Nobody promised a pretty Agra but after the exquisite beauty of the Taj the squalid reality of the city was shocking.

Agra rose and fell to many over it's history and when the British moved the administrative center to Allahabad it quickly became an area of heavy and chemical industry.

Pollution is a major threat to the Taj.  

Itmid-Ud-Daulah aka the Baby Taj.  The tomb of Mizra Ghiyas Beg, the grandfather of Mumtaz  Mahal of Taj Mahal fame.

Predates the Taj and as the first Mughal building completely built of marble and using such extensive pietra dura,  it may even have been the inspiration for it's more famous neighbour.

Entrance gate

The 'Baby Taj' really is exquisite and well worth a visit.   Fanny actually preferred it to the Taj but then she had seen it many years ago when it was still possible to view the tombs.