The Crown of Palaces- The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal, simply fabulous!

I admit it.  I'm quite lucky!  Getting paid to travel and see new places is amazing.  Often however, although I may be in an interesting place, I don't get a chance to see the local sites.  I AM there for work after all.  My most recent trip to India found me arriving into Mumbai for a week then off to Delhi.  Since I actually had the weekend in Delhi, our local partner provided me a car and driver with directions to take me to Agra on Saturday.  Suraj, my driver, didn't speak English so although he did get me to the parking lot at the Taj, I was on my own from there.  I had read a little about the experience on Trip Advisor and arrived knowing how much it cost to enter but from the Western Gate car park it's not obvious how to proceed.  Of course, just as anywhere, there was an eager "tour guide" ready to assist.  I usually try to make my own way but India actually intimidates me.  (Yes, I finally admitted it!)  So my new friend, Ali, and I came to an agreement on the usual payment for his services and off we went.  
The first decision you must make is to ride a camel powered cart or tuk-tuk to the main gate.  I'm not a fan of supporting animal tourism so we grabbed a tuk-tuk and off we went.  This ride was probably about 2 kilometres or slightly more and it was raining- so it was well worth the 100 Rps.  (approx $1.5 USD)

Sorry I missed the camel! My tuk-tuk was nimble.

Ali helped me navigate all the obstacles to entry.  Not many signs to tell you what to do, in fact none' except the ticket prices.  Obviously, the entire set up is in favour of the guides...  No worries!  I bought my ticket (750 Rps) which includes a set of shoe covers and a bottle of water.  Made it through the "high-end ticket holder" gate with Ali always nearby and ready to snag me at the entry for my guided tour.  As it turns out, he was very knowledgable and I enjoyed his narration and help.  I learned a lot and he pointed out details that I would not have noted.  In fact, I wouldn't have taken the shoe covers and they had to be worn to enter the Taj Mahal.  I ended up paying him the equivalent of $30 USD which is a lot in India.  I appreciated that he didn't drag me around the shops and got me back to my driver in one piece.  
The Western Gate opens into a large courtyard where you can find the entrance to the Taj Mahal grounds.  It is magnificent!  Built of white marble and red sandstone it is well preserved as are the structures that make up the courtyard itself.  

The entrance to the Taj Mahal grounds.

The entire complex is composed of intricately carved, symmetrical buildings and was completed in the 1650's.  If you look at the doorway behind me, there are white marble sections with flowery detail.  The actual flowers are made of different stones inlaid into the marble.  All around the entrance is Arabic writing from the Koran as the builder of this complex was the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.  The Taj Mahal is considered the "jewel of Muslim art" in India and is essentially a mausoleum for his beloved third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth of their 14th child.  
Although the entrance arch is stunning, it was the first view of the white marble palace, the Taj Mahal, that took my breath away.  Pictures definitely do not do it justice and I was enjoying a rainy, chilly day but here are some pics!  

The white marble beauty from the end of the reflecting pool. Sadly I had a cloudy day but it was stunning.

 I cannot fail to mention some of the highlights of the journey to and from Agra, the town outside of which the Taj Mahal stands.  My driver Suraj, kept me serenaded with Indian music for the drive.  The trip to Agra from Delhi took about 2 hours each way.  It used to take longer but the newish expressway makes it snappy.  Suraj stopped once each direction at the "Public Conveniences."  Although they were public and convenient, they were not nice.  Luckily I always carry my own TP and actually expected worse.  Even the Indian women were covering their noses and mouths with their head scarfs.  I just practiced my best mouth breathing.   For the return I skipped the conveniences and actually gave my bottle of water to Suraj so I could avoid a visit back inside.  
The countryside is truly beautiful.  Lots of green fields and open space.  Completely different from Indian cities.  In the fields were circular straw homes that reminded me a bit of Kenya.  The rural workers obviously live very simply and although I have no real personal reference other than observation I would think it may be a slightly better life than the poorest of the poor you see living under the freeways and elsewhere in the cities.  Neither have running water or toilets and the level of poverty is mind blowing.  I didn't get to look into the eyes of a field worker but I hope they are not as frantic as the city's destitute.  
Driving through Agra itself was an experience.  It is a relatively small town, covered in dirt (mud the day I was there), with animals in the streets along with all other conceivable means of transportation, just missing each other by a hair with each passing.  Here are a couple of photos.  Without stopping it was hard to get good shots but maybe you can appreciate the experience a little.   Although most of Asia has frenetic traffic, India's really takes the cake.

The last bit of the tour is a trip out the Southern gate to the "Crafts Village."  Ali took me directly to a single shop to look at marble work.  In these situations the guide works with a shop or two.  I did buy a small white marble jewellery box inlaid with lapis.  I checked the price at the hotel and airport and I did well to buy at the Taj.  
Chalk up another adventure!  India is not for the faint of heart and will make your heart pound, not only while negotiating traffic in a vehicle, but when you get the chance to view the splendour of it's ancient treasures.  

One last note.  While riding around in any Indian city you see trucks, cars, tuk-tuks and others with this message on the back.  Indian roads are a cacophony of horns, constantly.  Not sure why they asked for more!  
Stay tuned for our next adventure and please visit the rest of my website.   While you are at it, drop over to Sailgirl Design on Facebook and give us a like.  Thanks!!