Moment:
July 9th 2:37 pm IST
"The Taj Mahal is not a monument. It is a teardrop from the eyes of Shah Jahan on the cheek of time. A beautiful poem in marble which took 22 years and 22,000 people to write."
The Taj Mahal needs no introduction...but I'm going to give you one anyways. It was constructed in Agra in 1653 by Emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb to honor his late wife, who was affectionately called Mumtaz Mahal, which means "Queen of the Palace." They were married for 20 years and had 14 children together, and both the queen and the king were buried there side by side.
We walked through the elaborate arch of the gate that leads to the Taj Mahal, and as soon as I could barely make out the outline of the Taj Mahal in the distance, my heart started beating a little faster. I had dreamed of this day for so long, because this monument is such an iconic crowning jewel of India and I always hoped I would be able to see it in person one day. We followed the flow of people through the narrow passageway to the end where it opened up into one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.
The Taj Mahal gleamed white and its reflection shimmered on the water below. Thousands of people were exploring the grounds and taking pictures, and we did the same (LOTS of pictures, shoutout to Salma for being the best and most patient photographer ever). Some people were more fascinated by the sight of Gavin and Claire, who clearly look like foreigners, and even asked to take pictures with them.
After the initial excitement, I slowed down and just took it all in. The Persian artisans the emperor brought in really thought of everything. The minarets lean outward by 5 degrees intentionally (unlike the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, as our tour guide emphasized) so if there is ever an earthquake or other foundational disruption, they will fall to the outside rather than on the structure. There are 22 domes to represent the 22 years it took to build this masterpiece. The artistry of this monument is absolutely breathtaking, from the stunning reflection of the monument on the water to the perfect symmetry in all directions.
We were able to explore the Taj Mahal even more when we went inside, and it was a bit surreal to feel the cool ancient marble under our bare feet. We got to see the details of the artwork and engravings up close, and learned that the Taj Mahal is adorned with over 28 different precious and semiprecious stones, including crystal from China, red coral from India, green malachite from South Africa, and sapphire from Sri Lanka. The intricate mosaics were designed by talented artists, and their descendants 7 and 8 generations down the line still carry on their craft today.
We had the opportunity to go to the workshop of a family descended from one of the original artists who worked on the marble mosaics on the Taj Mahal, and learned how they carve the marble and stones by hand to create incredibly details works of art. They design everything from coasters to dining tables, because unlike Italian marble (I don’t know what our tour guide had against Italy), Indian marble is non-porous so it will not be damaged by food or drinks, as proved by the Coca-Cola he poured across a tabletop. It is also the second-hardest material in the world after diamonds, so it doesn’t break.
We saw their process up close, from the cutting of the marble slabs and the application of henna to more easily see the designs, to the deep carving of the stone and inset of precious jewels and stones in beautiful arrangements. They use the exact same techniques that their ancestors used on the Taj Mahal, so these artists carry on this craft not just to create beautiful, one-of-kind pieces, but also to honor their heritage.
The stone that really outshone the others was the carnelian, or fire stone, from Arabia. The store owners turned out all of the lights in the display room, then turned on a single flashlight and shone it on a marble table. He first shined the light on the white marble, which is translucent so it glowed softly, then moved the light to the carnelian, which made it light up orange like a fire (hence the name).
Seeing the passion these artists had for their craft and the legacy they have from the Taj Mahal until now really made history come alive for me. Before our trip in Agra even began, our tour guide said that the Taj Mahal is not a monument, but a subject, and now I realize how true it is. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and even though it was built almost 400 years ago, this poem just continues to be written.
