A Morning With The Taj Mahal...

February 6-9, 2014

Agra, India

The streets of Agra teem with people, cars, cycles, lots of honking horns, animals, and trash, but within the entrance gate and the walls surrounding the Taj, there is sheer beauty and calm (were it not for all the tourists). The sheer size of the tomb (a testament to the love of Royal Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal), the sculptured flowers, the absolute beauty of the marble inlays, the perfect symmetry...it is a wonder to behold. We arrived in a cool morning mist, but the sun came out an hour later, illuminating this indescribably beautiful monument in a golden glow.

Agra became prominent during the 16^th century reign of Akbar, builder of the Agra Fort, who made the city one of the mightiest and richest kingdoms. It was in the 17^th century, however, during the reign of his grandson, Shah Jahan, that Agra reached its architectural peak...it was an age of marble and splendor. 

After the death of his beloved wife in 1631 A.D., Shah Jahan began a two year period of intense mourning losing all interest in pleasure and the functions of his office. Legend has it that on her deathbed, Mumtaz Mahal expressed the wish that her husband build a monument over her grave that would be a testament to their inseparable love. It took twenty years to build and required twenty thousand laborers plus an additional two years was spent constructing surrounding buildings and the gardens. A fusion of Indian and Persian architecture, the Taj Mahal is at once dreamy, dazzling, and enchanting...it is magic, it is emotion, it is unlike anything else...