For my final day in India, I began my day with morning tea at the Taj View Hotel. I had a lovely breakfast tea, in the British style, a holdover from when India was a colony known as the “Jewel in the Crown.” I had jalebis, which are sticky syrupy fried sweets, with my tea. The waiter spoke in Hindi, the official language of India, and luckily my companions could translate.
After breakfast, I visited the renowned Taj Mahal. As we approached, I was astounded by the beauty of this building. It was built by Shah Jahan in appreciation of his beloved wife, Mumtazmahal (meaning “jewel of the palace”) in the 1600s, by 20,000 workers. She died at the age of 39, giving birth to her fourteenth child. My tour guide told us that the color of the building changes based on the time of day that you view it. I was fortunate to see it in the bright morning sun, when it was a beautiful creamy color.
As I approached, I was awed by the massive dome. The entrance is hard to find, but we found it: a red sandstone gateway that separates the building from the world. The guide said that it symbolizes the division between paradise and the world. The original doors were solid silver, but these and other treasures had been stolen over the years. The garden focuses on symmetry, and I spent some time wandering through the greenery,. Then I saw a monumental tomb, although the actual graves are in a private crypt below. My favorite stop was the Lotus Pond, where I took a picture like every other visitor, sitting in the marble bench. The pond, which reflects the tomb, is named for its lotus flower shape.
Finally, I took a taxi to the airport and paid in rupees, the currency of India. My journeys were over for the summer, but I hope to return in the future. Perhaps I will stay longer next time, as the world has so many more adventures waiting!
After breakfast, I visited the renowned Taj Mahal. As we approached, I was astounded by the beauty of this building. It was built by Shah Jahan in appreciation of his beloved wife, Mumtazmahal (meaning “jewel of the palace”) in the 1600s, by 20,000 workers. She died at the age of 39, giving birth to her fourteenth child. My tour guide told us that the color of the building changes based on the time of day that you view it. I was fortunate to see it in the bright morning sun, when it was a beautiful creamy color.
As I approached, I was awed by the massive dome. The entrance is hard to find, but we found it: a red sandstone gateway that separates the building from the world. The guide said that it symbolizes the division between paradise and the world. The original doors were solid silver, but these and other treasures had been stolen over the years. The garden focuses on symmetry, and I spent some time wandering through the greenery,. Then I saw a monumental tomb, although the actual graves are in a private crypt below. My favorite stop was the Lotus Pond, where I took a picture like every other visitor, sitting in the marble bench. The pond, which reflects the tomb, is named for its lotus flower shape.
Finally, I took a taxi to the airport and paid in rupees, the currency of India. My journeys were over for the summer, but I hope to return in the future. Perhaps I will stay longer next time, as the world has so many more adventures waiting!
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