The second stop on our trip of the Golden Triangle was the city of Agra. The bustling city, located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, is the home of the Taj Mahal. We started our drive from Delhi to Agra at 6:30 in the morning to make it to Agra a little before lunch time. Our driver recommended that we use a tour guide for our trip around the Taj. If you are looking for a tour guide in the area, there are plenty of people outside of the mausoleum who will offer to guide you. Make sure you agree upon a price for your tour before you head in. The Taj Mahal is a beautiful structure with an equally beautiful story. Constructed in the 17th century, the white marble tomb is a true testament of love by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is one of the most popular attractions in India for both locals and tourists, and is crowded most if not all days. My best tip for trying to get the most peaceful experience at the Taj is to go as early in the morning as possible. Once you get to the monument, take a minute to appreciate the attention to geometrical symmetry. Built to perfection, the Taj Mahal quite literally took my breath away. The entire structure is made primarily from white marble sourced from Makrana, Rajasthan, and is embellished with precious and semi precious stones from several different locations. The marble is semi-translucent and gives the Taj Mahal a beautiful glow in the morning and evening light. After you spend some time exploring the Taj Mahal from the outside, make your way into the inner chamber of the Taj, where you will find the tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, side-by-side (unfortunately, no pictures are allowed in this area). After seeing the Taj, our tour guide directed us to a Makrana marble artisan's workshop where I got a chance to learn a little more about how the precious stone inlays take place. The stone is cut into extremely small shards by hand, and then each is placed into the marble to create intricate patterns. After our morning in Agra, we started our drive towards Jaipur, Rajasthan. Along the way, we decided to take a stop at Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri was the capital of the Mughal empire for 10 years, built by emperor Akbar. It is a truly large and astonishing city. Made of red sandstone the entire complex is something to admire. Beware though, this tourist destination has some of the most persistent hawkers ever. But don't let this deter you, because Fatehpur is one of the most remarkable places in India. Fatehpur Sikri is also home to one of the most beautiful mosques in the country: Jama Masjid, and it incorporates the tomb of Saikh Salim Chisti. It is widely believed that wishes made at this tomb come true. Here you can purchase strings which you tie three times to the lattice of the tomb's structure, and with each knot on the string you make a wish. If you are a couple you may share your wish with your significant other, however if you are single you must keep your wishes a secret. If your wishes come true, you are supposed to return to the Chisti and feed two people in need, however if you cannot return, you should still feed those who are in need. Fatehpur Sikri has one more structure that is a true marvel: the Buland Darwaza. According to Unesco: "[the Buland Dawarza] with a height of 40 metres, completed in 1575 AD for commemorating the victory of Gujarat in 1572 AD. Is by far the greatest monumental structure of the Akbar’s entire reign and also one of the most perfect architectural achievements in India." Unfortunately, I could not get into the right angle to get the perfect shot of this amazing gate, so forgive my pictures, and go see it yourself!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Mahima Siripurapu18 years old. Industrial Engineering major. Dog enthusiast. Aspiring Khaleesi. Foodie. Land dweller. Struggling writer. Horrid chess player. Adequate chef. Thrifting lover. Environmentalist, and yes that does mean I'm a tree hugger. vegetarian. Archives
September 2018
Categories |