The Taj Mahal – Wow!

We met our guide Gupta and walked out to make our way to the Taj.  At the entrance to the hotel there were women in elaborate costumes and guards waiting to greet the President of Gabon who was expected at any moment.  I’ve never stayed in a hotel with a president of any country.  I guess that explains the guards with machine guns we saw patrolling earlier today.  At the gate to the hotel property were four horsemen with lances waiting to greet the entourage.  We rode in a hotel golf cart to the entrance to the Taj grounds. Car traffic is restricted but not water buffalo or cows.  We had to wait while several ambled across the street .  Gupta told us we were very lucky to be visiting today because there was absolutely no line to get through the security to enter. 

Part of the greeting party for the President of Gabon

 

Lancers at the hotel gate

These guys took their time crossing the street

A little about the building.  It was built by 20,000 workers over a period of 22 years from 1633 to 1655.  It was built by the Mughai Emperor Shah Jehan as a mausoleum for his beloved wife Mum Taj Mahal.  She was the love of his life and upon her deathbed she asked him to care for their children and build her a fitting tomb.  Boy, did he keep his promise to her!

While we have all seen pictures of the building I can tell you they don’t do it justice.  The building is situated along the banks of the Yamuna River.  It is 240 feet high, made of pure white marble (1.2 million tons of it brought to Agra from 360 km away).  It’s octagonal in shape  with four marble minarets and perfectly symmetrical so regardless of which of the four facades you face it looks the same.  On all sides of the building are inlaid inscriptions of verses from the Koran (the Shah and his wife were Muslim).  There are inlaid floral patterns as well. Those are made of pieces of semi-precious stones.  The marble itself is carved with arches and flowers and scrollwork.  The Taj is flanked by 2 red sandstone buildings, one a mosque and one a guesthouse the Shah would stay in so he could always see his wife’s tomb.  If those two buildings were anywhere else, they would be impressive on their own.  Here they are just a side note.  The inside is as beautifully decorated as the outside. 

First look from inside the entry gate

 

Us at the Taj Mahal!

The building was positioned so that when facing the front  from the entrance gate you are never looking at it with the sun in your eyes which would make it difficult to see the beauty.  The white marble appears to change color as the sun moves from dawn to dusk so a visit at sunrise and one at sunset are a must for visitors.  Today was our sunset visit.  I can’t describe adequately how incredibly beautiful the Taj is.  When you stand in the entry gate and get your first glimpse it takes your breath away. There’s also an odd optical illusion because at first glance it looks two dimensional.

 

As the sun is setting it takes on a golden glow

A look at the beautiful inlay work

After watching the sun go down and enjoying the sight we took our golf cart back to the hotel.  The hotel is decorated for Diwali and little candles were placed on the steps and terraces everywhere on the grounds. By the front entrance flower carpets had been created around the pools.  It was magical.  At the back terrace we were able to watch the nightly show of traditional dances from this part of India while we had a drink. After another lovely but too large Indian meal, we have called it a night.  Tomorrow will be a busy day seeing the other sights of Agra.

Hotel entrance with candles and flower carpet for Diwali

This dancer had a pot of fire on his head

Hard to see but I liked the dancer with the Taj in the background - click on it and you can see more