After seeing the Taj Mahal, Chris Mitchell explains why it’s worth every ounce of praise and something you need to see in your lifetime.
I have a confession: in the past, I’ve visited a site said to be one of ‘the world’s greatest’ and arrived only to be, I dare say, a touch disappointed. It’s not that the site itself wasn’t magnificent. It’s that I’d constructed such an unreal (and perhaps unattainable) image of what the site might be.
When I mix my overactive imagination with a healthy dose of the oversaturated Instagram images I’ve viewed over the years, sometimes that’s a recipe for an underwhelming moment.
When I embarked on my Delhi to Kathmandu trip with Intrepid, I was worried this would be the case with the Taj Mahal. That its reputation was impossibly large and I’d be that unappreciative tourist who didn’t quite understand why everyone else was gushing. Well, let me say, it wasn’t everything I hoped it would be; it was actually more than what I ever could have imagined – here’s why.
The story of the Taj Mahal
The history and conception of the Taj Mahal is like something out of a fairytale. It would be a best-selling romance novel if it wasn’t certifiable historical fact.
The Taj Mahal is essentially a physical manifestation of a Mughal emperor’s undying love. Shah Jahan, one of the most famous emperors of the Mughal empire, built the Taj Mahal as a mausoleum for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. In a sense, Shah Jahan accomplished his goal in spades, as it’s safe to say that history will have a hard time ever forgetting about Mumtaz Mahal and their love.
What I appreciated most in learning about the Taj Mahal is that it cost roughly 30 million rupees to complete during its 20 or so years of construction (1632-1653), which would be just under a billion US dollars in today’s world. Just think about that for a second: a ruler spent about a billion dollars on one building to house the tomb of a woman whom he loved. That fact is just astonishing to me.
It’s also worth noting that the emperor employed artisans from across the nation to build this marvellous structure. Numbers vary, but historical records suggest that tens of thousands of individuals worked on this masterpiece, whether they were masons, calligraphers, architects and anything in between. As far as Indo-Islamic architecture is concerned, there’s little that compares to the Taj Mahal.
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How to get the most out of your experience
I’ve got to be honest here, just being on the grounds is enough in some regard, but you do probably want to ensure you have a bit of a plan in terms of how to approach it. Thankfully, this part of your Intrepid trip is quite flexible in providing a few hours to take it all in. Your local leader will guide you around – and they understand more than most that the Taj Mahal is a highlight, providing plenty of breathing space to ensure you leave feeling you’ve gotten all the photos and memories you want.
Our leader, Chime, was an incredible source of knowledge in terms of contextualising the site. So, don’t hesitate to ask questions. I can distinctly recall asking questions leading up the Taj Mahal, during our visit and after. Far from being annoyed, Chime seemed genuinely enthused to answer all my questions (and, as you can imagine, there were no shortage of them).
Entering as a non-resident
You’ll likely be entering from the East or West Gate, which is where foreign nationals enter. Naturally, if you’re with a company like Intrepid, your admission will be taken care of ahead of time, so you can walk right in. You’ll go through security, then towards the forecourt and main gate. This is where you get your first view of the Taj Mahal in all its glory. Take a second here. In this modern era of instant gratification, I urge you just to enjoy the moment.
I’ve visited nearly 80 countries and I can’t pinpoint a time where I’ve been more in awe of a structure. It’s not just symmetrical, it’s perfection.
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Exploring the grounds
Walking through the main gate past the gardens and waterbeds, with the Taj Mahal in the distance, is something special. I’d strongly recommend putting your phone and camera away for a moment. Sometimes, as travellers, it’s worth just being present instead of thinking about the photo opportunity.
Through the main gate, directly facing the Taj Mahal is where you’ll get that quintessential photo once you’re ready and your jaw‘s back to its normal position. From here, I’d start to slowly walk towards the building. The closer you get, the more entrancing it becomes.
There are thousands of angles from which to appreciate the Taj Mahal and the structure looks like it was meant to be admired from any which way. Given that it was so carefully and painstakingly devised, it wouldn’t surprise me if that was the case.
You’ll notice that the Taj is accompanied by a building on each side – on the left you’ll find the mosque and on the right you’ll find the mehmaan khana (or drawing room). You’ll be able to enter the mausoleum with the stairs on your left, which is where it’s worth appreciating the Taj Mahal is one of history’s great acts of love and commemoration.
What makes the Taj Mahal so special?
While we can’t all identify with having a swift billion dollars to shell out to show our deepest affections, certainly many of us can identify with wanting to show your love for someone – or something – in the way that can be appreciated for a long time after.
There is nothing else like the Taj Mahal and there won’t ever be anything else like it for the rest of time. It’s a sight that’s truly worth visiting, a sight that you couldn’t possibly imagine unless you’re standing right there, seeing it with your own eyes.
When travelling to places like the Taj Mahal, we create moments which stay with us for a lifetime. I can barely remember what I had for breakfast today, but I’ll never forget the pearl-white facade of India’s fabled mausoleum and my stroll through its lavish grounds.
Visit the Taj Mahal on one of Intrepid’s small-group adventures in India.
