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| Taj in all her glory (with some work being done on two of the minarets). |
The world’s greatest and most magnificent tribute to love, the Taj Mahal, offers a combination of old world romance and contemporary vision.
After passing through the east gate, I saw the white cupolas peeking out over the red brick barrier and felt giddy about the impressive structure located just steps away.
The glory of this structure, and the history of it as a memorial for Mumtaz Mahal (third wife of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, circa 1628-1658), is breathtaking. It’s material is marble, its artwork features carved stone, its lines mirror each other so much so that the Taj resembles a life-size pop-up book. The thoughtful, intentional design is unprecedented.
This stunning mausoleum dazzled me with its symmetry, magnitude and maybe most of all, its crowds.
The abundance of fellow visitors here, both Indians and foreigners, was compelling – a testimony to the huge cadre of humans who are devoted to love (and eager to see one of the seven human-made wonders of the world too, of course). As a result, lots of hustle and bustle on these manicured grounds were required to get my photographs, have my reflective moments and enjoy the gardens. A counterintuitive energy given the memorialized nature of the place.
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| The nationals line – proverbial miles longer than the “high value ticket line”. |
One aspect of the day that struck me was the “high value ticket” line and the “Indian/local line,” both leading to the marble floor level and entry to the Taj. This distinction reflected a dynamic I have witnessed in other parts of the world, where ticket prices are determined by nationality and designed (hopefully) to enable greater access of a country’s monuments to its local and national population, while optimizing profit from visiting foreigners (a win/win, in my book). That said, nationals receive second and third-class treatment, starting with much longer lines to entry and other limitations that may inhibit one’s visit. The unearned privilege I had in this scenario was a residual thought as I showed up late afternoon, flashed my high value ticket and swept by the harried line of nationals just on the other side of the dividing line.
