The Taj Mahal

We visited the Taj in the late afternoon, and JP also made a visit in the early morning of the next day.

The Taj Mahal, an Islamic treasure, was built 900 years ago to commemorate the passing of a queen. This magnificent structure was built by the 5th Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in approximately 1632 (finished in 1638). The Shah lovingly oversaw its design and construction, as the edifice was in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz, who died after giving birth to their 13th or 14th child.

Taj is set on the banks of the Yamuna river. After our afternoon visit, we went to a marble store where descendants of artisans who worked on the Taj continue to make marble pieces using same techniques and tools of their ancestors. We purchased a beautiful plate to display in our Utah home.

We returned to the Jaypee Palace, had dinner and were treated to a Kathak dance performance. Katha means story, and during the whole dance, the dancers narrate stories through their eyes and expressions. Stylistically, the Kathak dance form emphasizes rhythmic foot movements; the feet are adorned with small bells (Ghungroo) and the movement is harmonized to the music.Read more