Taj Mahal, where even death won’t do us part

India has been in my travel bucket list for ages. Since I was a kid, the country has fascinated me. I have heard many stories about its colourful markets, tasty delicacies and magnificent temples to visit. However, it is this one, and always have been this one particular place, that everyone talks about, that every traveller wants to go. The place where I realized that love has a strong power to create something big, something that may seem impossible. Because here, in the heart of Agra, love had encouraged a man to make the most beautiful building for his wife. That is where I wanted to go, and when I finally did, it defined love in a way I have never imagined before.

Taj Mahal located in Agra, India, is very famous for being one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Shah Jahan, the ruling Mughal emperor at the time, built it from 1632 - 1653. Because of that, the building has adopted the Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian styles. The colourful flowers, all collated from hand made carved marbles decorate every corner of the building. The gates, ornamented by Arabic calligraphy from the Holy Quran, emphasize the fact that this beauty is known as the “jewel of Muslim art” in India.

The calligraphy on the Great Gate reads "O Soul, thou art at rest. Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you."

I came to Agra on 28 June 2012 with nine other girls for a volunteering trip from Australia. We were going to Jodhpur, but could not resist to pay Rs. 750 to visit the place. We hired a car with a driver to drive us from New Delhi to Agra. It took us 4 hours and I clearly remember it was Thursday. Because our tour guide, Mr. Khan, told me that we were lucky it was not Friday. On Friday, the mausoleum is closed for visitors, because the Muslims are using it for their Friday namaz (prayer). Imagine coming all the way to India, and the place you want to visit the most is closed! We could not be more grateful that day.

Rs. 750 for foreigner, the locals pay 10th time cheaper, oh well.

Mr. Khan explained there are more than 1000 visitors coming to Taj Mahal everyday. People are coming from all over India, and of course the world. Because of the crowd, some locals would like to transform themselves into tour-guides, who usually know nothing about the history of Taj Mahal. Kind of remind me of a scene in Slumdog Millionaire haha. So Mr. Khan passionately showed us his government-certified ID to assure that we were at the right hand.

One of the mosques made for the other wives of Shah Jahan,  located right across Taj Mahal

And yes, we were! He explained everything very well. When Taj Mahal was built, why and what stories are behind it. Things that only the locals know. He told us that Shah Jahan had three wives, and he built three different buildings to commemorate each one of them. There are two big mosques next to Taj Mahal, which were erected for the first two wives. I asked Mr. Khan why Mumtaz got the most beautiful building? Because she was the most beautiful one, he said.  Haha, why didn't I see that coming?

Mr. Khan in the center. Look for him when you come to Agra, he's the best guide!

He also said that Shah Jahan loved Mumtaz very much that he wanted to construct an exact same thing next to Taj Mahal, but this one would use black marble. He planned to make the ‘black Taj Mahal’ as a mausoleum for himself. However, it was never built. He was imprisoned by his own son and forced to go to the red fort. From there he spent his days looking over to Taj Mahal, looking at Mumtaz’ tomb, where the jewel of his heart laid in.

The tomb 

You can definitely feel their love as soon as you step in to the tomb, where the graves of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are located next to each other. Even after his death, he wanted to be next to her. Inseparably.

The tomb is the central focus of the entire complex of Taj Mahal. In the main chamber, you will see two false sarcophagi of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan. The real graves are at the lower level. Still, you can tell that Shah Jahan is a man of perfection, because although they are false, both of them are guarded with fences, neatly ornamented with marble flowers.

These are made from marbles, not painted.  Each one of the flower's petals are hand-made carved.

Although I could not take pictures inside, Mr. Khan showed us something amazing. He took his phone and put it close to the fences. The light from his phone reflected on the fences and gave us a crystal-y sparkle. He said, all of the marble in Taj Mahal sparkles at night, especially during full moon. That's why usually during that time many important people of India are invited to come and enjoy the magnificence.

Selfie? Yes. That pose is a must! 

After each story told by Mr. Khan, I started to feel that Taj Mahal is undoubtedly one of the greatest tokens of love of all time. It is beautiful, pure and innocent. A man loved a woman so much that her death had encouraged him to express his love in a most amazing way. Nevertheless, she was not there to witness that these domes, minarets and gardens are for her. The love story of this place is as bitter as any of Shakespeare’s satire.

One of the minarets. The view must be amazing from up there!

Before we left, Mr. Khan told me why we are not allowed to go up to the minarets or the towers. It was allowed before, but they had to close it. Because, inspired by the love of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz, many of young couples decided to jump and commit suicide together from those towers. They believe by doing that, they will see each other again immortally in the afterlife. Then I realized that here everyone's love is so strong. Whatever happened, they believe that they are inseparable. So, it is not wrong to say that, unlike many love stories, in Taj Mahal, even death won’t do us part.