“Konark” also called the Sun Temple

The Temple was built in the 13th century AD by the Ganga Dynasty. It is well known as ‘The Sun Temple’, it is also known as ‘The Black Pagoda’ which is generally not in use. Legend has it that, the son of Lord Krishna was suffering from leprosy caused about by the curse that was inflicted upon his father. He was finally cured by ‘Surya’ (The Sun God) after 12 years of self imposed penance. This led him to build a temple in his honor, thus the name ‘Sun temple’.

This ancient monument was built by Raja Narsimhadeva, who belonged to the Ganga Dynasty. The shrine is a display of human grandeur which is carved out to the finest details with unmatchable precision. It is very similar to the gigantic chariot, also bearing seven horses pulling the 24 wheeled chariot with effort. It has a three tiered pyramidal roof which has an extended spine on the top. The seven horses in the monument represent the seven days of the week and the 24 horses represent 24 hours of a day which is deemed a brilliant concept.

Its architectural significances have been commendable and the sculptures have been sculpted to the tee with laudable precision. Every facet of life is represented in the monument, the erotic images carved on them symbolizes human love and their different manifestations. Scenes from courts, war and social life have been intricately carved on the monument. The meticulous hand work has been appreciated and also has been every sculptors dream work.

The temple was slightly differently built compared to all the other temples of the region. It has two small outer halls separated completely from the main structure. The assembly hall and the tower were built on an impressive platform, which were accurately crafted into twelve pairs of decorative wheels, each extending 10 feet wide. There is a broad flight of steps at the entrance which is flanked by the prancing horses on either side. The entire scene depicts the sun God traveling across the heavens. The length of the temple is decorated with beautiful sculptures. The temple is protected under the World Heritage List.

The Chandrabhaga Mela also called the Maha Saptami Mela is a grand religious festival celebrated here, where thousands of people come to take a holy dip in the curative waters which is followed by watching the sun rise from the far off beach. After which a Nava Graha Puja is done.

Diwali – Bring on the lights!!

It is that time of the year again where children look forward to a nice week of holidays filled with lights, lamps and crackers, not to forget the sweets and the food. Diwali, also called Deepavali in other places in India, is a much awaited festival in all parts of the country. It symbolises the arrival of good luck and success and money into everyone's lives. It ushers in new ventures and a year ahead filled with hopes of a good and prosperous life ahead.

Diwali is celebrated with prayers and offerings to the Goddess Lakshmi who is the Goddess of money and wealth. That apart it is famously known as the festival of lights. On the days this festival is celebrated people clean their houses, decorate it with flowers and lamps. Diwali is never complete however without the crackers. This time of the year the manufacturers of crackers are the busiest as people flock to buy these crackers to celebrate with family and friends. The profits gained during this festival are enormous.

Diwali is celebrated for various reasons. Each religion in this country has a different reason to celebrate this festival. One famous story is that Diwali is celebrated to mark the last harvest of the year just before winter sets in. Keeping in mind this reason Goddess Lakshmi is thanked for all the success and people pray for a wonderful year ahead with lot more success.

Another theory that holds good here is that Diwali was first celebrated to welcome King Ram when he came back to his kingdom Ayodhya after 14 long years in the forest. To celebrate his arrival people lit rows of lamps and thus Diwali came into existence. In the southern part of the country people believe that Diwali is celebrated to mark the death of Demon Narakasura at the hands of Lord Krishna.

In some other religions like Jainism the story is a different one.
In the Jain culture it is believed that diwali is celebrated to remember the Nirvana of Lord Mahavira. In Sikhism Diwali symbolises the release of the 6th Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji.

What ever the reason Diwali is a festival celebrated by everyone in this country irrespective of their religion. It actually brings together people from different parts of the country and different religions. Children have the maximum fun with days filled with good food, great sweets, new clothes and evenings filled with bursting crackers. It is a common sight in India to see people light lamps and decorate their houses on Diwali, greeting neighbours, friends and family alike, children running around the house screaming, bursting crackers outside. The louder you can celebrate this festival, the more fun it is!!

Ajanta Caves

Buddhism is not one of the most popular religions in India. So you won’t find many Buddhist temples in India, but if you are interested in knowing about the origins and history of Buddhism then Ajanta Caves are the place to visit. They are located about 40 Kms from the Jalgaon city which is in Maharashtra, India. These are basically a series of 29 cave temples which stretch across east to west. Out of these 30 caves, 9, 10, 19, 26 and 29 are chaitya-grihas and all other are monasteries. These caves are rock cut and carved on a cliff along the Waghora River. It was around second century BC-AD that these caves were built.
These caves have some of the greatest Buddhist art masterpieces and sculptures which encompass both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhist traditions. The paintings in the caves of Ajanta give you a lot of knowledge about the life of Gautam Buddha who was the founder of Buddhism. Apart from these illustrations you will also find many popular Jataka Stories pertaining to bodhistavas. The caves are actually built in two periods, both of them separated by each other by a gap of four centuries.
Most of the caves are quite dark from inside and it is very hard to see the paintings in pitch darkness. So you need to purchase a special lighting ticket, on production of which the guards inside the cave will switch on the lights and you can see the paintings glowing in there original colors.
It is believed that these paintings were carved on a dry surface. Before starting with the painting, a thick layer of cow dung and clay mixed with rice husks was applied on the rocky surface. Finally a coat of lime was applied on the surface and then the artisans started painting.
There are 29 caves; in the first cave you will find paintings of women, Bodhisattvas and Jataka paintings. The most popular is Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and Bodhisattva Padmapani. In the second cave you will find paintings related to Buddha’s birth. In cave 3 and 4 you will find unfinished images of Buddha. Cave sixth is two storied and you will find a seated image of Buddha. The tenth cave is said to be the oldest cave and it contains sculptures from Hinayana and Mahyana period. Cave 17 contains the best known images at the Ajanta caves. In this way there are 29 Caves, each one of them unique in on way or the other.
The Ajanta caves contain one of the best pieces of Indian art. They depict the rich Indian culture and heritage.

Dusshera - The Victory Of Good Over Evil

Vijayadashami or Dusshera is one of the most popularly celebrated festivals in India. Dusshera is the victory of good over evil. According to the Hindu calendar it is celebrated on the tenth day of the Hindu month Ashwina.
According to the Hindu mythology it is believed that all the good things were present in the ruler of Ayodhya, the god king Ram. It is on this day that Ram killed Ravan who was the ruler of Lanka and had abducted his wife Sita. Lord Ram fought a courageous battle along with his brother Lakshman and his devote Lord Hanuman with an army of monkeys. This battle was fought for 10 days after which Ram killed the king of Lanka Ravan. After rescuing his wife Sita ram went to Ayodhya. It was exactly after 20 days that Ram reached Ayodhya and after this every year this day is celebrated as Diwali.
Dusshera is considered as one of the most auspicious day in Hindu mythology and is said to be the best day to start any new work. When the month of Ashwina starts it is called as the beginning of the navratra. With it also starts the dramatization of Ramayana. It is on the tenth day that a huge statue of Ravan is created and is filled with crackers. These effigies of Ravan with Meghnada and Kumbhakarna are burnt with a lot of pomp and show.
This day is also celebrated as Durga Puja or Kali Puja in Bengal. While in Ayodhya it is celebrated as the worship of goddess Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Shakti. In Bangalore it is celebrated as the worship of goddess Chamundeshwari who is borne on an elephant mounted throne and then worshipped throughout the city. In Karnataka it is celebrated in the form of Ayudh Puja.
On this day the good got victorious over evil, hence it is considered very auspicious. Many people start all there new ventures on this day. All the tools for agriculture, school books, pens, machines and household articles are placed before the idols of goddess Durga and Sarwasti and are worshipped.
These festivals show the diverse culture and rich heritage of India. It shows how different people celebrate the same day in different style but with a lot of fanfare. These festivals play a great role in bonding different cultures and showing how there can be unity in diversity.

The Red Fort

As with many other buildings built by the Mughals, the red fort also started out to serve a purpose but ended up serving the Mughals in a different way. The red fort was built primarily for military reasons by Akbar in 1565. It was then converted into a palace by Shah Jahan. The red fort went on to have a lot more additions built in by Shah Jahan's grandsons during their respective reigns. The additional monuments credited to this fort are many but it is basically characterised by 20 ft high walls. Within these high imposing walls you feel you have entered a city within the fort.


The Diwan – e – Am and the Diwan- e – Khas are without doubt the structures that were used completely by the Mughal emperors. The Diwane – e –Am was used as the hearing hall where the emperor listened to the woes and worries of his people and the people found solutions to their problems. This structure originally made of wood but then later converted to it's present form by Shah Jahan has clear indications of the emperor's oh-so-obvious style of architecture complete with floral motifs and carvings. Interestingly this hall of public hearing gives way to the Nagina mosque and the ladies bazaar. This was a one-of-it's kind bazaar where only ladies were allowed to sell their goods to the Moghul royalty way back then. The Diwan – e- Khas encompasses the hall of private audience. It is here that the famed peacock throne was placed.


With the Diwane – e- Khas described it is now time for the octagonal tower. This tower has a sad story to say. It witnessed Shah Jahan spend the last seven years of his life imprisoned by his son here. It also is supposed to have given the imprisoned emperor an excellent view of the Taj Mahal during his last few days. Shah Jahan also had a palace built for his son Jehangir within this very same fort and it is rightly called the Jehangir Palace. The Mina-Masjid and the Moti – Masjid are also housed within this fort.

Among the rest of the structures within this fort are the Machhi Bhawan (fish enclosure), Sheesh Mahal which is completely made of glass and was meant to be a dressing room with little mirrors lining the walls, Jehangir Mahal being one of the few buildings with a Hindu architecture inkling in it, Angora Baugh the well kept geometric gardens, Golden Pavilions built basically for Shah Jahan's daughters and the Mussman Burj where the great emperor Shah Jahan breathed his last.

Hawa Mahal – The Pink City's Pride

India has been ruled for years by royal families. Although of those families only a rare few exist and even fewer live their lives in the past grandeur, the monuments and sculptures built by these ruling families still stand to date, proud and poised as the only reminder of a royal life once lived. Of them the Rajput rulers have endowed Indian land with a number of masterpieces and Hawa Mahal is indeed one of the finest accomplishments of their culture. The captivating view of this five-storey structure is enough to add worth to your vacations. This is the reason for Hawa Mahal being visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists from different corners of the world. If you are planning a vacation to Rajasthan, this glorious landmark is a must to visit.

Hawa Mahal is located in Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, India. It is located near the City Palace of Jaipur. Apart from this castle of winds, there are many other well-sculpted monuments in this city. The Pink city as Jaipur is more fondly called holds the Hawa Mahal on the peak of the various other monuments built here.


It was under the rule of Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh that Hawa Mahal was given its existence in the year 1799. The famous designer Lal Chand Usta was given the responsibility to construct it in the form of a crown of Lord Krishna. Since then, it has become the icon of Pink City of India called Jaipur.


The depiction of Rajputana culture on this monument is one of the most enchanting highlights of Hawa Mahal. The pyramid like shape of this structure provides an attractive appeal to this palace. The red and pink sandstones have been utilized for rendering beautiful design to this landmark. There are as many as 953 windows, commonly known as jharokhas, which allow the breeze circulation inside this palace. Now, you must have understood the origin of the name given to this site.

Constructed for royal women of Rajput dynasty, it has been successful in keeping the Indian culture alive for so many years.


You may visit this palace round the year, but in order to enjoy a favorable climate, it is recommended to plan your trip in the months from October to February. It is also suggested to visit the palace early morning to witness a spectacular view of Hawa Mahal, basking in the glory of golden rays of sun.
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THE GOLDEN TEMPLE

Indian culture and heritage are things that represent this country for what it is. Look at the monuments erected in this amazing country that follows a number of religions and speaks numerous dialects. The history of this country has been enriched by the people who lived in harmony, by people who preached different religions and also by the invaders who invaded India time and again leaving it a little less rich sometimes and a little wealthier at other times. The people however have tried to maintain harmony in their lives being true to their religions and being tolerant and respectful to others religions. A standing example of one such architectural masterpiece is the Golden Temple at Amritsar. True to its name this temple is made completely of pure gold and is the sacred pilgrimage center of the Sikhs.

The Golden Temple more famously known as the Harmandir Sahib or the Sri Mandir Sahib in India derives its name from Hari (The Hindu God) – the temple of God. The idea of building a sacred place of worship for the Sikhs was conceived and styled by Guru Arjan Sahib. The plan included an Amritsarovar or Amritsar (the holy tank) whose excavation was supposed to be initiated by Guru Amardas Sahib but was finally executed by Guru Ramdas Sahib.

This piece of architecture has an interesting history to it. It is almost as if it was deliberately crafted to bring harmony between the Hindus and the Muslims, two religions that have been in constant conflict with each other. The Golden Temple had its foundation laid by a Muslim saint Hazrat Mian Mir Ji of Lahore. The construction of the temple later on was supervised by Guru Arjan Sahib himself along with help from various other prominent Sikh personalities of the time. The temple's take on architecture is a little different from the rather conventional style of Hindu temples. In contrast to Hindu temples, the golden temple is built on a lower level than an elevated one and also has four entrance gates, one on each side. This was mainly executed with an eye towards opening the gates of the temple to one and all irrespective of caste, creed and religion.

The golden temple stands on a 64 sq ft square platform in the middle of the tank (sarovar). An arch welcomes the entrance of a bridge that runs around the perimeter of the shrine and leads down to steps. An outstanding part of the architecture of the temple is the Gumbaz (dome) that sits on the third storey of the Golden Temple completely adorned with lotus petal motifs and "Kalash" (pot). All in all, this architectural masterpiece represents the harmonious relationships between different religions in India and cemented the architectural style of the Sikhs in history.

INDIA GATE

Delhi being the capital of India is definitely the place to visit. Not just because it is also called the fashion capital of the country but for the amazing sights it has to offer. If you are in Delhi you have to start your journey from the India Gate. This magnificent structure is built on the Rajpath, the road that leads to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. This massive gate stands tall at 160 feet and has an arch that is 138 feet high. It was originally called the All India War Memorial. Built by Edwin Lutyens this gate had its foundation stone laid on February 10th, 1921 by the Duke of Connaught.


As with every important Indian structure the India Gate also has a story and significance behind it. This structure has found its importance in Indian history for being built to commemorate the sacrifice made by brave Indian soldiers who died in the World War I and the Afghan wars. The India Gate however bears a strong resemblance to the Arc de Triomphe of Paris. This inspirational structure has the following words inscribed on it stirring the hearts of everyone who stands before it and reads it –

" To the dead of the Indian armies who fell honored in France and Flanders Mesopotamia and Persia East Africa Gallipoli and elsewhere in the near and the far east and in sacred memory also of those whose names are recorded and who fell in India or the North-West frontier and during the Third Afghan war. "

The architecture of the India Gate however resembles that of the arch in Victoria Park in Leicester, England which was also incidentally built by Lutyens. Standing tall and proud the India gate gives you an amazing view of the Rashtrapati Bhavan from it's base. The surrounding lush green lawns make it the best tourist place for children and adults alike. But without a doubt, the best the India Gate is remembered and respected for all through the country and the world alike is for the Amar Jawan Jyothi literally translating to mean the flame of the immortal warrior. It has to its credit an eternal flame that has been burning since the year 1971, the year in which hundreds of soldiers lost their lives in the Indo-Pak war. This bright flame that burns day and night marks the Unknown Soldiers Tomb.



The shrine is a black marble commemorative plaque which has a rifle placed in front of it, crested by a soldier's helmet as a symbol of respect to all the brave soldiers who laid down their lives in war, fighting for the country. This black marble monument has the words "Amar Jawan" (immortal warrior) written on all four faces. This mark of respect was unveiled on January 26th, 1972 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The archway itself built of red stone has India written on both sides of it along with the dates MCMXIV (1914) on the left and MCMXIX (1919) on the right. All in all the India Gate is the greatest tribute paid to the Indian soldiers and it etches the memory of all the men who lost lives in war deep down in everyone's heart.


While standing in front of this awe inspiring structure as the light of the day fades, one finds it only normal to raise one's hand in salute, to all the brave martyrs of war.

EXPLORE INDIA – START FROM THE GATEWAY

The history of India holds many a story to say. Of great emperors and foreign invaders, India has seen it all. Of all this today a lot many monuments and structures are left standing, as if never to let the world forget this country's colorful history. Saying a similar story is the Gateway of India. Located in the finance capital of India, Mumbai earlier known as Bombay, this structure was built as a memorabilia to the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in the December of 1911 before the darbar in Delhi. The foundation of this massive structure was laid in March 1911 but the final design of this much talked of structure was sanctioned only in August 1914 much to the relief of it's architect George Wittet. As with any architectural structure the foundation being the most important part of the it, the foundation for the Gateway Of India was completed in the year 1920, during which the reclamations for land on which the new sea wall along with the gateway was accomplished. The original plan for the Gateway included a boulevard that would find its way to the centre of the town. But unfortunately this never saw the light of the day due to lack of funds and to date the Gateway remains at an angle, facing the road that it leads to.

This amazing colonial structure is actually built in the Indo- Saracenic style with borrowed elements from the Islamic architectural styles of 16th century Gujarat. Built from yellow Kharodi and reinforced concrete this structure stands tall at 83 feet and the central dome has a diameter of 48 feet it cost the Indian government a whopping 21 lakhs. The final construction of the Gateway was however completed in the year 1924 and it was thrown open to the public on December 4th by the then Viceroy, Earl of Reading. The steps behind the Gateway lead to the waterfront where today you can enjoy the laudable natural harbor of Mumbai.

Today the Gateway of India is a must see for Indians along with anyone who visits this country. Mumbaiites are proud of this beautiful and imposing structure which finds its place among the splendid sights of India. The Gateway of India also represents the remnants of the British rule in this country which lasted for a painfully long time and has left its stamp on the face of India. Ironically, this structure that was conceived to commemorate the British visits to India ended up as an epitaph to the British rule in this country. As it bid farewell to the last British troops to leave India, the First Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry that passed through the Gateway on February 28th, 1948 it also heralded a new beginning in the history of this country that fought it's way to freedom through will and determination on the path of non violence.

THE QUTUB MINAR

The Qutub Minar is one among the many Indo-Islamic structures that found their place in India, thanks to the Muslim invaders who built many such structures during their reign in this beautiful country. The Qutub Minar found its home in Delhi. It is easily accessible from any part of the city. At 72.5 meters this imposing 13th century structure is hard to miss. As for stories of why the Qutub Minar was built, you can hear a variety of colorful stories from the people residing in Delhi. In a pursuit to clear the air, here's the literal meaning of the word Qutub; it means "Pole of Justice". So as the name suggests, it is said that it was built to celebrate the victory of Mohammed Ghori over the Rajputs. The Qutub Minar was housed in a complex which consisted of various other Islamic structures among which is the Quuwat-ul-Islam mosque which is one of the first mosques built by the Muslim kings. Thus came the theory that the Qutub Minar was also a tower built for the Muslim priest to climb up for prayer as in the Muslim custom.

The Qutub Minar is often referred to as India's answer to The Leaning Tower of Pisa. Both these structures are the pride of the cities that they are built in and are famous in their own ways that tourists flock to visit these places every year. The similarity however ends here. The Qutub Minar is one of the first Indo-Islamic structures to be built in India. It welcomed a new kind of architecture called the Indo-Islamic architecture which was an amalgamation of both Hindu and Islamic architectural styles. Time to mention the man behind the existence of this great structure, the great emperor Qutub-ud-din-Aibak. He started the construction of this massive tower in 1192 with the help of Indian architects and sculptors. He however lived to see only the first tower of the Qutub Minar standing proud. The rest of the tower was completed by his successor and son-in-law Iltumish. Going into the architectural details, the Qutub Minar stands tall at 72.5 meters and measures a diameter of 14.32m at the base and around 2.75m at the top. The three storeys of this amazing tower are painfully symmetric giving it that dizzying ring of harmony but on close inspection one finds that the three stories are different in their styles. The base storey consists of alternating circular and angular flutings, while the second storey has only the circular flutings. As opposed to the second storey the third one has only angular flutings. The Qutub Minar considering its height was easily prone to being struck by lightning and true to its height the tower was struck twice during its lifetime. The first time it was struck, the then emperor Mohammed-bin-Tughlaq rebuilt the damaged tower dutifully. The second time though, the tower was struck during the reign of Feroze-shah-Tughlaq. Being an effervescent builder himself he not only rebuilt the damaged tower but also awarded the already tall structure with one more level and so this tower came to be finally standing tall and proud as if keeping an eye out for the city it was built on.

While talking of the Qutub Minar it would be a sacrilege not to mention the iron pillar that stands close by within the Qutub complex. This intriguing pillar dates back to the 4th century and bears signs of being built in honor of Lord Vishnu and also in memory of the great King Chandra Gupta of the Gupta dynasty. This pillar, I refer to as intriguing because it is literally a standing example of India's prowess in the field of metallurgy that dated back centuries. This iron pillar is built of 98% wrought iron and to date stands tall without having rusted or decomposed over the years of exposure to different weather conditions. The sights this country has to offer will never cease to amaze me or any one visiting this country. Any one tempted to witness these wonders for themselves, have to pay a visit to India and you will know at once why this country is rightly called, the Land of Wonders.

CELEBRATING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS – RAAKHI

India, as everyone would like to call it, is a land of festivals, culture and tradition. Agreed, but so is every other nation. We may be a bit louder and prouder of our festivals, culture and tradition. But no where in the world are relationships celebrated as much as it is here in this country. Be it weddings, engagements; birthdays or in general festivals, Indians celebrate it with all their heart. Among these is such a festival that celebrates a relationship that would probably not be celebrated anywhere else in the world. We call it raakhi or more elaborately, Rakshaa Bandhan. Literally translated Rakshaa means protection and Bandhan means to bind. It is a festival celebrating the pure sibling relationship. As the name suggests it is the bond of love, trust and protection between a brother and a sister.

Getting down to the rituals, on this auspicious day the sister ties a silk thread that is more famously called raakhi by us Indians, on her brother's wrist. Also accompanying this act are the ceremonial pujas. With tying a raakhi around her brother's wrist, a sister is praying for his well being and wishes that her brother is protected from all evil. The brother on the other hand by getting a raakhi tied on his hand is being reminded of the life long responsibility of protecting and taking care of his sister. He pledges to be there for her during her difficult times and also be a part of the happy ones. Once the raakhi is tied, the sisters are showered with gifts as a gesture of a brother's love.

The origin of this one-of-a-kind festival goes back many hundred years. Its evolution goes something like this. Rakshaa Bandhan is celebrated on the Shravan Purnima or the full moon day of the Shravan month. This incidentally falls around mid-august. In the ancient times Rakshaa Bandhan was not celebrated only between siblings. It only signified the strengthening of any relationship. Wives tied raakhis on their husband's wrist with the hope and prayer of warding off any evil in their lives. Rishis (saints) would tie holy silken threads around their follower's wrists. All this was done with the sole intention of warding off all evil and protecting the person around whose wrist the raakhi is tied. Slowly this ritual turned into strengthening the bond of love between a brother and sister.

One may wonder if it is after all such a big deal that a whole festival is devoted to this relationship between siblings. I suggest, you drop into any of the Indian households on the day of raakhi and you will go back home with all your answers. A household is lit up with lights and decorated with flowers. As you walk in you smell the fragrance of camphor and incense sticks, thanks to the prayers and rituals performed on this day. The highlight of the day is of course the ceremony of tying the raakhi. Brothers fly in from anywhere in the world to be with their sisters on this particular day. So, it is also a way of keeping relationships alive, a means of spending happy and joyous times with your loved ones and renewing the memories of your childhood. Suddenly in between busy lives and hectic schedules the sister reminisces when her brother was the best guy in the world and she would trust him with her life, he would protect her from the school bully, even if the bully was twice as big as her brother. It is a time when the brother looks at his sister as the little girl he so adores, and has kept an eye out for, hoping to catch her every time she stumbled and wished the best for her all his life. It is this feeling that sparkles lovingly in their eyes during the rituals, when the sister ties the raakhi around her brother's wrist. It is happy giggles when the girls are given their gifts from their brothers and a joyous celebration filled with food, talk and laughter follows.

Today Rakshaa Bandhan has broken the constraints of being restricted between biological relations as some would like to call it. It has stretched to the ties of trust between any two people who are willing to look out for each other and wish for the best of this world for each other. Be it your next door neighbor or the friend you have come to trust over the years, try celebrating this amazing festival with them and see the bonds of your relationships grow stronger.

THE TAJ MAHAL - A STORY WELL TOLD

As I walk down the road that leads towards the greatest tribute to love, history ever witnessed I find myself overwhelmed by the sheer genius of what stands in front of me. The Taj Mahal in all its glory is without doubt the most priced possession of India. When you think of what this great country has to offer in terms of cultural heritage, monumental bliss, historical wealth among others it's hard to miss the Taj Mahal. Built in the seventeenth century, this Moghul masterpiece has a story to say. A story that has been repeated through history time and again, but fails to lose the magic that creates a longing in any traveler who sets foot in this country.


A bountiful has been written about this masterpiece over the years giving you the minute details of what this beautiful work of art is all about. Built in white marble it is truly as the great emperor Shah Jahan who conceived the idea of building it called it, "Heaven on Earth ". This breathtaking double domed structure stands on a raised platform, as if taking pride in its existence. And why not, the Taj Mahal with it's swollen central dome rising to a height of 21 ft, surrounded by additional domed chambers, complete with minarets and a design that makes it an irregular octagon, embedded into which is the interlocking arabesque concept which allows the elements stand independent, blending into the mother structure, is purely an architectural wonder. Its beauty is beyond measure and trying to describe it would only be futile. But I find it hard to stop myself from voicing out in admiration as I stand before this marvelous structure wondering what the feeling would be like that could evoke such passion in a man to drive him to build such a lovely work of art. The Taj truly is not just a work of skilled hands and hardworking laborers who broke their backs for more than twenty years to build it. It is undoubtedly the vision of a man who loved his wife with all his heart.


This amazing love story began when a beautiful Persian princess Arjumand Bano got married to Prince Khurram, who later went on to be known as Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan was the one who gave Arjumand Bano the name of Mumtaz Mahal which literally translates to mean the chosen of the palace. Shah Jahan loved his wife dearly and her beauty was rumored to be par excellence. As all love stories this story too took to a tragic end when Mumtaz Mahal died giving birth to their 14th child. It is said that Shah Jahan was so heartbroken that he refused to come out of mourning for years. However amidst all this the vision of building a monument so beautiful that the world would witness his love for his wife for ever took root in Shah Jahan's mind. If the stories are to be believed, Shah Jahan summoned the then famous architect Ustad Isa all the way from Persia to turn his vision into reality. Ustad Isa along with his trusted junior Ustad Ahmad began working on the humongous task put forth them by the banks of the river Yamuna where Mumtaz Mahal was last laid to rest. It took more than twenty thousand laborers and 22 years for this massive, phenomenal, out-of-this-world structure to come alive and stand in all it's grandeur before Shah Jahan. It did not end here. The Taj Mahal was adorned with Persian carpets and precious and semi precious stones from all over the world. These stones to date bejewel the Taj Mahal and I see them blinking at me as the light dances on them, as if smiling at the look of wonder on my face as I walk by them, trying to take in thousand years of history in my stride. Legend has it that once Shah Jahan set eyes on the wonder that he had dreamt of for his beloved wife he was so enthralled by it that he ordered the right hand of the architect amputated so that never again a structure of such beauty be built anywhere in the world, sealing the Taj Mahal's place in the wonders of history forever. Legend also has it that Shah Jahan envisioned a similar structure on the banks of the river Yamuna but in black marble. But before he could start on it he was deposed by his son Aurangazeb.


Today the Taj Mahal is among the wonders of the world. Tourists flock to see this work of love from all over the world. Besides its architectural richness which includes the verses of the Qu'ran etched on the walls of this snow-white structure, there is something about the Taj Mahal that stirs in you a sense of sadness, elation, pride in having witnessed this epic of love and wonder as to how they managed to build it all at once. As I walk by the replicas of the tombs of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan, the real ones being in the basement of the Taj Mahal, I find myself wondering who among them was luckier. The man who fell so deeply in love with this woman that he took to charity and serving the poor after having known that it made her happy or the woman who loved this man with her whole heart such that she could change his ways and make him a better emperor, whose love, even after her death, could inspire him to build such a phenomenal, pure structure as a tribute to her, the very same structure that the world knows as the greatest depiction of love in history. The Taj Mahal by itself is a mystery that holds a lot of secrets, secrets that have been running as rumors for years now or secrets that went untold.


The Taj Mahal knows it all and you may even feel that it has something to say to you. But as I gaze at it, at its beautiful best bathed in the moonlight with the sparkling river beside it to keep it company I realize in spite of all the legends, the Taj Mahal is a story well told.