Our tour guide told us that the Emperor’s plan was to have a matching Taj Mahal-styled building built in black marble across the river (that is why the Emperor’s tomb inside the Taj Mahal throws off the symmetry of the building). Before it could be started, one of the Emperor’s sons imprisoned him.
(as per sign)
Vegetation Zones
A gully typically contains several habitat zones:
- Top/Rim – a transition zone between the gully and the surrounding area. The plants here are comprised of a mixture of gully species and those found outside gullies. Several of the gully rim plants produce aerial roots.
- Gully Wall – steep-sided cliffs, with only pockets of soil where ferns and lithophytic (rock-rooted) species may grow. The gully walls often have a surface layer of dark-coloured blue-green bacteria. The plants found on gully walls need very little water and soil to survive.
- Gully Slope – may have coral fossils; the soil here is well-drained due to the steep slope.
- Gully Floor – the soil here is often very deep, which allows tall trees to grow. The soil is also rich and very moist. The gully floor seldom has flowing streams but may have disappearing (ephemeral) ponds – water that tends to pool after a rain, only to slowly drain away. The plants found on the gully floor are protected from direct sunlight.
One of the things that amazed me about the Taj Mahal was the wildlife we spotted there, including these monkeys. Of course, these are wild animals so it is best to observe them at a safe distance.
