A story told again and again
It has taken me a
week to really be able to write about my visit to the Taj Mahal, the other
blogs I have written were about arrangements, the journey and other
experiences.
I was always of the
impression that the Taj Mahal deserved a separate blog though I recognise that
I might fail to give the experience the narration worthy of the place, it is
one of those places that will never convey fully without a personal physical
presence to breathe the air and savour the atmosphere of that amazing wonder of
the world.
Having our own cab
meant we had more control over our journey to Agra with opportunities to stop at
the great temples of Mathura,
the birthplace of Lord Krishna to take pictures of the great statue of goddess Durga, see manure farms, visit
the site of Akbar’s
tomb, do the Taj Mahal
and the Agra Fort.
Tourist benefits
On my first visit,
in a tour group of 10 with a tour guide that had literally annoyed everyone
with his antics, we got a few pointers as to the layout and some minor detail,
then we were left to our own devices.
The benefit of
being a high value ticket holder was soon evident; locals just paid INR 20 to
see this amazing wonder of the world in their backyard but with that came
interminable queues and some jostling. We however could jump all the queues
from security checks through access to all the different places.
The toilet
facilities are free whilst Indians are levied and if you do visit other Agra
Development Authority sites as Fatehpur Sikri, Agra
Fort or Sikandra, no taxes will be levied on production of your Taj Mahal
ticket for a same day visit.
The majesty
Coming through the
main gate, the majesty of the Taj Mahal was evident and amazing, nothing I have
seen before could describe that view regardless of all the other pictures and
depictions I have seen before, it was an imposing indescribable beauty,
attractively enduring, preserved for centuries; a historic monument, a tomb, a
mausoleum and an edifice to the loss of love to death.
Yes, the Taj Mahal
is a tomb, built upon the grave of Mumtaz Mahal, the 3rd
wife of Shah Jahan; a
union of marriage borne of love rather than political allegiances, but she died
giving birth to her 14th child.
One can only behold
the magnificence of Islamic architecture, the undeniable symmetry, the
excellent workmanship, the exquisiteness, the fact that no cost seemed to be spared in erecting these edifices that have inspired awe and wonder across the
globe to be admired by those who have travelled from far and near to gape, gawp
and gasp.
In and around
My trainers were
too big for the shoe covers that I received along with a bottle of water that I
had to leave them in the shoe rack. There are so many prohibited items you
cannot take within the grounds of the Taj Mahal that I had on both occasions put
my bag into storage, first for having a tiny MP3 player and then for having my
netbook.
Considering what we
could do with phones and cameras, the logic of barring the other things escapes
me, but those are the rules. Shah Jahan was buried beside his beloved wife
having first been deposed by his son and banged up in a cell facing in the Agra
Fort facing the Taj Mahal.
His grave being the
only asymmetrical thing in the whole place. I enjoyed the company of many drawn
to me for all sorts of reasons who wanted to have their pictures taken with me.
We all had fascinating stories to tell and in all I probably shook over a
hundred hands.
Besides the Taj
Mahal, there is the mosque, the guest house, the museum and other out buildings,
all cannot be done in two visits, maybe not even in five.
Just once, if able
For my second
visit, I had my personal tour guide whose knowledge was invaluable and
activities were very helpful especially in taking the most important pictures
around the Taj Mahal.
Even so, it was all
the more amazing; looking at the Taj Mahal from any angle still is awesome.
However, within all this there are dangers from either those looking for a
quick buck through to the fingers trying hard to prise my mobile phone from my
belt holster when I was trying to retrieve my shoes from the shoe rack.
The tight fit saved
the day as I whipped the hand away from my mobile phone – but let that not take
away from the day that I even had the opportunity to take a seat where Lady
Diana once sat. You must if you can, visit the Taj Mahal, if just once in your
life.
My Taj Mahal Slideshows
Some Pictures of Delhi
and my 1st Visit
Pictures of our journey
to Agra, the manure farms, stopover at the temple in Mathura, the
birthplace of Lord Krishna, the great statue of goddess Durga, the site of
Akbar’s tomb in Sikandra, the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort.
2 comments:
See I told you, you were lucky to go there. How did you select your guide this time? Were they recommended to you?
Apologies for my late best wishes, Happy birthday, Christmas and Happy New Year (ok New Year is still in the future).
If you had been wearing a two piece along with Fila, think how many people would have been shaking your hand then. It is obvious you are a reputable person. Did all the Indians want shake the hands of the other blacks there?
Thank you for your post.
Thanks Akin for describing Taj Mahal better than any guide book. I did not know Mumtaz Mahal had that many children. Enjoy the rest of your time in Incredible India
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