The Taj Mahal and Other Wonders

Our day in Agra began almost as early as it had at the ashram, and before dawn we were standing outside the towering doors to the Taj Mahal. It was the perfect time to be there because we managed to avoid the thickest crowds and had the chance to watch the color of the marble palace evolve from bone white in the hazy dawn to a glowing ivory in the rising sun.

My guide book describes the Taj Mahal as: “the summation of Mughal architecture. Its proportions are stunningly simple. Its height is equal to the plinth on which it stands. The height of its façade is equal to the height of the bulbous dome above it.” It was built between 1631 and 1648 by Emperor Shah Jahan as a monument to his wife of 19 years, Mumtaz. The guide book goes on to explain that “white marble, brought from Makrana 300 km (186 miles) away in Rajasthan, adds to its ethereal beauty. So do the floral decorations, bands of black marble Arabic calligraphy and carved marble screens.”

What my guide book cannot even begin to describe is how truly awe-inspiring this legendary place is in person. Across the expanse of the still, rectangular pools and perfectly-manicured, symmetrical gardens, the palace looked like something from a dream. As we approached, we could make out the red flowers and the green vines adorning its walls and, close-up we could see the incredible workmanship of these images made, not in paint, but out of polished precious stones.

We left the Taj Mahal just as it was becoming truly crowded and took a bus to the Agra Fort. The fort is another “high point of Mughal architecture.” From the outside, the red stone of the ramparts look predictably austere and imposing, yet inside the fort is stunningly elegant and feminine. It has delicate archways of white marble inlaid with jeweled designs, rose-colored palaces, pavilions and tranquil gardens.

In Agra, we found ourselves face-to-face for the first time on this trip with the poverty and filth for which India is infamous. At each of our stops, our group was surrounded by swarms of persistent hawkers and beggars, and from the high bus windows, the littler looked nearly as pervasive as the pavement. It was a stark contrast to the wealth of the palaces we’d spent the day exploring.

Following lunch we rode an hour on the bus to Fatehpur Sikri, a red sandstone city built by Emperor Akbar in 1569. Surprisingly, despite its beautiful architecture and imposing location high on a hill above the dry plains, it had served as the capitol for 15 short years before it was abandoned. We got back to the bus right at sunset and rode the remaining 4 hours to Jaipur in the dark.

To see pictures from our trip, please visit the Inner Connections Yoga Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=268762&id=294275506729

About Inner Connections Yoga
Inner Connections Yoga, in Castle Rock, Colorado since 2002, is a place where the ancient traditions of Hatha yoga are brought into the experience of our modern lives. John and Jeanne Adams, the studio owners, help their clients to unite the interconnecting aspects of body, breath and spirit, and also connect yoga enthusiasts in a supportive, friendly community. Every year, Inner Connections leads a group yoga trip to an international location. Past trips have included Brazil, Fiji, Honduras and Costa Rica. For more information, please visit www.InnerConnectionsYoga.com.