified compound, it includes 16 separate palaces and dozens of other buildings, many of white marble with elaborate decoration.

Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal for his wife Mumatz, was imprisoned in one of these buildings by his youngest son, who took control of the throne (killing his two older brothers along the way just to be on the safe side). From his prison the former Shah was able to gaze at the Taj, where he too was eventually buried.

(this view zoomed in)

Because of its proximity to the Taj Mahal, much of the Fort has been closed to the public and is presently occupied by the Indian military, reportedly to allow for a rapid defensive response in the event of an attack.

With a bit of history to prepare us, it’s on to the main Agra event.

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The Taj Mahal at dusk. As breathtaking as imagined.

No photography allowed inside.

And here it is at dawn, from the garden.

Early morning photo op