As if living in Rwanda is not enough, I recently jetted off for a week to India. I was fortunate enough to travel around New Delhi, Jaipur and Agra – the so called “Golden Triangle”
India was spectacular and I’m ready to write several blog entries from my first time on the Asian continent, but my favourite thing was by far the Taj Mahal.
India was spectacular and I’m ready to write several blog entries from my first time on the Asian continent, but my favourite thing was by far the Taj Mahal.
The monument far surpasses any representation of it, not only is it huge, but the artistry and craftsmanship are phenomenal on their own, not to mention the fact that it was all done over 400 years ago. The Taj Mahal was built by 22,000 people over 22 years and has got to be the most spectacular monument built in the name of love on the planet. Usually when one considers the great monuments of the world they are feats of engineering and technology built by a male who wants to demonstrate how b
ig his ego is. But the Taj is built in honour of a King’s wife; it’s a monument that symbolizes the generosity of love rather than immortalization of egoism. The reality of this hits you when you enter inside and look at the tombs of the King and Queen. The Queen’s tomb is perfectly in the center of the Taj and everything from the fountains to the entrance gate, mosque and guest house expand from her in perfect symmetry. The King, however, is squeezed into a space next to her, off center and clearly an afterthought to the design. Perhaps this was his last great gesture to her, even in the afterlife, to put her before his own royal ego and therefore immortalizing himself as a man best known for his extravagant devotion.
ig his ego is. But the Taj is built in honour of a King’s wife; it’s a monument that symbolizes the generosity of love rather than immortalization of egoism. The reality of this hits you when you enter inside and look at the tombs of the King and Queen. The Queen’s tomb is perfectly in the center of the Taj and everything from the fountains to the entrance gate, mosque and guest house expand from her in perfect symmetry. The King, however, is squeezed into a space next to her, off center and clearly an afterthought to the design. Perhaps this was his last great gesture to her, even in the afterlife, to put her before his own royal ego and therefore immortalizing himself as a man best known for his extravagant devotion. 
I hope I will get to see it one day. I didn't know why it was built.
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