Today...
we say goodbye to Agra, home of the legendary Taj Mahal, and make our way back towards Delhi.
En route, we'll be stopping at the ancient court and palace complex of Fatehpur Sikri, which was the very first example of urban planning under the powerful Mughal Empire and served as the Empire's capital for more than a decade in the late 1500's.
The Mughal rulers were forced to abandon Fatehpur Sikri after 15 years (it took almost that long just to finish its construction) because of severe water shortages and a growing population.
Today, Fatehpur Sikri remains as a well-preserved ghost town, awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1986.
It is also a popular destination for Indian couples of all religious faiths who are hoping to have children--there is a Sufi saint's tomb in the complex where a devotee can pay a few rupees to have a peacock feather waived overhead as a fertility blessing.
Indians gathering in Fatehpur Sikri to receive the Sufi's fertility blessing. The students will not be indulging in this unique opportunity.
Only a couple of updates left from here in India before we will be boarding our flight back home!