AGRA Red Fort, White Heat

Everything is closed for Ghandi's birthday, so after an overheated day of shuttling between the airport and the embassy to unsatisfactorily resolve a visa issue, we meet our tour group back at the 'Palace'

We'll be spending the next couple of weeks with them, seeing the sights between Delhi and the Ganges at Varanasi, hopefully picking up some top tips and tricks for the months ahead too.

Nice.

Up at first light and onto the train to Agra, where we alight into a stifling day. The Indian heat penetrates, the sun blazes.

The Red Fort is a magnificent piece of work, built in several styles, Hindu and Islamic, and offers tantalising views of the Taj Mahal across the fields.

Note Chinese man dressed in wife's clothing.

I won't spend time on this blog detailing dates, facts and figures - it's far too hot and boring - but the fort is a vast and captivating piece of raw history.

Lunch, hotel and off to the Taj Mahal.

There's much more to it than I expected. The adjoining mosque, gardens and waters combine for a beautiful experience.

It's not spoiled at all by the tourists milling around for their photos in the Diana seat or capturing the incredible craftsmanship involved here, and has a nice atmosphere.

The photos are getting better and things are warming up nicely.