Awed in Agra

Trip Start Jan 27, 2010
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Trip End Mar 08, 2010


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Where I stayed
Japee Palace Hotel
(Agra hotels)

Flag of India  , Uttar Pradesh,
Saturday, February 6, 2010

One of the top destinations of trips to India is always the Taj Mahal, and after my visit yesterday, I understand why.  In preparation for the actual viewing, we attended a performance of Mohabbat the Taj, a Bollywood version of the story of  the building of the Taj.  The costumes were beautiful, the music and dancing was great, and the acting was entertaining.  However, the real thing is truly breath taking.  We timed our visit for sunrise, but since the Taj didn't open until 7, and the security lines were long and slow,the sun was up for our first view.  But the marble glowed in the early light and the cloudless sky was a perfect background.  Security is tight because international and domestic terror threats.  some ultra conservative Hindus claim that a temple was located on the site before the Taj was built between 1631 and 1648, and therefore the Taj should be destroyed.   

The building is beautiful and the love story of Shahjahan and his beloved Mumtaz, make it even more appealing
Early light on the Taj Mahal
Early light on the Taj Mahal
.   Of course, the fact that Shahjahan was seized by his son and confined to the Agra Fort for the last years of his life, able to see but not visit his masterpiece, make the story more dramatic. 

Later we visited the Agra Fort.  While i expected to be awed by the Taj, the fort was a real surprise.  Not only was it a military stronghold, it was also the palace of the Mugul emperors.  The original red sandstone palace was built by Akbar the Great, and is famous for its blend of Hindu and central Asian architecture. The later parts of the palace were built by Shahjahan, using his favorite white marble..  Part of this palace is known as Samman Burj or Jasmine Tower.  It was remodeled by Shahjahn for Mumtaz and later became the place of his confinement and death.  The view of the Taj across the Yamuna River was hazy making the experience even more moving.
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