ID :
361082
Mon, 03/23/2015 - 12:08
Auther :

A Memorable Trip To Taj Mahal

Delhi Diary By M.Santhiran NEW DELHI, March 23 (Bernama) -- India has countless attractions for visitors. For me, Taj Mahal has always topped my travel list in India. Thus when my wife back in Malaysia said she had booked a flight to New Delhi to spend a week with me, the first thing that came to my mind was to take her to see the Taj Mahal. Located in the town of Agra, about 165 km from Delhi, the elegant 500-year-old Taj Mahal not only reflects the eternal love of an emperor for his queen but also the architectural splendour of the Mughals who once ruled much of India. THE ROAD TO TAJ MAHAL We left Delhi as early as 6.30 am last Monday and arrived in Agra around 9.30 am after making two brief stops along the Yamuna Expressway. The six-lane expressway is almost identical to our North-South Expressway with the rest areas well kept and restaurants relatively clean. It was nice drive with the expressway cutting through the new "Greater Noida", a modern city at the fringes of Delhi, dotted with high-rise buildings for miles. The moment we exited the expressway, the road got narrower, cutting through several rustic villages. This is a sharp contrast from what I expected of Agra. However, all that changed when we reached the main entrance and witnessed the surroundings change dramatically. Our anticipation climaxed seeing the long queues of locals and foreigners waiting to buy tickets to enter the compound. MAJESTIC TAJ MAHAL Like us, many in the crowd appeared excited and restless to see and experience one of the seven wonders of the world. Entrance fee was 750 rupees for a foreigner and only 20 rupees for a local, and I also decided to appoint a tour guide as I wanted to write something on my visit there. One of the many cameraman roaming the compound succeeded in convincing me to hire him as the "official" cameraman for my trip to Taj Mahal. It is amazing to note that the Taj Mahal does not reveal itself when you are close by. Its view is protected by the red sandstone walls and only when one passes through the royal gate the majestic Taj Mahal comes into view. The moment me and my wife stepped into the gate, I could not believe it is the same Taj Mahal that I used to see in the magazines and movies right in front of me. It appeared that the young or old were instantly mesmerised by the majestic "symbol of love" plus its well kept British-style lawn surrounding the mausoleum. No words could describe what was going on my mind, I just hugged my wife and posed for the cameraman. My guide gave us an insight of Taj Mahal, including its construction history and what prompted the great emperor Shah Jahan to construct the white marble mausoleum. It was completed in 1653 to house the tomb of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died while delivering 14th child of the royal couple. I'm sure many reading this column already familar with the many details relating to Taj Mahal. BEST TIME TO VISIT However, I will like to share with readers some interesting things that potential visitors should take note when visiting Taj Mahal. It appears elegant during sunrise and sunset. Best to avoid during summer, especially from April to July as the heat becomes unbearable with temperatures reaching as high as 46 degrees Celsius. During the winter from October to February, weather is much cooler, as low as 12 to 16 degrees Celsius, also a nice time to visit Taj Mahal. Taj Mahal gates open from sunrise to sunset, except on Fridays were it is only open for Muslims to perform their Friday prayers in the mosque adjoining the main structure. According to the guide, best time to arrive would be just before the sunrise or sunset. Night viewing is allowed during full moon, which requires prior booking a day or two before the actual visit. However, it is limited to a maximum of 400 visitors per night, divided into eight batches of 50 each. According the handbook, during full moon, the beauty Taj Mahal breathes out is beyond words. There is a saying that the silver glow that takes over Taj Mahal during full moon is so mesmerising that most of the things one will see after that will feel ordinary at best. I am already looking forward to return to Taj Mahal on a full moon night to experience its beauty and share with the readers of my column. -- BERNAMA

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