The Taj Mahal is a love story...
Agra is just over 200 km - 2 hours and 59 minutes according to Google Maps - add India traffic and we'll call it 4 hours...
On New Years day we set off early (7AM) with our car and driver, and a picnic lunch tucked in the boot, to visit the Taj Mahal. I'm not usually compelled to hit the big "tourist" sites but, ... I did want to experience this seventh wonder of the world.
I thought the Taj was a cool building but, there is a lot of cool architecture in the world so what was so wondrous about this building?
I fell in love with the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal is in Agar built on the banks of the Yamuna River. A labour of love that took 22 years to build (1632 - 1654), a marble tomb for an emperor's wife.
Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built this monument for his beloved third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Their marriage was a true love match. Mumtaz was her husbands inseparable companion on all of his journeys and military expeditions. She was his trusted political adviser and counsel for 19 years before she died at the age of 39 after giving birth to her 14th child. The Emperor resolved to immortalize their love by creating a symbol of their love for posterity. This building is constructed of Indian Marble inlaid with precious stones - it is not only stunningly beautiful in perfect symmetry and material unmarred by time - it exudes the energy of love.
Really, I was not the only one in our party of four that was moved - all tingly and bleary - in the gardens at the foot of this seventh wonder of the world. And, this emotion was present in the midst of thousands of people here with us to start the New Year! A true marvel.
Was it worth 10 hours of driving? YES!
Did I mention that the drive home was 6 hours ... I might consider taking the train next time.
Thanks to Jane and Mike for buying the Taj Mahal book, from the hawkers that swarmed us at our car, so that I could check the details of the story our guide shared with us.
