But this one was my favorite, because of my love for the Taj. And mind you, that time I hadn’t even visited this gorgeous beauty. The Taj Mahal There is a reason why I love calling myself a vagabond and the crazy girl who dreams about places and then travels there to see how they look and feel in the real world. I dreamt about visiting the Taj for years and finally when I took up my third job years later, I got a chance to visit the Taj Mahal. I was holding a sales convention in Agra – the Taj city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, and the moment I got some time I just sneaked out to have a look at the stupendous monument of love.
Though there was an evening outing planned with all the delegates who were there for the convention, I wanted to spend my own sweet time there and alone first. Because being with the delegates meant being the ‘good host’ and ensuring they enjoyed while we worked, and I just didn’t want to do that. I know I know, selfish me, but then what do you do when you want something badly? Of course, I did play the role of the good host later too. If you ask me whether I am satiated with my maiden visit to the Taj – a BIG NO! I want to go there again with my husband and click all those dramatic and romantic pictures that couples click in front of the white beauty.
That was something I really missed out on. Also, all my pictures that you will see soon are from the cell phone – my beloved Blackberry of those times. I want to click some stunning pictures with my DSLR next time.
Enough of me now, let’s move to the Taj – the masterpiece of architectural style in conception, treatment and execution and one that has unique aesthetic qualities in balance, symmetry and harmonious blending of various elements. History of Taj Mahal In 1631, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned project Taj Mahal. He wanted to build it in memory of his ‘favorite’ wife – the Persian princess – Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their ‘14 th’ child.
That’s the reason why the Taj Mahal is considered the personification of love, as the love-story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal was the inspiration for the Taj Mahal. The construction finally began in 1632 and by 1643 the principal mausoleum in white marble was also completed. The most stunning pictures of the Taj are either with the sky as a background or with its surrounding garden. The surrounding buildings and garden took another five years to complete.
The Taj Mahal – my first ever click! The Taj Mahal is located on the right bank of the Yamuna River in a vast Mughal garden that encompasses nearly 17 hectares, in the Agra District in Uttar Pradesh. As I already mentioned, the construction of the mausoleum was completed by 1643; and later, the outer courtyard and its cloisters were added and completed in 1653.