Agra: other sights

On the way to Agra, we visited the Chand Baori step well - an astonishing feat of engineering. Built by 9th-century ruler King Chand, the well has 3,500 symmetrical steps descending three of its sides 13 stories to the 100-foot-deep well, allowing public access to the groundwater during dry months. Once in Agra, we visited Itmad-ud-Dauluh, aka the "baby Taj", a mausoleum built for the court treasurer. (It pre-dates the Taj and, as you can see, foreshadows some of the architectural design that later appears in the Taj.) We also visited the Agra Fort, where Shahjahan was imprisoned by his son and later died in a room where he could see the Taj Mahal he had built for his beloved wife. See also the "Arts" and "Street scenes" galleries.