India: The Taj

Through the gate.

Taj up close.

Taj gateway.

The next morning, we woke up before sunrise to get Taj Mahal tickets. Even though we were there around 7 a.m., we had to wait in line to get in. Well, specifically, the women had to wait in line.

Monkey watches while we wait.

There were separate lines (when you go through security anywhere in India, women are diverted into a line behind curtains where they are patted down by female guards as opposed to having male guards or being patted down in public). Our line was slow, but we finally got in.

In the meantime, I was able to watch monkeys climb the gate and patrol around the top of it. (My monkey excitement only grows as the trip continues.)

I find it hard to explain WHY the Taj is so wondrous, but it really is amazing. It's huge and picturesque. (Because of the building's raised position, the backdrop is simply sky.) And the entire setting is just perfect.

Mosque in Taj complex

The Taj was built by Shah Jahan as a memorial for his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child. The complex was completed 22 years later. The building is beautiful white marble including marble screens and pietra dura (semiprecious stones inlaid in marble and smoothed off). A mosque sits to the west of the Taj and an identical building to the east was constructed to create symmetry. It is also gorgeous, though we had to be careful to not step on bees on the marble in our bare feet!

Keeping our shoes safe.

This was also one of my first experiences in ditching my shoes. At the Taj, they have holding boxes (not sure if fears created by "Slumdog Millionaire" sparked that), so our shoes were safe. (And I had no problems at other sites either.) But I did have my first realization that marble basking in the Indian sun is freakin' hot!

The classic Taj shot.