What can I write about the Taj that hasn't been written
already! Mesmerising beauty rendering one speechless, Taj is beyond definition.
I can only tell you how I experienced it.
Islamic art is so much around geometrical perfection, for according to them, this is symbolic of the Divine. I felt the divine presence through my feelings of awe and wonder as I stood looking at the Taj.
Morning
Up at 5:30 am and the 1st one to queue up outside the gates of the Taj! I met Mr. Khan who has been working for 40 years at the and and still - is not bored. I was impressed with the management. No one, Indians or westerners, has an upper hand for the only one who rules over the Taj is 'The Supreme court'.
"Madam, the gates open at sunrise and not 6 am. They will open exactly at 6:07 today." Mr. Khan!
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| Mr Khan |
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| The gates open |
6:07 and we enter...me the 1st one to run along.
Awestruck I can only stare!
The beauty and serenity of Taj in the morning is awesome, for the number of visitors are so few. It is 'empty'!
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| As I enter... |
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| Reflected Taj |
If you are patient, you can find the spot where you see the Taj against the rising sun. Breathtakingly beautiful!
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| As the sun rises |
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| One of the minarets |
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| Sun and Taj |
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| Sunrise at Taj |
Basically, I could not stop clicking! I cold not stop staring. Is this for real...is what I thought! The perfection of every little portion is complete.
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| The beauty |
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| Resplendent |
Evening
The flavour of Taj is different in the evening for the light is so different. And the people throng from all sides and nations!
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| Yamuna from the Taj |
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| Taj with so many people! |
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| My favourite spot! |
As the sun sets and whistles blow to chuck us out...Taj breathes a sigh of relief at being on its own with the light dancing on its jewels giving a surrealistic picture!
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| Evening light... |
Night
The Taj opens for night viewing on full moon, 2 days before and 2 days later. I was there two days before...but with a camera not meant for night time shooting! However my eyes and my senses just soaked it all in. Highly recommendable!
The tickets are bought from the ASI office, a very helpful place. 1 day before (10 am to 6pm) or till 1 pm the day of visit. Expensive, but worth it. Reach there early for the 1st slot, 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
You are escorted to the place on the dot and escorted back on the dot by police guards. The starting point is the shilpgram from where pollution free buses take you.
Phones not allowed!
Other than Taj
The Taj is flanked by the mosque and the rest house. Both buildings exactly symmetrical with the Taj in the middle. The work on them is as beautiful, but not quite!
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| The mosque |
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| The mosque |
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| The entry gate to Taj |
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| Resting house |
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| Mr Khan on duty again! |
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| And I walk home! |
Caution!
- Visit Taj without any bags etc in order to avoid time spent in security
- For night visits, phone also is not allowed. They give you lockers to place it in.
- Beware of touts asking to click pictures with your camera. They will ask for money in the end.
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