Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful buildings ever created. The exquisite marble structure is a mausoleum, an enduring monument to the love of a husband for his favorite wife. It's also an eternal testament to the artistic and scientific accomplishments of a wealthy empire. Back then, the Mughals were at the peak of their power and wealth during King Shah Jahan’s reign, and India’s rich lode of precious gems yielded him great wealth and power. Nonetheless he was powerless to stop the Empress' death during childbirth. Legend has it that she bound him with a deathbed promise to build her the most beautiful tomb ever known.
While the arch-and-dome profile of clean white marble is iconic, other beauties lie in the Taj Mahal’s painstaking details: inlaid semi-precious stones and carvings and Koranic verse in calligraphy create an enchanting interior space where the King came to visit his wife’s remains, before he died in 1666, with himself eventually interred at her side.
This was a love story I didn't know until a week before my trip, when I googled about the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The story moved me greatly; the knowing of a love so transcending and strong, even if it is deemed by some to be of dangerous proportions.
On the 2nd night of our stay, we were ferried by coach to watch a stage performance of the epic love story behind Taj Mahal. The modern theatre stood out against the tired-looking structures in the vicinity. I gathered the theatre must be their equivalent of our Marina Bay Sands. We took our seats and the show soon started. The stage performance was in Hindi but interestingly the music and dialogue wasn't 'live'. It was pre-recorded; the actors lip-sync'ed through the various scenes. Possibly because the performance is intended to include an international audience, each seat was accompanied by a headphone in which audience members can select into the language of their choice. The elaborate set, colorful sparkling costumes of true indian ethnicity, and the nicely choreographed dancing was fabulous to watch. The acting was also commendable.
Most of all, I bought into the simple love story between a mighty ruler and the love of his life. She was his inseparable companion, a trusted confidante, accompanying him even on military ventures. They had an affection so deep, that her unexpected death left him completely broken. I was a little affected after the performance, which clearly wasn't shared by any of my stone-faced companions. It was one of those moments you wished you had someone who shared your sentiment.
Maybe it was my identifying with the story that endeared me to the Taj, that I happily jumped at a 2nd visit to the architectural masterpiece when the meeting concluded on the 3rd day. It was a lot more fun with the other delegates, compared to the first trip with my sourpuss of a boss for company. It felt surreal to be in the Taj, as I tried to imagine how life must have been like during those times. Hard to picture all of that took place almost 400 years ago...
While the arch-and-dome profile of clean white marble is iconic, other beauties lie in the Taj Mahal’s painstaking details: inlaid semi-precious stones and carvings and Koranic verse in calligraphy create an enchanting interior space where the King came to visit his wife’s remains, before he died in 1666, with himself eventually interred at her side.
This was a love story I didn't know until a week before my trip, when I googled about the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The story moved me greatly; the knowing of a love so transcending and strong, even if it is deemed by some to be of dangerous proportions.
On the 2nd night of our stay, we were ferried by coach to watch a stage performance of the epic love story behind Taj Mahal. The modern theatre stood out against the tired-looking structures in the vicinity. I gathered the theatre must be their equivalent of our Marina Bay Sands. We took our seats and the show soon started. The stage performance was in Hindi but interestingly the music and dialogue wasn't 'live'. It was pre-recorded; the actors lip-sync'ed through the various scenes. Possibly because the performance is intended to include an international audience, each seat was accompanied by a headphone in which audience members can select into the language of their choice. The elaborate set, colorful sparkling costumes of true indian ethnicity, and the nicely choreographed dancing was fabulous to watch. The acting was also commendable.
Most of all, I bought into the simple love story between a mighty ruler and the love of his life. She was his inseparable companion, a trusted confidante, accompanying him even on military ventures. They had an affection so deep, that her unexpected death left him completely broken. I was a little affected after the performance, which clearly wasn't shared by any of my stone-faced companions. It was one of those moments you wished you had someone who shared your sentiment.
Maybe it was my identifying with the story that endeared me to the Taj, that I happily jumped at a 2nd visit to the architectural masterpiece when the meeting concluded on the 3rd day. It was a lot more fun with the other delegates, compared to the first trip with my sourpuss of a boss for company. It felt surreal to be in the Taj, as I tried to imagine how life must have been like during those times. Hard to picture all of that took place almost 400 years ago...