India: Agra – 1995

November 12, 1995

Agra is a city on the banks of the Yamuna river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, about 230 kilometres south-east of the national capital New Delhi. Shah Jahan, in order to perpetuate the memory of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631, had the Taj Mahal funerary mosque built. Image result for taj mahal It is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history. The Taj Mahal attracts more than 6 million visitors a year.

🙂 Taj Mahal!

🙁 Trent got amoebic dysentery

We were up at 08h00 and had our usual puri and dahl breakfast before taking a rickshaw to the station. As it was a heavy load we had to pay even more baksheesh! We boarded the train and there were 10 Indians on our seats. It was a constant jostle to keep them off … fortunately the couple sharing with us were an American / Israeli couple who were really aggressive and they frightened the hordes away! We played Canasta but Paul wan’t concentrating and the guy got really irritated with him. LOL. The Thali dinner on board was surprisingly good. I was annoyed with Trent because I told him NOT to eat the yoghurt which of course he did…well, a day later he was pooing blood and a doctor confirmed our worst fears – he had dysentery and was given medication which had a warning ‘this medicine has proven to be carcinogenic in rats’! I called Henry (my cousin who is a doctor) to ask whether it was safe to give to Trent – he confirmed that it was fine.

The Taj Mahal emits a sense of peace and harmony which is mainly caused by the structure’s near-perfect symmetry, the main dome and surrounding minarets, and the division of the gardens by four canals that meet at a raised central lotus pond. To achieve the desired other-worldly experience, the Taj Mahal’s minarets are placed in a specific way to create an optical illusion. Because the architects and craftsmen were masters of proportions, they were able to build the monument in such a way that as soon as you enter the gate, the monument appears close and large. But as you approach it, it shrinks in size. By taking the liberty of using white stone reserved for Brahmins (priestly caste) and Red Stone reserved for Kshatriyas (warrior caste) the Mughals identified with India’s two leading classes and announced themselves as their rulers. In order to add a holy aura to the place, the walls of the monument are covered with beautiful calligraphy and pietra dura. Pietra dura is a method of inlaying marble with precious stones like amber, coral, jade, and lapis lazuli. So far, it has been established that 46 species of plants appear in the decoration of the walls and floors of the mausoleum. While researchers continue to dig for meaning, many motifs have been found to have symbolic significance according to their placement and design. The perfect symmetry of the Taj is achieved through the architectural application of the number four. The four canals divide the garden into four equal parts. The mausoleum is surrounded by four minarets and its main dome is surrounded by four small ones. The idea behind the reflecting pool is to purify the vision of those who enter. The sight of the colossal white mausoleum set against soft blue sky reflecting in the pool below creates the illusion of having the whole structure suspended, giving it an almost magical appeal. According to the Black Taj myth, Shah Jahan had planned to build mirror image of the Taj Mahal he built for Mumtaz, albeit in black, on the other side of the river and connect the two by a bridge. This Black Taj was to be dedicated to Shah Jahan himself.

We arrived at 06h45 and our taxi driver was desperate to take us to his choice of hotel however, we insisted on being driven to our choice of hotel as we wanted to upgrade to ensure that Trent would not be exposed to further contaminated food. Our taxi driver was still outside so we got him to take us to the Taj for sunrise. Absolutely stunning. The small inlaid precious stones in the marble is incredible.Absolute bucket list – an amazing piece of architecture. We went back at different times to get the different colours – spectacular.

Fatehpur Sikri is a small city in northern India, just west of Agra, founded by a 16th-century Mughal emperor. Red sandstone buildings cluster at its centre. Fatehpur Sikri was the first planned city of the Mughals to be marked by magnificent administrative, residential, and religious buildings comprised of palaces, public buildings, mosques, and living areas for the court, the army, the servants of the king and an entire city. This is very well preserved and has an interesting history. Akbar used slave girls as chess pieces and he had 3 wives: a Hindu, a Muslim and a Christian wife as well as a harem of 3000 women! We also visited the Red Fort: Agra fort is a historical fort in the city of Agra in India also known as red fort. It was built during 1565-1573 for Mughal Emperor Akbar. It was the main residence of the rulers of Sikarwar clan of Rajputs until mughals occupied it and Mughal Dynasty until 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi.

We headed back to the hotel and lay by the pool. I had booked in for a massage… being a young 25 year old I wasn’t quite as assertive as I am now…the chap massaged my back and then I turned over and he massaged my boobs!!! I was really uncomfortable but didn’t know if it was the ‘Indian’ way … a lady who was part of a couple that we had seen at various sites went in after me and when I asked her later if her boobs were massaged she said NO! Aargh – I was SO had! grrrrr…. The hotel was lovely – quite ornate and we enjoyed our stay here.

It was really annoying – despite the walls surrounding the property, people kept trying to peer through the holes at the guests relaxing by the pool! Grrr.