Day5- The contrast of India

Taj Mahal

Described as the most extravagant monument ever built for love, this sublime Mughal mausoleum is India’s most ogled icon. Many have tried to sum up its beauty-‘a teardrop on the face of eternity’ according to Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore. As an architectural masterpiece it stands alone.

The Taj was built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial for his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14^th child in 1631. The death of Mumtaz left the emperor so heartbroken that his hair is said to have turned grey virtually overnight. Construction of the Taj began in the same year and was not complete until 1653-although there’s some debate as to the exact date of completion. Not long after it was finished, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb and imprisoned in Agra fort where, the rest of his days, he could only gaze out at his creation through a window. Following his death in 1666, Shah Jahan was buried here alongside Mumtaz.

I……..that is Taj…( just this few words). Nothing can describe the power of love. We went there in the early morning to avoid the congestion of peoples. The first step in this one of the seven wonder of the world is truly touching. This is not a stunning mausoleum ..honestly..but…what is interesting about this building is that the sky as a backdrop of this mausoleum, besides the Yamuna river ( looks like heaven in the early morning) and the marble is changing its color gradually..from blue-purple-white-gold –yellow. That is the true definition for architecture.

Fatehpur Sikri

This magnificent fortified ghost city, 40km west of Agra, was the short-lived capital the Mughal Empire between 1571 and 1585, during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Akbar visited Sikri to consult the Sufi saint Shaikh Salim Chisti, who predicted the birth of an heir to the Mughal throne.

The fort divides by two sections which is Fatehpur and Sikri. Fahtehpur is mainly for the government where the Sikri is for the residential. I truly love this fort. Unbelievable. The ventilation system in the wall creates an ‘air-conditioning’ effect. The combination of small marbles on the walls is truly amazing. In contrast, the peoples start to beg from the tourist, the child is following us to sell their postcard. (you aret my brrother, postcard wery cheap, want?).

There is a legend on the performance stage of Sikri. The voice of one of the performer can blow out the light of a candle and the sky will start to rain. Even the performance stage looks simple, but the legend enlightens the mystery of the stage.

Looking at the Indians outside the fort, I just feel that how fortune that I grow up in Malaysia. For those who always complain at the condition of Malaysia, just appreciate what we have. There will be nothing wrong if something is looking for higher quality of life. But, at the same time, just appreciate our warmly home, the playground that accompany with you last time, and our school life.

Can you imagine a people that live under the clothes, playing with the “ s_ _ _”, and collect the rubbish along the roadside. That is India.