It is currently 5:30AM in Delhi, and I have been awake since 3AM so decided to update the blog from yesterday (still not completely adjusted to the complete 12 hour difference in time here).
Yesterday still feels a bit like a dream. We had 2 things on the agenda. 1. Wake up really early and go see the sunrise at the Taj Mahal + tour the parts you are allowed, and 2. visit Agra Fort. Well, I guess then there was the drive to Delhi. Okay... so, the Taj. Y'ALL! It is phenomenal. Words cannot do it justice. GO SEE THE TAJ MAHAL IN YOUR LIFETIME! :) We met our Agra guide, Anil, outside the walkway leading to the Taj aroud 6AM, and off we were to the cue. THANK GOD FOR ANIL! He was 100% our kind of guy. He knew where to go when around the Taj for less people and the best pictures. He carried all of our bags as we RAN from point A to point B around the Taj. We wanted a lot of pictures and he could not have been a more perfect guide to suit our needs!!! I could go on and on but let's talk Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum constructed of ivory-white marble and means “Crown of Palaces”. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favorite wife (he had a lot, I think around 11, but no one seems to know for sure), Mumtaz Mahal (she passed away at 37 while giving birth to their 14th child). The Taj is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the 7 Wonders of the World. It took 23 years to construct; which, when you see the beauty and details both inside and out, it is actually shocking it wasn't longer. Shah Jahan is someone I am interested in reading more about. He is said to have loved women, wine and war, and is behind many famous architectural monuments in India. His 3rd son imprisoned him and killed all of his brothers to gain power. Many other interesting facts here and there about this empire. The outside of the Taj has gorgeous flower detailing which is all stone and no painting. There are also chevron details in stone and Islam writings in Arabic around entries. There are 4 pillars surrounding the main structure and interestingly enough, the pillars are not straight up as one would think. They lean outwards a little bit so in the off chance, they ever fall, it would not harm the Taj. On both sides, there are exact duplicate buildings as well, one being the mosque to the west and the other the Jawab, or guest house to the east. While they are the same on the outside, they differ on the inside. On the Inside the Taj is amazing, but you cannot take pictures. There are 2 tombs in the center as you walk in under the dome, but they are false sarcophagi of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. The real ones are on the lower level which is restricted. There is so much precision in the stone detailing throughout the inside.
Entering the Taj Mahal you go through a gorgeous gate:
Our last big stop in Agra was to visit the Agra Fort (entrance on the left). It was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi (we will see that fort today). It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It once had 2 moats that surrounded it. One was water filled with crocs and alligators, and the other had tigers. Here Kyle and I are in the Diwan-i-Aam (right). From here, the Emperor would provide verdicts to convicted murders, rapists, etc and an Elephant would stomp on their head before throwing the body to the animals in the moat. Yikes! There is amazing detailing throughout the inside of the fort. A lot of elephants and a lot of lotus flowers are some takeaways (Lotus flowers are everywhere due to their spiritual symbolism to both Hindus and Muslims). There is also an awesome view of the Taj Mahal from the top. We got a picture with Anil there too... because he is the bomb!
Yesterday still feels a bit like a dream. We had 2 things on the agenda. 1. Wake up really early and go see the sunrise at the Taj Mahal + tour the parts you are allowed, and 2. visit Agra Fort. Well, I guess then there was the drive to Delhi. Okay... so, the Taj. Y'ALL! It is phenomenal. Words cannot do it justice. GO SEE THE TAJ MAHAL IN YOUR LIFETIME! :) We met our Agra guide, Anil, outside the walkway leading to the Taj aroud 6AM, and off we were to the cue. THANK GOD FOR ANIL! He was 100% our kind of guy. He knew where to go when around the Taj for less people and the best pictures. He carried all of our bags as we RAN from point A to point B around the Taj. We wanted a lot of pictures and he could not have been a more perfect guide to suit our needs!!! I could go on and on but let's talk Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum constructed of ivory-white marble and means “Crown of Palaces”. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favorite wife (he had a lot, I think around 11, but no one seems to know for sure), Mumtaz Mahal (she passed away at 37 while giving birth to their 14th child). The Taj is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the 7 Wonders of the World. It took 23 years to construct; which, when you see the beauty and details both inside and out, it is actually shocking it wasn't longer. Shah Jahan is someone I am interested in reading more about. He is said to have loved women, wine and war, and is behind many famous architectural monuments in India. His 3rd son imprisoned him and killed all of his brothers to gain power. Many other interesting facts here and there about this empire. The outside of the Taj has gorgeous flower detailing which is all stone and no painting. There are also chevron details in stone and Islam writings in Arabic around entries. There are 4 pillars surrounding the main structure and interestingly enough, the pillars are not straight up as one would think. They lean outwards a little bit so in the off chance, they ever fall, it would not harm the Taj. On both sides, there are exact duplicate buildings as well, one being the mosque to the west and the other the Jawab, or guest house to the east. While they are the same on the outside, they differ on the inside. On the Inside the Taj is amazing, but you cannot take pictures. There are 2 tombs in the center as you walk in under the dome, but they are false sarcophagi of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. The real ones are on the lower level which is restricted. There is so much precision in the stone detailing throughout the inside.
Entering the Taj Mahal you go through a gorgeous gate:
Here are our pictures from around the outside of the Taj Mahal (there are an abundance... just keep scrolling so you can make it to Agra Fort, LOL)!
Kyle then decided he should propose to me again before we renew our vows next year and I said YES!! ;)
Here are some neat pictures from the inside of the Taj looking at us through marble detailing standing outside:
Okay, you get the point. AMAZING PLACE! After this, we went to our hotel for breakfast and to check out. From there we went to a place that hand crafts marble pieces. We bought a really small marble table top made out of the same marble as the Taj. It has the Taj Mahal on it with a flower and 2 peacocks (the national bird of India). We also bought a statue of the Hindu God Ganesha. It is supposed to bring us good luck & prosperity. :) Later in the day, before heading to Delhi, we also purchased an awesome black and silver embroidered piece from an embroidery and jewelry place. It has black onyx, pearls and garnet (Kyle's birthstone) sewn into it.
Our last big stop in Agra was to visit the Agra Fort (entrance on the left). It was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi (we will see that fort today). It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It once had 2 moats that surrounded it. One was water filled with crocs and alligators, and the other had tigers. Here Kyle and I are in the Diwan-i-Aam (right). From here, the Emperor would provide verdicts to convicted murders, rapists, etc and an Elephant would stomp on their head before throwing the body to the animals in the moat. Yikes! There is amazing detailing throughout the inside of the fort. A lot of elephants and a lot of lotus flowers are some takeaways (Lotus flowers are everywhere due to their spiritual symbolism to both Hindus and Muslims). There is also an awesome view of the Taj Mahal from the top. We got a picture with Anil there too... because he is the bomb!
The Delhi Gate and Jahangir Palace:
And a personal favorite from the Agra Fort:
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