Taj Mahal – February, 2018
It is epic!
We left from Delhi with a driver to the town of Agra to see the Taj Mahal.
Along the way we saw many fun sites - the countryside, a camel pulling a cart in a farmer’s field, cows and goats in the road, smokestacks used for brick making, monkeys – never a dull moment traveling in India!
The Taj Mahal is in the town of Agra. It is a small town, which is basically just a tourist trap to see the Taj Mahal. And there are so many people!
Our “tour” included a local guide who took us through the maze of people, vendors, monkeys, beggars, and security and then he gave us the facts and guided our tour throughout the whole facility.
So, the Taj Mahal is literally a tomb. Only. A. Tomb. It took about 22,000 people 22 years to build it. The cost was estimated at 32 million rupees in 1653 – An equivalent, in 2015, of $827 million US dollars. Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, commissioned the ivory-white marble mausoleum built on the south bank of the Yamuna River to house the tomb of his favorite wife. It is a memorial to their love. You can go inside but really the outside is what is most remarkable.
Precious stones have been inlaid into the marble to create elaborate patterns. Stones such as malachite, jade, turquoise, amber, rubies, orange cornelian, jasper, green chrysolite and heliotrope. It truly is a once in a life time experience.
There is also an elaborate garden and a beautiful gateway. It really does take a close look to really appreciate and begin to understand how epic this whole complex really is! Add it to your list, and go!
