Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Agra

This morning we left the hotel before dawn to get a photo of the Taj Mahal at sunrise. We went across the river for the best view and had been told that the Taj would be at a distance so I took my long lenses for the Canon 5D. We had to wait for the gatekeeper to arrive to unlock the gates to a garden and as we walked through the garden, I looked to the right and saw this:



That’s with the Leica M8 and 35/1.4. Unfortunately, the “fog” didn’t lift all day so the sunrise and sunset and middle of the day photos are equally hazy. The guides insist that this is not pollution, it’s fog. They say there is no pollution in Agra, but the news reports say otherwise. The marble of the Taj Mahal is being eroded by the sulfuric acid in the fog. This fog burns your eyes and your throat. The air in Agra is polluted from factories using coke and the river is so polluted with sewage and runoff from the factories that it no longer sustains life. The government has banned all transportation except battery operated buses a few blocks from the Taj, but I’m afraid that’s too little and too late to make any real difference. It’s very depressing and I didn’t feel like walking around to get street photos in all of the haze.





Agra Fort

Tomorrow we leave for Jaipur in Rajasthan, hopefully leaving the fog behind.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

hi,
i am in living in agra. i read your view. i am very upset what you feel on touring in agra. this the very old place. and to make a unpoluted city, i think it carry much more time.TAJMAHAL and AGRA FORT is pride of agra. i think when you will come again you feel better.i feel sorry what have you feel in agra.
and thank you for touring in agra.

Tina Manley said...

Dileep - We loved Agra, the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. We especially loved the people who are very kind and made us feel welcome. I was sad about the pollution. It's a problem, not only in Agra, but in the whole world. It made me especially sad to know that the beautiful Taj Mahal is being damaged by the acidity of the smog. I know it's not an easy thing to resolve and I hope the future of Agra will be clean air and water. Thank you for your comment.

Unknown said...

I know Tina , that as an extremely compassionate person, you are very moved by the beauties that you see... and by the terrible problems of smog and pollution...

clearly this serves as a warning to all of us human persons, that the time for talk and denial is ended...only massive action will reverse the problems mounting for India, the US, and really, for people in the rest of the world...Steve

Anonymous said...

Tina - what's happened? I keep looking every day, but you haven't updated your blog or added any pictures (which I KNOW you're still taking hundreds of) - you & Tommy should be at the Jaisalmer Desert Festival today according to your itinerary - and Happy Birthday, Tommy, a few days late!
Be careful, have fun, and write more!!
Love, MJ