Taj Mahal, India

What’s the first thought you have when thinking of travelling to India? For me it has always been to see the Taj Mahal which is one of the New Wonders of the world.

So Shehan and I made our way into Delhi, and we learnt the very important lesson of checking the weather in a country before travelling. We assumed it would be hot in India, but it was actually freezing and we were forced to buy warm clothes. So, a note to self and all of you: Always check the weather before heading to another country!

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Accommodation:

We stayed at a hotel called Lemon Tree Hotel, and we absolutely loved the place. What gave this hotel so much life was their staff! And what really touched our hearts was that most of them had a disability, yet they worked together so efficiently and with so much joy. The table mats in the restaurant were filled with jokes you could read while eating, and there were jokes hung up near the elevators and bathrooms as well to help with passing the time! The hotel was only 20 minutes away from the Delhi International Airport, but should you wish to get around the bustling city it would be best to check the travel duration on Google Maps as the traffic can get pretty intense.

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Taj Mahal:

Since I was a child I’ve always known about this iconic world wonder, and like I said before I’ve always dreamt of seeing it. So we packed our bags and left the hotel by 6am, and the journey took us 5 hours with one stop for breakfast in between. It was tiring, but worth every passing moment when we arrived at this breathtaking monument. The entrance was crowded as expected, but getting tickets was simple. Before you get there make sure you have the essentials:

• Passport
• Money
• Water
• Camera
• Phone

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Since the complex comprises of a mosque and a mausoleum (Taj Mahal) it would be best to dress in less revealing clothes. Tip: the pictures will always look better if you adorn Indian attire.

I also thought it would be important to note some of the prohibited items here:

• Food
• Cigarettes and lighters
• Tripods and lighting is prohibited
• Drones
• Photography inside the mausoleum

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Lockers can be rented outside the compound should you have any items on your person that you will be forced to leave behind.

The Great Gates stand at the entrance which is spectacular on its own. And yet it is nothing in comparison to the pristine white palace that lies inside. It’s hard to fathom how such a glorious monument was built so long ago in the 17th century using absolutely no technology. The marble domes are carved to perfection, while the craftsmanship of the intricate details would require such delicate work. It is hard to imagine it’s a mausoleum built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal when you’re standing outside in the shadow of its wonder.

It was truly a dream come true to visit the Taj Mahal, and I’m so excited to visit India again in the future to see what other beautiful treasures they have in store.