Gyarah Sidi or Eleven Steps is almost isolated and was a chance discovery for me while in Agra. These freestanding steps, in ruins at present, are situated near Mehtab Bagh—a place from where the Taj Mahal can be viewed behind the Yamuna River. These steps are carved out of single red sandstone, which is used in almost every monument in Agra. What is particularly interesting about this not so popular place is that it was the astrological observatory of the Mughal Emperor Humayun, who used to make major decisions based on the planetary movements observed here.