India Part Seven: Arriving at Taj Mahal at Dawn

Taj Mahal; the 

It was chilly early in the morning when we got into a tuktuk at the Agra train station headed for Taj Mahal.  Thank god for the shawl that is most likely always nearby when we (ladies) are in India.

We were amongst the first ones to get there which was the plan.  I loved walking around at dawn - being up early never fails

to put me into a festive mood, there were bird songs and the Muslim prayer call; India was waking up.  Short line for tickets; admission 1000 rupees per person. If we had spent some more money on a guide, we would have been inside for the sunrise; please see photo below of the spectacularly red sun. 

The Taj (built in the 17th century with materials brought in from Makrana, Rajasthan (perhaps even the same type we encountered at the ashram), the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China. The turquoise was from Tibet and the Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, while the sapphire came from Sri Lanka and the carnelian from Arabia) is situated at a river, called Yamuna (see photo below).  By the way, did you know that the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers were just recently granted same legal rights as human beings? 

One always has to remove shoes when entering homes, temples and I loved walking around barefoot feeling the cold floor.  So refreshing and grounding.  

To Follow: Indian Part 8: From Agra to Jodhpur or was it Jaipur?

Best wishes and namaste.
Om Shanti,
B. 

This may help you to shift from fight/flight to more ease:

- Inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth on a ha sound, and two more times, then return to natural breathing and observe...

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Taj Mahal/Yamuna River