The Taj Mahal is made of white marble and has precious and semi-precious stones (Jade, Lapis Lazuli, Sapphire, Turquoise, Carnelian) inlaid in the makrana marble. The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan was so grief stricken when his favourite wife (of three), Mumtaz Mahal died during childbirth of their 14th child, that he had the mausoleum built for her as a tribute. It was started in 1632, 5 months after her death. It was completed in 1653 and over 20,000 artisans worked on it. It is regarded as the 'jewel of India'.
Now that I have shared my favourite bits of Taj history (oh there is so much more!), I wanted to see the Taj Mahal because it is on my bucket list. So, on the weekend I hopped on a 3-hour plane ride to Delhi. From Delhi a 4-hour drive to Agra.
I got to Agra in time to see the Taj Mahal at sunset from the Moonlight Garden of Mahtab Bagh on the northern bank of the Yamuna River. For brief moments, I got to see the sunset reflect off the stones. Just a tiny sparkle, not as much as I had hoped.
Up the next morning at 4:30 am to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise.
For my aunt, here is the Lady Di bench picture. Sorry that there are people in the background, however, they were not going to open the Taj for just me.
Here is my guide that took me through the history of the Agra Fort and a tour of the Taj Mahal. Ends up he was an ex-pharmaceutical employee now working in Agra as a tour guide (too much travel with the pharma company). Mr. Sanjay is now the president of the Northern India Tour Guide Association.
Now that I have shared my favourite bits of Taj history (oh there is so much more!), I wanted to see the Taj Mahal because it is on my bucket list. So, on the weekend I hopped on a 3-hour plane ride to Delhi. From Delhi a 4-hour drive to Agra. I got to Agra in time to see the Taj Mahal at sunset from the Moonlight Garden of Mahtab Bagh on the northern bank of the Yamuna River. For brief moments, I got to see the sunset reflect off the stones. Just a tiny sparkle, not as much as I had hoped.
Up the next morning at 4:30 am to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise.
For my aunt, here is the Lady Di bench picture. Sorry that there are people in the background, however, they were not going to open the Taj for just me.
Here is my guide that took me through the history of the Agra Fort and a tour of the Taj Mahal. Ends up he was an ex-pharmaceutical employee now working in Agra as a tour guide (too much travel with the pharma company). Mr. Sanjay is now the president of the Northern India Tour Guide Association.
No comments:
Post a Comment