Showing posts with label Taj Mahal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taj Mahal. Show all posts

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Taj Mahal


Notice the line of people along the base of the Taj. This is part of the line of people waiting to see the inside where the tombs Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal lie. They are not actually buried there, they lie in a dark crypt below, which is not open to the public. The line extends the entire length (front to back) of the Taj on the right, crosses going right to left across the Taj (this is the line you see) and then doubles back to the entrance in the middle. It sounds like a long time but I think we only waited in line about 15 minutes. No pictures are allowed inside. Her cenotaph is on a raised platform. She must have been at most, 5 feet tall. It looks like a child would have been been in there. His is much, much larger and taller. The addition of his cenotaph disturbs the symmetry of the chamber. I wish they would have allowed pictures because the cenotaphs are surrounded by an intricately carved marble screen made from one piece of marble.

Taj Mahal


Again, this might appear as a black square. I don't know why, just click on the play button.

I am standing where we were allowed to be during the night viewing. This is also where you were to stop taking video. Fortunately for me, my little digital Canon SD 800 also takes videos so though it looked like I was taking still shots, I was actually using the video part of the camera. This is how I could take the videos of the oxen mowing the lawn. Heh heh heh.

Pietra Dura at the Taj Mahal







The inlays are semi-precious stones like lapis lazuli, malachites and turquoise. There is evidence that the stones have been removed and repaired. These flowers are symbolic of the gardens of paradise.

Taj Mahal from our room


The middle picture is the actual distance from our room.


This is a view of the Taj Mahal from our room at the Oberoi. I did use the zoom so you can see the detail. The actual distance is about 600 meters.

Lawn Mowers at the Taj Mahal


I don't know why this is black but if you click the play arrow you will get the little video.

Lawn Care at the Taj Mahal