Awed in Agra (upstream of the Taj Mahal)

Another contribution fromT on her impressions of this sandstone castle.

There is something magical about being in the Red Fort at Agra during the monsoon rains. The red sandstone darkens and the white marble shines brighter. In the warm mornings of the monsoon, everything feels fresh. Clean. Precision-engineered. Yes, that's right. It wasn't just the beauty of inlaid marble and intricately-carved archways that struck me, but also the brilliant architecture that flawlessly and efficiently guided flood-quantities of rain into another decorative element. Deluge rainfall became elegant rivers cascading from rooftop waterfalls and winding down the edges of hallways. Streams converged to fill waiting ponds and pools. Far below, a moat collected the excess. Wandering among these splendid feats of design, we became soaked to the bone. And I loved every minute of it.