An enigma called........TAJMAHAL

Someone asked me why I started posting so many photos of the Taj in my photo gallery. I thought the answer to the question should be a tribute to the Taj which continues to puzzle many people.

Only recently one of the fellow IMers commented in his travel blog that he was so utterly disgusted by the Agra city that he did not bother to visit the Taj.

I can understand his sentiments. Until last year, I was in the "what's so great about an old monument" camp. We lived in Delhi for four years and inspite of being within a 4 hours drive of this famous landmark I never felt the need to go and see it - ignoring the requests of my family. My excuse were - a. Agra is a dirty city; b. what's so great about an old monument - you have seen enough pictures of it and c. we can go there anyday.

Then last year, we travelled 3000 miles crossing international borders and timezones to see the Taj. When we checked into the hotel, we could see the domes of the Taj (from our hotel windows) rising above the ramshackle dwellings that surround it.

It looked grey, tired and most unimpressive. I started on my old speech on why and how intelligent people avoid spending good money by NOT running after a fad. Fortunately, soon our guide arrived and started to hurry us up (thereby putting a quick end to a brewing family feud, in which I was completely outnumbered by three females). And then after a quick 5 minute car ride through narrow lanes and then a tonga ride from the carpark to the monument gate and buying the tickets we eneterd a non-descript compound.

When I was about to start my rant about the futility of running to see old monuments in the end-March afternoon sun instead of a beer-assisted good nap in the airconditioned hotel room, the guide said - "This way sir, and here you need to give them the ticket for your camera" and took us into a huge doorway that was dark and full of people getting in, getting their cameras checked, avoiding touts and jostling with "Photo of Taj with you Sir?" cameramen. The guide was pulling me grabbing my arm saying "Here Sir, good spot for your first photo" and I looked up irritated, about to snap at him.

Time stood still.

http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...ig/ppuser/6234

I understood the meaning of this paragraph that was written by my travel agent in the itinerary he sent us - one that I had quickly dismissed as typical mushy tourist trap wriiten to capture the imagination of foreign tourists attracted by the "romanticism" of India. That's when I understood how wrong I can be; what an arrogant idiot I have been until that point in my life and why a little knowledge is worse than having none.

TAJMAHAL

"Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal, perhaps the most photographed monument in the world. However, there is a degree of enigma about the Taj. Once you hear about a building so much and once you see so many pictures of a building your expectations are real high; and this is the enigma about the Taj Mahal. No matter how many pictures you have seen or no matter how high your expectations are the Taj never lets you down - the unparalleled glory and beauty of the building surpasses beyond all human imaginations."

No camera or photographer can ever do justice to this monument that's poetry written in marble - none can reproduce the amazing feeling of love that it inspires - you have to be there to feel it.

Some attempts by a digital camera with a good lens, amazing natural light created by nature and the timeless monument created by one man's love and imagination:

http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...ig/ppuser/6234

http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...ig/ppuser/6234

http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...ig/ppuser/6234

The next best thing to seeing the real thing, is perhaps watching it in HiDef on a large screen TV. I was watching a show on the religious monuments of India (why Taj Mahal was included, I donlt know) and I was clown away by its beauty.

Another great website to view the Taj is http://www.world-heritage-tour.org/a...Mahal/map.html which allows 360 degree views from certain points.

Amazing site crvlvr will be on there for many hours! Thanks!


Going back to PD's original post, I'd lived most of my life in Hyderabad, but never have 'really' visited Charminar, except to visit 'Madina Hotel'* near there for Biryani , or Haleem during Ramzan, or Kababs occasionally.

We now live half the world away and will do a complete tour of my my own city when we go back for a visit next month.

*Please see my other recommendations here... And of course recommendations from other IM'ers for all over India in the same thread.

Great Site!

thanks crvlvr

Have you guys recently travelled to/over Agra by Train. You can see the Taj from within your compartment when crossing the bridge. You can actually see miles and miles beyond Taj too. Was this possible even 20 years back ?- I have a faint memory from childhood which says NO it was not visible from the train - the view was blocked by trees . And to top it all the Yamuna is no longer a river now - the river bed is being farmed now - seasonal crops - gave me creeps.
The Taj is the most beautiful man made thing - but without the Yamuna and the trees around - it looses a lot of it.

We Indians suffered an overdose of the Taj during our childhood, thanks to history text books and Bollywood. When I finally saw it for the first time at the age of 17, it was a huge anti-climax for me. Personally, I stick to my opinion of it being an overrated and overhyped monument.

thanks for the answer. and i agree, it is overwhelming and more beautiful than you imagined when you see it.
i nearly didn't, i was feeling tired, grumpy and unwell and talked about staying at the hotel.
glad i was talked out of it - it is absolutely glorious, touts, photographers and and all.

One of my biggest disappointments that I didn't get to see the Taj........maybe next time

Paagla........you really personalized your first impressions with such honesty - a great post and your pics are wonderful!!!!

Thats interesting.. I heard the same hype and he first time I saw it, it still blew me away.. (I guess I am bit of a skeptic) It was mostly the sheer size of the monument. I did not expect it to be that big..

I am glad you guys like the site.. You can visit the other indian world heritage sites here http://www.world-heritage-tour.org/asia/in/map.html

Paagla, I was already convinced halfway after my original reluctance, now after your post I'll add Agra to my next trip for sure!
Your first shot is amazing, it looks so majestic and elegant at the same time, and the dark door frame massively enhances the effect.

I AGREE..yes in Caps.
I think Fethpur Sikri is far more fabulous, wish it was not so close to Taj that people started comparing.
I was 'at home' at Fatehpur Sikri

I just feel like sitting next to taj mahal....ha ah ha ha

Spot on, Vinay !

Fatehpur Sikri is fabulous and fascinating. The Buland Darwaza itself is overwhelming, as is the Panch Mahal.

The Qutab Minar at Delhi is awesome, as is Humayun's tomb.

What's so great about the Taj ?

Difficult to answer that.

One will either feel it or one won't - it's something that need to be felt not rationally understood.

What's so great about falling in love for the first time?

What's so great about a drop of dew on a rose petal shining in the first rays of the sun?

What's so great about feeling alive?

Maybe its just me, but all those historic places seem to have a unexplained buzz to them. The natural lighting, landscape, and architecture all make them a little more than real.

There has gotta to be some interesting quantum mechanics happening in those old places too - adding an unknown dimension and mystery to that fascination appeal!