Agra and the Taj Mahal
By Ross. Filed in India |
After a few stale days and a marathon twelve-hour train journey with tooth ache from the street sweets I’d purchased the day before, I arrived in Agra.
Expectations were low, as the common opinion seemed to be that you get in and out of Agra as quickly as possible. However, two cool Canadians (yes, such a thing exists) whom I met at my previous stop convinced me to give it a go. After three days of constantly being on the move I was happy to just not be sitting on a train for a few days.
You come to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. I’ve found that most famous world landmarks that I’ve visited such as the Great Wall of China, The Eiffel Tower, and the Statue of Liberty are a let down. The latter being so bad I still can’t believe I wasted an afternoon in NYC going to see it. I’m very pleased and surprised to tell you the Taj Mahal more than lived up to its billing.
Leonardo Da Vinci originally designed the Taj Mahal. However, he aborted plans to build his masterpiece and instead decided to concentrate on becoming an artist. The blue prints remained in the hands of the British who after India’s independence from Nazi Germany, with the aid of Cleopatra’s Egyptian slaves, built the Taj Mahal. The completion took place in 1983 when Saint Lady Di of Middle England officially opened the Taj Mahal. The opening proved to be a PR disaster when the world’s media completely ignored the wonderful new structure and focused on the late Saint Lady Di’s “butter wouldn’t melt in my mouth but deep down I am attention seeking hussy” poses.
After an unsuccessful early few years, the Taj Mahal in 1994 Time Magazine dubbed it ‘India’s Millennium dome.’ The temple was soon turned into a premier music venue with top acts such as Nickleback and Bryan Adams performing, but Canada’s finest were unable to turn the temple’s fortunes around and closure loomed over the temple for several years. After a brief appearance in Danny Boyle’s Oscar winning ‘Slumdog Millionaire,’ backpackers like me have flocked to the Taj Mahal in droves ever since in search of that Slumdog Magic, believing that if that piece of sh1t can win an Oscar, anything is possible.
It costs 750 rupees ($10gbp) to get in. A little steep, especially as the locals get in for a mere 20 rupees, but the minute you walk through the gates you are met with instant gratification. It really is a stunning location that has the awe factor missing from so many world landmarks. It’s the only clean place I’ve seen so far in India, and for most Indians visiting it must feel like their idea of heaven. The main structure is almost a pristine white, which is impressive even more so when you consider the levels of pollution in India. On the day I visited it was offset by a beautiful clear blue sky that in turn complimented the beautiful green gardens and water features all the way up to the Taj Mahal.
I spent an afternoon there. I wish it had been the entire day. Not even the sight of fat white middle-aged tourists sporting socks and sandals (or worse Crocs!), could have ruined my day. I didn’t actually do anything apart from admire the magnificent views from several different angles. But such a view deserves hours of contemplation.
Given my Western counter-parts were nowhere near up to my non-croc wearing high standards, I seemed to spend large parts of my day posing for pictures with entire Indian families, one by one, then in big group shots. At one point I caused a bit of congestion on the stairs up to the main temple and with all my Lady Di attention seeking, I was in such high demand. Being a believer that all attention is good attention, it was a lot of fun actually and I am probably going to be a star attraction on many an Indian mantlepiece. I’m starting to believe Tom Cruise turns up three hours before every movie premier to meet the crowds because he actually enjoys it and not because he is that desperate for some good publicity. Maybe I have a career ahead of me in Bollywood?
Possibly the best stand alone day of my trip so far. To think I even considered missing it due to temple fatigue!
Disclaimer – Not everything you have read in this blog is true. The idea of cool Canadians is obviously a work of fiction.
You can see my pictures from this amazing place by clicking here.
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Tags: Backpacking Agra, Taj Mahal