We got up while it was still dark and walked the very clean streets to the Taj Mahal, which was close to our hotel. I had to wake our neighbours, since they're all retired and don't use alarm clocks anymore. 😄 Jane has done this visit many times, and she chose the West Gate, which is the one most locals use.
Queues and Rules
There was a queue at the gate, and Jane lined up for our tickets. Foreigners have their own ticket line, which was short. Jane had warned us to bring nothing but our cameras, as there are strict X-ray checks and bag scrambles, and she didn't want us to be held up. The gates open about half an hour before sunrise, so we went in while it was still dark, through the very impressive entrance gate.
First Sight
Crowds weren't too bad. As we came in, we saw the Taj Mahal in the distance, and you want to stand there until the sun rises. But Jane told us to get moving, so we'd get to the monument before the crowds. 🕌
Sharing It With Daniel
By chance, Daniel and I connected on WhatsApp, and I was able to share the Taj Mahal with him on a video call. It was a very special moment I stayed on the call until it was time to go into the mausoleum.
The Story Behind the Taj
The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum, not a temple. Emperor Shah Jahan built it for his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 giving birth to their 14th child. He began it in 1632, and about 20,000 workers laboured for roughly two decades. It's made of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, and its walls are carved with verses from the Quran. Inside the chamber, you see two cenotaphs, Mumtaz's and Shah Jahan's. These are symbolic, and the real graves are in a plain chamber below. Photography isn't allowed inside. ❤️
Photos and Reflections
Afterwards we wandered around and took more photos, including group shots and the classic reflection across the water.
The Marble Inlay Workshop
Then we visited a marble workshop, where we watched how the famous inlay work is done. It's the same craft, called 'pietra dura', that decorates the Taj Mahal. We learned about the stones they use, including jade, turquoise and lapis lazuli, plus paua shell from New Zealand. We saw how the marble is carved out to hold the inlay, and how much time and craftsmanship goes into it. One craftsman was shaping tiny semi-precious stones to fit into the marble, and he'd learned the craft from his father. It's a skill passed down through generations. Many Agra families say they descend from the artisans who built the Taj. 💎 Of course, I came away with a treasure for home.
Idli on the Road
On the coach back to Delhi, we stopped for lunch at a food court near the city, and I finally tried idli, a fermented food I've wanted to taste for a while. Idli are soft, round, steamed cakes from South India, made from a batter of ground rice and split black lentils (urad dal). The batter ferments overnight, and wild bacteria and yeast make it rise, which makes it light and slightly tangy. It's served with sambar (a lentil and vegetable stew) and chutneys. I'm always trying to try different fermented foods.
Home to Delhi
It felt like coming home. When we first arrived in Delhi, our hotel seemed chaotic, dusty and not the cleanest, but now it feels like coming home, especially as I was assigned the same room again🛏️
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