The Road to Jaipur

Fatehpur Sikri
Originally uploaded by qiubuo.

Our first stop after Agra was the "ghost town" of Fatehpur Sikri, built in the 16th century by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. It was the center of the Mughal Empire for a decade, and was home to the Emperor and his two wives, one Hindu and one Muslim, and their ladies in waiting. The buildings are well preserved, with carvings in many different styles, reflecting the Emperor's openness to other cultures, including Christiandom. I took this photo at the edge of the city, where the buildings have not withstood the passing of time.

A Snowy Egret
Originally uploaded by qiubuo.

Next we visited the Baratpur Bird Reserve, where we rented bicycles and followed a guide through the protected sanctuary of lakes and meadows. The park used to be a hunting reserve for the maharajas and international guests, and the top hunting records are still listed on a wall.

We saw a few eagles, an owl, several egrets, kingfishers and ducks, along with some spotted deer. It was a nice break from the noise and pollution of the city, and although the bicycles weren't very well aligned it was also a nice break from the car!