Monday 31st March 2008
Agra: The Taj Mahal
Everyone has heard of the Taj Mahal, but few people know that it is located in the city of Agra.
Although we had debated about getting up at 5.00 am to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise,
(it is said to be even more magnificent at sunrise and sunset), we
opted for the more 'lazy' time of 9.00 am and were picked up as usual by Raj and Satbir, along
with our guide for Agra, Javid.
-
The Taj Mahal!
Emperor Shah Jahan, heart-broken at the loss of his dearest wife, Queen Mumtaz Mahal,
built the Taj Mahal,
“a monument of immeasurable beauty” in testimony of his love for her.
He called upon the grandest architects and designers of his time
and spared no expense on this greatest monument. The Taj Mahal is entirely built in marble and
inset with gems.
It was completed in 1648 having taken 22 years and 20,000 workers to build.
Cost: 32 million ruppes.
The name 'Taj Mahal' is derived from 'Mumtaz Mahal' and means 'Crown Palace.
-
Another Cottage industry stop:
Gem Inlays, a craft born in the city of Agra, is based on the art
involved in the sumptuous
decoration of the Taj Mahal which is built in marble and lavishly decorated
with semi-precious stone inlays (garnet, emerald, sapphire, ruby and more) -
mostly in flower patterns.
The gems were ground to the exact
size and glued into the carved marble. The secret formula used for the glue is still held by the
descendents of those who crafted these sumptuous pieces for the original work.
Nowadays, you can buy
table-tops, vases and other objects decorated using the same principles.
-
The Agra Fort is an extremely large fortification which comprises the Moti Masjid ('Pearl Mosque'), a
beautiful Mosque and numerous pavillions
lavishly decorated with beautifully carved interiors, including gold and exquisite mosaic decorations.
The Agra Fort offers a beautiful view over the Taj Mahal set along the banks of the River Yamuna.
images of the day:
Agra (22 images)
