Footsteps - Jotaro's Travels
Intoxicating India : 9th to 16th February 2013
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DAY 6 : 14TH FEBRUARY 2013
Today is the BIG day!
Today is Valentine's Day, and what better way to celebrate the day of love than to visit a monument to love - the Taj Mahal; a building that looks so simple but yet so elegantly captivating that it is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
A. GOODBYE JAIPUR & ONWARD TO FATEHPUR SIKRI
We left Jaipur "The Pink City" early in the morning and headed east towards Agra, towards the Taj Mahal. Enroute we will stop at Fatehpur Sikri, where the is an UNESCO Heritage Site - a shrine to a saint.
It's going to be a long 5 hours journey, so might as well sit back and enjoy the passing scenery. Hah... a unique Indian temple! (please excuse the blurry photo, it was taken through the bus window.)
A van bulging to the seams with its cargo.
At one of the rest stops (or more accurately pee stop) there was a handicraft shop selling antiquish items such as the black silver shield and swords above.
A wood carving of a man-elephant head.
A wood carving of a Rajasthan soldier.
B. JAMA MOSQUE, FATEHPUR SIKRI
Finally after a five hour bus ride we reached our first destination - Fatehpur Sikri, here in this city we will be visiting the Jama Mosque, a listed UNESCO Heritage Site. Our bus parked a distance away and through a hillock the buildings of the mosque could be seen popping up.
Our tour bus had to park a distance away as only these Natural Gas operated site tour buses are allowed into the vicinity of the mosque. This is in line with reducing corrosive pollution that could damage the old buildings.
We were let off just at the base of the building, looking upwards, it was awe-inspiring - the entrance arch sits high on a platform at least fifty feet up; the steps leading up forming like a cut off pyramid. To one lower side is a hall.
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| Climbing up the steep stairs to the entrance arch of the Jama Mosque |
The Jama Mosque was built in 1571-1575 by Sheikh Salim Chisti, of dark red sandstone, it stands out distinctly against the bright sky blue background.
According to the guide, this mosque is privately owned and maintained, and is not under the fold of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It is a stately building, but maintenance could be improved as can be seen by the photo of the entrance arch, fungus are growing and hanging down from the dome ceiling!
Inside is an immensely huge courtyard, around four acres in size!
Withing this courtyard lies a contrasting white marble building standing out against the red. In here is the tomb of the Sufi saint Salim Chisti, he's a patron saint for babies.
That's why this lady is here, to prayer that she gets a healthy baby.
On the four sides are corridors & rooms with resplendent archways.
With that we left this UNESCO Heritage Site.
Oops! Must not forget our shoes which we took off at the entrance!
See, now shoes are allowed inside.
C. FATEHPUR SIKRI TO AGRA
On the way down to Agra, it will be a two hours journey, so I might as well take in the scenery.
Vegetable sellers at a rural market.
Cows resting in the hot weather.
Uniformed school children rushing to school in a motor rickshaw.
Reached our Agra hotel - the Mansingh Palace - we were greeted by the yellow uniformed doorman. Quickly freshening up, we are ready for the most important site of our holiday - the TAJ MAHAL!
D. THE TAJ MAHAL
It was so appropriate to visit the Taj Mahal on this day - Valentine's day. Seeing an icon to day on a day dedicated to love. The Taj Mahal is actually a mausoleum built by Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
Petrol-driven vehicles are not allowed into the vicinity of the Taj Mahal, we took this electric operated bus.
Others who are more adventurous or romantic could try these horse trams.
From the moment you step into the entrance archway building (called the Great Gate), you will be prepped into a mood of anticipation.
From inside the Great Gate archway, the Taj Mahal can be seen a distance away, standing proud and pure - unblemished by any other buildings.
The designers of old have done well to create this mood setting.
From the Great Gate it is almost half a kilometer walk to the Taj Mahal itself. But the large garden grounds make this walk a nice comfortable, leisurely walk.
Up close the building itself even looks grander! I can understand why it is one of the Seven Wonders of the New World.
On each side of the Taj Mahal, are to red sandstone buildings, both identical but mirror images. On the left, shown above, is a mosque.
While on the right is a guest palace. The red-sandstone contrasts the white marble of the Taj Mahal, augmenting its purity and beauty.
The four outlying minarets are built slightly slanting outwards from the main building; this is in case of any mishap and should they collapse the will fall away from the building.
The lower walls have panels decorated with painted flowery motifs with semi-precious stone inlays.
Photography is not allowed inside the tomb area; but I manage to squeeze a shot from the outside, through the opening of the lattice panel.
At the rear, the Yamuna River flows nearby.
Our tour leader had timed our visit right so that as we left the place, we can admire the Taj Mahal take on a yellowish sheen in the setting sun.
E. THE KALAKRITI HANDICRAFT SHOP
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| Kalakriti entrance arch Doorway with marble inlay panels |
After the Taj Mahal we visited another handicraft shop, the Kalakrtit center - one operated by the State Government. A boon for me as I love art.
Just right inside, we were greeted by a large brass statue of Buddha. It is not surprising to find statues of Buddha in India, after-all he and the religion originated from India.
Again, we were shown the process of producing the marble in-laid artwork. But the big secret was withheld from us - i.e. the type of natural gum used to stick the semi-precious stones in.
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| Peacoks in semi-precious inlaid marble table top. |
A tall water flask with semi-precious stone inlays.
Oil painting of an Indian mother & her infant child.
Chest of drawers with mother-of-pearl inlay.
Back at the hotel for dinner, we had a surprise for Yong. It's his birthday today, and on Valentine's Day too!
There was a birthday cake waiting for him to cut after dinner. We all sang a good birthday song for him, he blew out the candles and cut the cake. I wonder what he wished for? More fun travelling? Peace in Kashmir?
Goodnight, till tomorrow then.
Salaam!
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