Hi All

  I’m starting off with the Taj Mahal rather than writing about our trip as things happened.  It really doesn’t matter and I think lots of you are most curious about the Taj.  A "point and shoot" camera just doesn’t do the Taj justice.  Too much light against dark and fog and it’s just so huge!  I did my best.  Here is part 1.

Ru

Taj Mahal

“The Taj Mahal is one of the world’s acknowledged wonders. Its construction began in 1632 and was completed by the middle of the seventeenth century. Though the name of the architect remains a mystery, the inspiration was essentially that of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan who employed 20,000 men to labor for twenty-two years to fulfill his dream of building for his queen, the finest mausoleum every created by man.

The story behind the Taj Mahal is a poignant one. Mumtaz Mahal, Shah Jahan’s queen and constant companion for nineteen years, even in battle, died giving birth to their fourteenth child in June 1631. It was said that for two years Shah Jahan lived the life of one in mourning. The story is also one of unbelievable opulence. Ancient records refer to the material used, to the white marble from Makrana to the precious and semi-precious stones for the inlay work such as lapis lazuli and sapphires from Lanka, carnelian from Baghdad, turquoise from Tibet, agate from Yemen, coral from Arabia, garnets from Bundelkhand, diamonds from Jaisalmer, onyx and amethysts from Persia and so on. Tragically, most of this wealth was plundered through the years…..Constructed entirely in white marble, the famed mausoleum stands on the gently curving banks of the river Yamuna in Agra.” Rupa Classic India Series 1993

We did learn from our tour that most of the workers were Persian and the descendants of these workers still live in Agra and still work in the marble industry. There is a legend that Shah Jahan wanted no copies of the Taj so had one hand of the 5,500 artisans cut off! We were told a more humane interpretation. Shah Jahan told the workers he would pay them for seven generations of workers who would not work to recreate anything like the Taj. Thus their “hands were cut off from that type of work.”

Taj Mahal at sunset from across the Yamuna River: the next morning we would actually go there and go inside.

Ruth and Randal at the Taj Mahal

I’m wearing a wool sweater and wool shawl because it got very cool in the evenings. Though this vantage point isn’t as crowded as the Taj, you had to take turns for your photo op.

The small building on the right is a mosque and the identical building on the left was called a “jawab or answer” and used to house travelers. The red is sandstone and the white is marble. I think the “answer” part comes from the building being a response to the mosque to make everything symmetrical. Because it’s the dry season the river was pretty low and the dust and dirt were not so scenic. The 4 minarets were constructed tilting away from the mausoleum in case of earthquake they would fall way and cause no damage.

“Housing” for the soldiers who guard the Taj

The next morning we met our guide at 6:45 a.m. to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise. At first all of the grounds and the Taj Mahal were coated with fog which made for amazing images that my camera and I just couldn’t capture.

Lines form early and there is a security check.

You can bring in cameras but no food, drink or sketching materials though I don’t know why the sketching materials were banned.

The entrance gate.

You start to walk through and get your first glimpse of the Taj and it is truly impressive.

I just couldn’t capture it: sorry.

The fog made the Taj look as if it were floating.

The grounds were lovely too.

Reflection

If I had been back further I could have captured the entire Taj but it was quite tricky to get a shot off without someone walking in front or waiting for you to move so they could take a photo.

Another tourist offered to use my camera to take this photo.

Randal and our guide walking from “the answer” to the Taj.

Taj Mahal shrouded in fog.

I’m holding up the Taj

As I was walking through “the answer” a 10 year old boy took charge of me. He spoke quite good English at lightning speed while he took me to different spots to take photos and then took this one of me though I’m not so sure what it represents. We were told not to “talk with, listen to, look at” anyone or they would “become our guide” and would expect a tip. I just couldn’t ignore this kid and at the end offered him 40 rupee, about $1. He wanted 100 rupee! He wouldn’t take the 40 so got nothing.

Another image of “the answer.”