February 5 and 6, 2016

 Taj Mahal

Bucket List

 

After a relatively short flight to Agra (3 hours, 50 minutes), we checked into our fabulous hotel, The Oberoi Amarvilas. WOW! A view of the Taj from every room! Surreal, and something I’ve longed to see for a very long time. Truly more beautiful in person than in any photograph.

 

 

The Taj Mahal is probably the world’s most recognized building and is one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World”. This magnificent white marbled mausoleum was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as the final resting place for his second wife Arjuman Banu (also known as Mumtaz Mahal). She died while giving birth to their 14^th child on June 17th, 1631.   At the age of fourteen, Mumtaz Mahal became engaged to Shah Jahan. He fell in love with her at first sight. The year was 1607. The couple had to wait for five years after their engagement to get married (the date of their wedding was to be decided by an astrologer – in order to ensure a happy married life for the couple). Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan finally got married in 1612 and she became the love of his life.   The Taj Mahal is a tribute to that love. We saw the tombs of both Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. Mumtaz Mahal means “chosen one of the palace”. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 AD and was completed in 1648 AD. Materials from all over India and Asia were used to construct the Taj.  Over 1000 elephants were used to carry building materials. The white marble used to construct the monument was sourced from Makrana in Rajasthan. Turquoise was sourced from Tibet, Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan, Jade and Crystal from China and Sapphires from Sri Lanka and Arabia.

 

Legend has it that while on her deathbed, Mumtaz asked Shah Jahan to build her the most beautiful tomb the world has ever seen.  And he did, and, it is magnificent!

 

 

The Taj Mahal has been a source of inspiration to poets, writers and lovers over the years. One of the most moving descriptions of the Taj was by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore who described the Taj Mahal as “a teardrop on the cheek of Time”. A fitting tribute to a building as beautiful and meaningful as the Taj Mahal, and speaks volumes of a man’s deep and unending love for his wife.

We elected to do an early morning visit. The security was really tight (a good thing) and while it opened after sunrise, it was still great! Not too crowded and we got some good shots I think. We explored the adjacent Mosque,  visited the tombs, and walked in the gardens. Thrilling, and I had high expectations!

 

Later that afternoon we visited a marble factory, and a fabulous jewelry store (Kohinoor) DANGER!

 

Next stop, another Bucket List destination, Tanzania and the Serengeti, and a very long flight. I LOVED India! The food was the best, and the people so nice and friendly. I’d definitely return given the chance!