Taj Mahal: a tear on the cheek of India
[tab:Travel]
There are dreams that belong to the world of unattainable, but the passage of time and effort to achieve a chance to realize other more mundane. The heart of the traveler usually hold a few of both, distant places, culture or simply feelings and experiences that, as pieces of our puzzle incomplete, dream found. One of those fascinations had made me reach Agra, famous for hosting the incomparable Taj Mahal.
Rushed food and went in search of a taxi me over four miles of him. To protect the monument from pollution, we cover the final journey in a bus provided for this purpose electric. Had to wait a few minutes following the departure of, so I wandered around and, instantly, I was approached by a man who identified card in hand and official guide, also indicate that it was required to hire one to access the Taj Mahal. When an action begins his Indian hustler wake of any fantasy that you have captured and return to reality.
Waiting for my turn to pass the security check which was probably thinking about entering the greatest monument ever known to mankind built just for love. At least that tells the legend. And he tells us that one of the bazaars of Agra what would be the emperor Sha Jahan, met his beloved Arjumand. Renamed princesa Mumtaz Mahal, the "pearl of the palace" or "chosen of the palace", became the favorite wife of the sovereign. I showed the guard the contents of my backpack and walked with firm step toward finding the myth. The Darwanza is a majestic red sandstone building that serves as the entrance to the Taj Mahal. Yesteryear, its vaulted central hall was sealed by two big silver doors that should provide even greater glory to the place. It happens that humans forget the beauty of things to feel the glow of precious metals and that happened in the late eighteenth century the Jats when melted. I left the Darwanza and found myself in front of the central pond, the gardens and the background, the Taj Mahal. It was the first visual and can not stay more than a few moments watching the scene, but I looked behind me and the marathon photographic image hunters had begun. They may be personal prejudice, but I do not understand the rush to photograph, from running to catch the post and the lack of rest to enrich what is living. Especially when one has traveled many miles to the destination should be allowed the luxury to breathe and smile, that in the end one is there and for once should stop time.
The huge vaulted ceilings are perfect place to hear the echo of the voice of one. Many young Indians can not resist, and rush to shout
I walked slowly to the mausoleum. And 1631, giving birth to her fourteenth child, Mumtaz Mahal died and shortly after work began on the memorial that would honor his memory. A work that would last twenty years, in which would work over 20.000 artisans from India, Turkey, Persia and Arabia. Marble was brought from quarries in Rajasthan whose blocks were transported by more than 1.000 Elephants. The result is, according to the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore, "A teardrop on the cheek of time". One wonders on the ground, majesty, sobriety, unimaginable beauty. I should off my shoes before entering the tomb and leave my shoes at the entrance. I turned the delicate interior, Exquisite but less captivating than the outside. The traveler enters inside the Taj Mahal, whose translation would be "the crown of the palace", with a friendly spirit because, ultimately, it is a grave you are visiting. But the huge vaulted ceilings are perfect place to hear the echo of a voice. Many young Indians can not resist, and rush to shout, I guess exclaiming phrases were funny and laugh again with the sounds that return walls. That did not like, so I got my shoes and went for walks in the adjacent courtyards. I admired the calligraphy texts from the Koran on the marble blocks and engravings of flowers and other motives.
After I spent a long time to stroll through the gardens. Appreciating the shade of a tree, I enjoy the scene.
Legend has it that a governor planned in English 1830 demolish the main building to sell the white marble. Finally, the outrage was not carried out by the lack of economic viability of the project. A romantic soul I liked to think that the story was true and, at least on this occasion, was the same money that saved the place that I could now admire. Imagine how many times this has not happened and we must now make do with admiring the remains that the greed and selfishness as looting left behind.
A son of Emperor Shah Jahan rebelled against him and ended his days watching his monument to love from the fort at Agra, in which he was confined. Undertook with a certain melancholy way out, making slow and thoughtful on a road of dust and dirt while I was crossing with travelers and tourists. A half-block, I turned and looked back access door, people queuing, excited faces to achieve a place that remains in the hopes of many. And pleased with the way you came I stopped thinking about the Taj Mahal as a fascination to reach and started to see it as an unforgettable moment lived. I just do not stop being curious what man can do when he loses the love of his life and how little I usually do when he gets together with the. Reached illusions teach you the life you have, and so real that fought, also gives you that we ought to love as if they were treated unattainable dreams.
Eduardo De Winter
www.infoviajero.es
info@infoviajero.es
[tab:the way]
Many airlines cover the route from Madrid or Barcelona to Delhi. Agra also has an airport, so we can take a flight to the same city. Another option is to move from Delhi to Agra by bus or train. The distance between two cities is something more than 200 Km. Here some transportation options www.infoviajero.es / india / agra.
[tab:a nap]
I stayed at the Hotel Yamuna View, located in Mall Road. This is a rather soulless hotel but functional. Nothing remarkable or noteworthy.
[tab:a table set]
The restaurant is rather normalito, Agra but there are many street stalls and restaurants recommended simple. As a curiosity to tell you that at a Pizza Hut in the center of Agra to 13:00 type music began to play Bollywood and staff danced, striking action and inevitably tore you a smile. In India everything is possible.
[tab:highly recommended]
Besides the Taj Mahal, visit Agra Fort and lost a bit through the streets of the city, give some candy and pens to children who come up to you and enjoy your stay. As the tagline says tourism India, «Incredible India», so it's best to give it time, open our senses and find out why India is so amazing and captivating.
[tab:END]
Comments (9)
Ramón Wander Isle
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I agree; the Tajmajal, like almost all the monuments that have become places for tourism peregrianción, feel, can be enjoyed from the outside, stroll through the gardens. Without People; almost impossible circumstances.
Greetings…
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Eduardo De Winter
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At the end we must try to isolate themselves from the crowd around you, take a break and enjoy. Or at least try. In order, further searches for a corner without invading…..
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Agra, Taj Mahal and more | Blog Infoviajero
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[…] If you wish to read an account of a passenger in the Taj Mahal and impressions, here we leave our partnership with Travel to the Past, “The Taj Mahal. A tear on the cheek of India”. […]
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Carmen
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Wonderful place that I was lucky to see fewer tourists. India is a place you hate or love forever. I am the second group.
Carmen Blight
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Eduardo De Winter
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True Carmen, in India there are only these two options. I'm glad we are of those who love. The first contact with this wonderful country can be brutal, so in my opinion there is almost a process of adaptation, Learning to understand the country and therefore have to love.
Greetings
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Gildo Kaldorana
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Uf, if there is somewhere I'd go is to India, despite tourism (where there is none).
New Dehi, Bombay, Calcutta etc.. has to be something awesome.
Greetings
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Eduardo
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Travel and see India is a highly recommended experience. Enjoy her story, monuments and try to get close to your people. It is one of those trips that you are recorded. Jodhpur is a fascinating city. Here's a story about it:
https://www.viajesalpasado.com/jodhpur-india-la-tierra-de-la-muerte/
Greetings
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isaacbarragan
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Impressive phrase to end this article: «…I just do not stop being curious what man can do when he loses the love of his life and how little I usually do when he gets together with the…»
Somehow I felt transported to India
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India Travel Blog
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It is a very impressive blog that has a lot of information about the Taj Mahal. Taj Mahal is in every person's dream and it is a true attempt to draw a good picture in the mind.. You can read more about India travel in our blog.
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