The Taj Mahal – Agra, India

One of the most iconic structures in the world is the magnificent Taj Mahal in Agra India. This has always been on our “bucket list” and Lindsay and I were lucky enough to experience its beauty during our 2010 trip to India. It just so happens that the day we had planned to go to see it India was having its national elections. It is not uncommon for cities to go into “lock down mode” during elections to avoid violence. We were told by numerous people to avoid the Taj Mahal on this day as it would surely be closed. However, we took our chances and were rewarded with a beautiful day and small crowds. Our journey started early in the morning in Delhi. We woke up and walked to the train station (our hotel was right next to it) to catch the 2 hour train to Agra, India. For some reason we were a little off on the time and we almost missed the train. I remember us both running as fast as we can through the chaotic station in Delhi and barely making it on to the train. We splurged on this particular train ride and booked a first class ticket so that we could have a reclining seat with AC (first class in India would be considered standard in Europe or the US). The train journey from Delhi to Agra was fascinating. You start in the dense urban city of Delhi and eventually make your way through farmland before arriving in Agra. One of the most shocking scenes when taking a train in India is the people going to the bathroom on the tracks. As we pulled out of the city we saw numerous people squatting on the tracks outside our window. This is totally normal in India but to a westerner it can be quite shocking. After arriving in Agra we made our way through the completely chaotic taxi stand and eventually got a cab to take us to the Taj Mahal. I kept waiting to see this iconic building from the Taxi window but we never did. He eventually just pulled next to a park and said “walk down that way.” The walk through this park was short and sweet and there were numerous monkeys along the way to keep us company. Eventually we saw the top of the Taj Mahal in the distants and my heart began to pound in anticipation for seeing one of the most beautiful structures in the world (I am a nerd). We worked our way through the security gates and caught our first climpse of the full structure from within the entry gate. It is perfectly framed by the doors of the entry gate and it is truly a magical experience when you first see it. Eventually you make your way out of the entrance gate and you are standing right in front of the Taj Mahal. Words cannot describe the beauty of this structure. It was designed to sit high up so that the only backdrop would be the sky. You literally can’t see anything behind it but blue sky. This serving as the backdrop to the bright white exterior is truly a feast for the eyes. We took our time walking towards it trying to take in every angle we possible could. We eventually made it to the building and worked our way inside. We were both shocked to see that the exterior of the Taj Mahal is actually made up of tiny marble pieces that have been perfectly cut and placed together to form beautiful designs. We literally spent the next 5-6 hours just wandering around the beautiful grounds looking at the Taj Mahal. We would find a bench and sit and just stare at this inspiring structure. The Taj Mahal is also a huge tourst destination for Indians. Many of them would come from the small towns of India and had never seen an American before. Because of this Lindsay became a celebrity to them. They would literally wait in line to sit next to her and snap a picture…it was hilarious! We ended the day on a small rooftop café in the city of Agra overlooking the Taj Mahal (or at least part of it). We just drank our Coca Cola and Sprite and watched the sun go down over one of the most beautiful structures in the world. We then had an old man with a bike rickshaw ask if he could take us all the way back to the train station. This was miles away (mostly uphill) and we asked him if he was sure. He gave us a huge smile and assured us he was up to the task. Needless to say when we finally made it to the train station we gave him a huge tip. The train back to Delhi was quick and uneventful and gave us time to reflect on the experience of the day. Seeing, or should I say experiencing, the Taj Mahal is something we will never forget.






All of these men waited one by one to get a picture with Lindsay. :)