7 February 2015 - We brave the hecklers and random tuk tuk offers and walk to the Taj Mahal

One of our main reasons for coming to India was to see the Taj Mahal.  It is officially one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World, and a UNESCO world heritage site!  It is grand and we were not disappointed but would recommend sunglasses or even ski goggles to counteract the shining white marble. We were all suffering from "Taj Mahal Blindness" as the glare was extraordinary.  We took refuge in one of the two identical monuments which are made of red sandstone and flank the grand Taj Mahal.  One of these is a mosque and the other a Jawab which was built primarily to balance the aesthetic impact of the Taj Mahal.

Outside our accommodation

First glimpse of Taj Mahal...exciting!

Mostly Indians and us entering the gate!

And here it is!!!!

Just to prove we were there

We walked through the gardens we had explored yesterday when the Taj Mahal was closed.  Today we were swamped with offers of camel carts and key rings and snow domes.  The vendors are often visibly disabled and it is very confronting every time.  I have seen several people I diagnosed with Congenital Dislocation of the Hip which would have been detected and treated in early childhood in a developed country instead of leaving them with a life long disability.  Not to mention other disabilities which are so treatable, even flat feet which are so much better with orthothotics than a life time of thongs.  And yet, we can't give to everyone and we choose to support CBM and hope we are making a difference.

Karl lined up for the tickets. The locals pay 20 Rupee but the foreigners pay 750 Rupee ($15 AUD) which compared to a family day at the Melbourne Zoo is very reasonable to see the Taj Mahal!!!!!  We had to put on shoe covers to go in and joined the pushing masses. I was shoved against the unforgiving marble door way as we squeezed through.  The sign said" No photos, No noise and No sitting down - but the locals were very indiscreet at their breaking of the rules.  There were flashes going off continually and the noise level was deafening, especially the whistle blowing!  So much for rules!

Anything but silence...can you hear the noise!!!

The white marble up close has defects of brown and grey but looks starkly white against the cloudless sky.  The carvings and marble inlays are beautiful and reflected in the red sand stone buildings either side.  It was a feast for the eyes.

Karl and me!

Trying to get a space for a handstand was tricky but Annika finally managed.

Touching the top...

The beautiful red sand stone carvings are the same design as the white marble ones on the Taj Mahal

Gotta to have photos like this from time to time

Managed a hand stand together finally!

We exited through the West Gate which brought us out into a bazaar.  We followed the crowd through the backstreets and thought we'd come to a dead end.  Some young boys told us we could go ahead and we went down a narrow stair well and voila, we were back near the South Gate and gardens.  Local knowledge! 

It was hard to know when to stop taking photos

It is as magnificent as I imagined

One of the turrets

Only in India...a shoe covering putter on-er!

Shoe covers

All covered and ready to step up to the Taj Mahal

Note the marble carving and marble inlays as well as the hand stands

More athletics

Marble inlaid with polychromes

Tim planking.

Under the arches looking to the Taj

Even the drains are elaborate

 

More marble lattice

A final Taj hand stand.

Any chance for a Toyota style jump!

Leaping again

Taj blooms

One of the other buildings on site

Luke was not feeling 100% today, but with a few carries and a camel cart ride through the gardens, he soldiered on.  We were also pestered for half of the walk back by a guy selling an amazing wire structure which Luke really wanted and that took his mind off his gripey tummy.  We end up buying it for an 1/8 of the offered price.  Karl was none too happy as even little items take up space in our limited luggage capacity.  It is true, but we do want a few mementos.  

Camel cart

Heaps of fun!

Bansi Home Stay is a comfortable quiet retreat and now that Luke, Annika and I have a touch of the Maharajah's Revenge, it is a good place to rest.  Thinking back to Paul Hansen's Christmas letter in which he outlined the virtues of foreign toilets with "bum squirters", we are in agreement with this Asian toilet hygiene option. 

The local lane ways and goats