Standing Before a Wonder: My First Look at the Majestic Taj Mahal [Part 2]

The Taj Mahal was nothing short of a masterpiece—its stunning white marble gleaming under the sun, far larger than I had imagined. The area leading up to it was expansive, much more open than I expected, and it stood there proudly, as though it knew its worth. The stories we had heard about its creation for the queen echoed in my mind, but nothing could truly prepare me for the feeling it radiated. The Taj Mahal exuded a powerful energy, something that’s rare to encounter anywhere else in the world. And maybe that’s why it’s called one of the Wonders of the World.

It was crowded, but the photographer we had was doing a great job keeping us entertained. Photo after photo, he made the experience fly by. I was just relieved that I wasn’t taking pictures alone; having T by my side made all the difference. I can’t explain how bad I usually look in photos, but with her? We looked fantastic—especially with that infectious smile of hers. We did have one struggle, though. When the photographer would call out, “3, 2, 1, look!” we’d always end up giggling like kids, unable to keep a straight face. But in our matching outfits, with the Taj Mahal as our backdrop, we looked like two pieces of cloud drifting away.

We finally made it to the Taj entrance, where we could see the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who the Taj Mahal was built in memory of. The guide pointed out the actual tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, which is located in a crypt underneath the main chamber, but visitors only see the ornamental replica of the tomb in the chamber above. The area is sacred, and we were asked to remain silent as a sign of respect. As our tour guide demonstrated the echo inside, many tourists attempted the same such as my mum, who in true mum fashion, couldn’t resist calling out my dad’s name to hear how it echoed. I’ve never laughed so hard—mainly because, for once, my mum was the one being told off like a child. She apologized, but the whole thing turned into a spectacle. The other tourists couldn’t hold back their laughter, especially as the security guard tried to snatch my mum’s phone. One of the Indian tourists stepped in and told the security guard to leave my mum alone—and, being Indian herself, the security guard actually backed off.

As we exited the tomb area, the tour guide stopped us and asked for our phone torches. He placed one against the intricate design on the Taj’s wall, and to our surprise, the marble design began to illuminate in a fascinating way. This effect is due to the marble’s unique qualities—when light is directed at certain areas of the wall, the mineral content causes it to reflect in a way that enhances the details of the carvings. He warned us that he wasn’t supposed to do this, so we had to look quickly. The Arab man behind me, curious about what was going on, asked what we were seeing. Naturally, I showed him, and I think I unknowingly started a chain of people doing the same—until, of course, the security lady probably had to shut it all down. At least we will be in her memory.

We made our way to the other side of the Taj, where we were greeted by a breathtaking scene—an expansive garden, known as the Char Bagh, and a serene stream of water flowing nearby. The Char Bagh is a Persian-style garden that symbolizes paradise, laid out in a symmetrical design with pathways and fountains leading up to the Taj Mahal. It’s designed to represent the Islamic concept of paradise—four rivers of life flowing in four directions. The Taj Mahal’s reflection shimmered across the water, creating an atmosphere that felt almost magical, peaceful, and otherworldly. The stream of water, part of the garden’s intricate design, was historically meant to enhance the beauty of the Taj while also representing the flow of life and the eternal connection between the living and the departed. T and I walked down to the water’s edge, soaking in the view and realizing that our first trip together had been as beautiful as we could have imagined. While the tour guide explained the history of the river, which was once used for irrigation and feeding the fountains of the Taj, I gazed into the distance and spotted a couple of cows—or so I thought. They were standing completely still, too still. I couldn’t decide if they were real cows or statues. To this day, I’m still not sure.

As we slowly made our way back, a small part of me felt at peace, knowing I had just completed my first Wonder of the World. The drive back was equally stunning. The sunset slowly dipped into the horizon, casting beautiful orange and red hues over us. But, of course, the usual issue with farmers burning something (who knows what it was) quickly turned the sky foggy as soon as the sun had set. On a less scenic note, I had the worst stomach issues I’ve ever experienced in the next 24 hours, but I’ll spare you the details.