Witnessing what love can do!

Missing the college festival second time in a row brings no regrets but only pleasure  of witnessing one of the Wonders of the World, the way its creator witnessed it. A small newspaper clipping was enough to inspire us to go to Agra, see the Taj Mahal and come back the same day. Excited to travel by second sitting which costs only Rs. 75/- in Taj Mahal Express, we started at 7.10 am from Nizamuddin station.

My colony gate at 6 am

We reached Agra by 10 am. Thanks to a local we met in the train, he willingly fixed an auto to take us to the Taj Mahal. We were on a budget trip. So, the Rs. 80/- did burn the pocket a bit. A 3 km walk (as claimed by the rikshawalas who bugged us to death for bauni) took us to the West Gate entrance of the mausoleum.  The weather was just perfect. The sun hid itself comfortably behind the clouds and clouds adorned the sky like props for my photographs. It is always nice to see how awestruck people usually are when they first see the imposing monument. Thanks for being settled in Delhi, I have always cherished being hosts to all my relatives and tagged along happily with them to Agra every time. Memories of visiting Agra with Thatha, Mejkadadu and the family trip of '95 are still cloudily fresh.

Stolen from Guria's Archives

I have seen the Taj innumerable times but I have never seen it like this. The flooded river brought Shah Jahan and Mumtaj's corpse's dancing to life! It was as if we were reliving history.

It's strange how people crowd only the front entrance of the Taj. It looks remarkably different and beautiful from all the sides. But its a boon for the photographers and admirers who get a glimpse of the monument devoid of people. After savoring the Taj from all angles within the complex, we decided to see it the way Shah Jahan did - from the Agra Fort!

Taj from the East

We took a horse-cart to the fort. After a short walk, we reached the chamber of Shah Jahan where he was kept hostage for 8 years by his son until death. He used to admire the Taj Mahal's beauty on the mirrors of the chambers owing to his short-sighted-ness. What a life it must have been! Ruling one of the biggest empires in the world, then losing your beloved because of your own lust and finally imprisoned by your own son because of greed and hatred! We savored the view until it got imprinted in our memory.

Taj as Shah Jahan saw it

After hours of walking and no food, our stomach screamed mercy! After a few enquiries around the Fort, we headed straight where all foodies in Agra head - Sanjay Palace. We stuffed in an Auto along with three more people. The food, in spite of being vegetarian, was rewarding. Then, we changed a couple of autos to reach ISBT in Transport Nagar. By 4.30 pm, we were on the bus to Delhi. The bus ride was torturous. I felt as if my spine speared through my back!

It took 5 grueling hours to reach Delhi. I took an auto back home from ISBT. 17 hours later, my jaws hurt more than my legs or my spine. It was a day well spent!

Scribbles on a door in the Fort by real lovers