Agra - Taj Mahal and Agra (red) Fort

Another breath taking experience regarding the “wonders of the world”.  The second time around seems much more emotional and gratifying.  We are hoping our children will be able to bring their children back here to share this marvellous experience.

It is inconceivable how these monuments were built in the years with the wealth of the kingdom, skills ship and knowledge required to future-proof everything. I can’t put this into words, as this experience and the photos do no justice.  As a spectator, you feel so insignificant within the enormity and scale at which you are seeing things and the intelligence and vision these emperors! 

More questions have emerged and curiosity in finding out more, which is fantastic for our own family heritage. A new understanding with how civilisations were organised at that time; men and women’s role and the influence of religion within a dynasty. 

The saddest thing that keeps re occurring throughout this trip, is how colonialism ravaged these beautiful buildings - gold, gems and use of these places, and at times without care.

THINGS TO FOLLOW UP ON:

1. Watch the tv series on the mongols of Rajasthan. (Sangi recommends it, and for those that are interested it is via  Z TV) 

INFO on Taj 

1. Taj was built to withstand population growth, earthquakes (20 Water wells in the foundation, 4 towers offset 30degree angle so it does not fall on the Mossilium). 

2. It took 22 years to build and represented both Hindu and musilm symbolism. It took 26,000 people to build it.

3. It was built symmetrical on all sides of this octangle

Building. 

4. It was covered in precious gems, Diamonds and gold.

5. The Taj has 8 million visitors a year and this means about 22,000 visitors a day!

The Taj was built in the 5th dynasty and the Red / Agra fort in the 3rd dynasty.  History, love story and the demise of the king was fascinating to listen to. Our one great downfall today was the foggy weather, which meant we couldn’t see much of Agra fort.

The 5th emporer Shah Jahan watched the Taj from the fort he was imprisoned in by his own son,  Aurangzeb. He had allocated  land on the other side of the river to build a black  mausoleum for himself, which never eventuated. It was told by our guide that it took the wealth of all of India to create this monument and others in his rule and that the black tomb would almost be triple this. No wonder his son defeated him. 

The Four-Court and gate way into the Taj. Shah Jahan builtbthus for his third wife Mumtaz Mahal ( a Persian princess)

The fog was just starting to lift. The second photo is the view from the Taj of where his black marble tomb was meant to have been built

ARGA FORT