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The morning was a return to the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary to allegedly see thousands of water birds. However, the fog was so thick and never burned off, we could barely see 50 feet in front of us. The air pollution may be contributing to the fog: the particles allow condensation to form. At 1:30 pm it's still foggy in spite of a prediction of sun.
The afternoon trip was to Fatehpur Sikri, a palace complex built for Akbar the Great, the Mughal Emperor, completed in 1569. The outer walls are still visible around the city, the royal complex within comprises multiple courtyards, gardens, pools, residences. Akbar defeated the Sultans, fanatic Muslim rulers in India. He was a liberal thinker, embracing all religions. His 20 plus wives even were Hindu, Muslim, perhaps even Christian. Symbols from various religions appear in the carvings on the sandstone pillars, cornices, and door lintels. The tiles on one courtyard are a giant Parcheesi board (favorite Indian game); elegant women in vibrant colors posed as game pieces, their mirrored fabrics reflecting the oil lamps. It must have been magical.
A two-hour bus ride east brings us to our hotel in Agra. Now a city of two million, the traffic is bad late on Saturday afternoon. Our hotel is an oasis however: great food, plenty of hot water, a good chance for laundry.
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