11.1.18 Morning at the Taj Mahal
(Crown of the Palace)
Where was that bright blue sky we always see in the iconic Taj Mahal photograph? Why are there people in our photos? How dare they spoil the pristine grounds and ponds in the foreground!
Well fortunately we arrived before 7 AM so the crowds were not really that bad. As for the sky, it was a hazy morning from the humidity and the pollution. But who cares when you're on an adventure such as this?
I wandered around doing some serious people-watching, while at the same time planning how to frame my iconic shot. During my wanderings I noticed 2 young men entertaining themselves with what looked like portfolio model poses. I asked the very cute "model" if he was working on a magazine cover photo and he laughed. When he invited me to look at the photos his friend just took I noticed we were using the same Sony camera - and shortly thereafter he offered to take this photo of me (but more importantly, he and his friend helped me get back up afterward). Turns out they were both from Delhi and loved meeting us crazy Americans.
Taj Mahal Factoids...
Lots of school kids on a field trip to the fort from more remote areas that didn't have many Americans wanted to shake our hands and take photos of them with us.
As we head to the exit gate we are followed by numerous monkeys - just in case we might leave some tasty morsels behind.
(Crown of the Palace)
Where was that bright blue sky we always see in the iconic Taj Mahal photograph? Why are there people in our photos? How dare they spoil the pristine grounds and ponds in the foreground!
Well fortunately we arrived before 7 AM so the crowds were not really that bad. As for the sky, it was a hazy morning from the humidity and the pollution. But who cares when you're on an adventure such as this?
I wandered around doing some serious people-watching, while at the same time planning how to frame my iconic shot. During my wanderings I noticed 2 young men entertaining themselves with what looked like portfolio model poses. I asked the very cute "model" if he was working on a magazine cover photo and he laughed. When he invited me to look at the photos his friend just took I noticed we were using the same Sony camera - and shortly thereafter he offered to take this photo of me (but more importantly, he and his friend helped me get back up afterward). Turns out they were both from Delhi and loved meeting us crazy Americans.
Taj Mahal Factoids...
- mausoleum for the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan's favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal
- commissioned in 1632
- constructed of ivory-white marble on the south bank of the Yamuna River in Agra
- believed to have been completed in 1653 for an estimated $827 million
- employed over 20,000 artisans
- UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983
The Western gate where we entered.
The view from the entry gate just before the arms
raised up for selfies. Can't believe there are no cellphones visible in this photo.
(You get a sense of how hazy it was when we arrived).
Charlene, me, Dorothye and Michele
Styling with our disposable booties
(notice Michele's bright pink big toe)
- required for wear to protect the marble floor of the Taj.
Even the Indian squirrels were making their presence known.
Trying to catch the sun's reflection off the marble.
One last incredible look...
Later in the afternoon we made a visit to the Marble Art Palace, where amazing artisans kept alive the disappearing skill of intricate marble design. This is the only shop that continues to operate in the marble industry and they are supported by the government because of their struggle to find and retain the most skilled artisans.
Rajam, the owner of the Marble Art Palace, and I seal the deal on my stunning marble table with a Kingfisher beer. (The photo doesn't do the colors justice), but every gem used in the construction of the Taj is included in this design.
We continue our day by supporting the local people when we visit Sheroes Hangout, a cafe and community hub created to support the women who were victims of the vicious acid attacks - often done to them by members of their own families.
Many of the victims work in the cafe. There are no prices on the menu - you just pay what you can afford. The women also put together an incredibly touching film that brought tears to many of our eyes.
The last stop in our extremely busy day was the Red Fort, a 17th century red sandstone Mughal fortress by Shah Jahan. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
Lots of school kids on a field trip to the fort from more remote areas that didn't have many Americans wanted to shake our hands and take photos of them with us.
As we head to the exit gate we are followed by numerous monkeys - just in case we might leave some tasty morsels behind.
No comments:
Post a Comment