The Daily Diary of a Wandering Restaurateur
January 29 - The Taj Mahal
From the first time you catch sight of it in the pre-sunrise mist until you glance back to it as you leave, this building compels your attention. I found it to be profoundly moving in a way I had never experienced before. Whether it was the symmetry of the design, the opalescent glow of the marble, the incredible detail work or just the sheer audacity of it, the Taj Mahal is a magical edifice ... and Sanjay, our guide, knew exactly where to be and when to be there to see it in its best light.
No cameras are allowed inside and everyone is required to wear shoe covers to protect the floors. No combustion engines are allowed within a certain radius of the building to help minimize the effects of pollution. I was floored to realize that all the decorative work -- and the building is covered with it, inside and out -- is all inlaid semi-precious stones. No wonder it took 22,000 workmen 22 years to build!
You can snap photos of this place all day and every one will be a little different as the light changes. You can see the difference in the shots I have included here ... and that was only over about a 90-minute time span.
If a picture is worth 1000 words ... what more can I say? This shot alone justifies the entire trip.
© 2009 Restaurant Doctor
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