Chlobo's Closet Travel: Agra, India

Taj Mahal, Agra

So having spent two hectic but enjoyable days exploring Delhi, we embarked upon a good three hour drive to Agra. The home to the famous Taj Mahal, we were very excited-especially having spent years seeing wonderful photos of the famous monument.

We only spent one day in Agra, which I am not going to lie was probably the best thing, as it is very poverty stricken (well most of India is but this seemed to be very bad) and incredibly dusty. After the car journey took a fair chunk out of our visit to Agra , the Taj Mahal was the only attraction we got to view and it didn't disappoint.

Believe me when I say, whatever picture or video footage you have seen of the place, it will not do it justice. It is huge! I couldn't quite get over how big it actually was, of course I knew it would be big but not quite as so. 

It was absolutely stunning, the whole building is made from marble and when the light catches it, the shimmering white colours are incredible. Apparently if you view it at sunset or on a full moon it is even more breath taking but viewing it in the afternoon for us, was just as satisfying. 

The gardens are a joy to walk around and are complimented with beautifully crafted ponds and water features. It must take a lot of work in the heat to keep up the maintenance. It was even more special to share this moment with Josh (look out slight soppiness coming here) as it is the monument of love. The building was built by the Emporer Shah Jahan in loving memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. 

The detailing on the building is spectacular and screams romance with its beauty. It is regarded as one of the finest peaces of architecture in India and this hits the nail on the head here. The Taj Mahal combines elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman, Turkish and Indian architectural styles. The building was started in 1632 and was completed in 1653, taking around twelve years to complete. Over 1,000 elephants were used for transporting the materials! The remianing parts of the building and courtyards, took another ten years for completion, so you can understand why it is so detailed and what craftsmanship went into it.

The Taj Mahal is one of the most famous tourist spots in India and I am sure you can see why. We had a wonderful time there and it truly is a spectacularly, romantic place to visit. I am just waiting for Joshua to build me a monument of love now - no pressure. Hope you enjoy our pictures, like I have said before more higher quality images will be posted when we return to the UK.

Love 

Chlobo's Closet x