Saturday was our much anticipated trip to Agra and the Taj Mahal! After waking up to leave at 6, we arrived in Agra around lunch time and piled into golf carts for the short trip down to the Taj. We cannot speak for everyone, but the Taj lived up to every previous expectation. The majesty of the entire site is overwhelming, especially considering that it was constructed hundreds of years ago.
The son of Shah Jahan, the Taj builder, also built a famous landmark in Agra – Agra Fort. After visiting the Taj Mahal, we had a guided tour of the fort. Before returning to Delhi, we stopped at a local restaurant for dinner and drinks. One of the things that struck us while visiting the two sites in Agra is the interplay between family and religion in Indian culture. The Taj was built for Shah Jahan's dead wife as a monument to honor her. It is built in Muslim style with readings from the Quran on its face.
On the other hand, Shah Jahan's son, Aurangzeb built Agra Fort with a combination of Muslim and Hindi traditions to accommodate his two wives. Aurangzeb arrested his father because of their differing religious values, including excessive use of state money to build the Taj Mahal and taxing non-Muslims in Agra. We have also witnessed the variety of religious culture in modern India.
As previous blogs have explained, we have visited numerous religious sites. While they are strikingly different, we have noticed underlying similarities, such as the importance of family, significance of rituals, and respect for one another. In our short time here in India, we have grown to appreciate how the religious values permeate into everyday life. Indians go out of their way to accommodate guests. Whether it be a local store, restaurant, or salon, they treat every customer as a member of their family and do everything possible to make them feel at home.
Gotta go, the house is on fire. Literally. And there's no sign of Kishore.
the house ain't made of wood. can I get a head massage in peace? kg
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