Guess where we went today? After a long time we managed to fulfil our wish of seeing the Taj Mahal. We got up at 5.00am this morning to see the sunrise over this beautiful mausoleum. The guide met us at the hotel and led us to the mausoleum. We were told strictly to stay together and not to speak to the local hawkers who would try and sell us all kinds of things. Forewarned we walked some 500 meters through a park and entered the gardens surrounding the Taj through the west gate. Again there was an awful lot of security around.
Before we saw the Taj we were told in some detail by our guide about the main entrance leading to the monument. He described the big red sandstone gate as the veil that gave a glimpse of the beauty that lay beyond. I’ll tell you what, he wasn’t joking. The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Even Pavan was stunned into silence and that does not happen often!
You stop for a moment to take in the sight that stands before you in the early hours of the morning and it does take your breath away. I thought to myself that it does not compare to any photo or video I have ever seen of it. The white marble changes a shade of colour as the sun rises further over it. We spent an absolute age taking pictures. Some of these are re-produced below, but I have to add that they can never do justice to what this place is like in real life. We moved gradually forward towards the mausoleum of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
As we got closer we began to appreciate the sheer size of this building. The art work embedded into the marble is absolutely amazing. The gems and semi-precious stones reflect the rays of the sun. We went inside the Taj and saw copies of the tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, the originals are under the main dome and kept away from the prying eyes of the public. We exited the Taj through the rear door and the view over the river Jumna was again awe inspiring. We learned a lot about the Taj and the time and craftsmanship that went into building this beautiful place. I did feel that the hustle and bustle that began to develop as more and more people arrived took the dignity away from what is actually the burial place of two people who loved each other a great deal. I know I’ve already said this a couple of times on this blog, BUT you’ve really got to visit this place just to appreciate what the human heart, hands and soul can do in the name of love.
Please enjoy the following images.
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