Just outside the main gate of the Taj Mahal complex, we were greeted by a herd of water buffalo as they were led down the street by some farmers. Water buffs can be clearly distinguished from cows because of their dark, thick hides and spiraling horns. The distinction is important, if not unfortunate for them - because they are not cows (a different genus, actually), they don't hold the same holy status. It is for this reason you commonly see water buffaloes pulling carts, doing hard manual work, and occasionally appearing on lunch menus (especially to the north in Nepal, where you can get buff burgers, buff filets, buff tacos, etc.).