One of the wonders of the world - - the Taj Mahal

We took a day trip to Agra (about 4 ½ hours from New Delhi) to see the famous Taj Mahal. It was also a Hindu festival day (Dussehra), where Hindus burn effigies of the Demon Ravana. We came across a number of Dussehra caravans; some pictures of this experience included.

The Taj Mahal is an amazing and beautiful structure. But it is also a symbol from one of the many Indian invaders - - this one from the Moghuls that invaded India in the 1500s. The Taj Mahal is a magnificent tomb created in the 1600s when one of the queens passed on, and the emperor built this as a monument to her (and as their tomb). It took 22 years and cost “32 crore rupees”  - a bit excessive, perhaps; but hey, it gave 20,000 people jobs. I mused about the fact that this major Indian landmark is in fact a symbol of one of the conquering invaders, and how Indians feel about “celebrating” that. Some colleagues have pointed out that India has been subject to multiple invasions. When the invading party (like the Moghuls) took up residence and made India their home, they were ultimately absorbed into the culture and are now viewed as just another part of Indian history.