My favorite cultural experience
abroad in India was visiting one of the wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. The
Taj Mahal is located in Agra, a city in Northern India, which was about a five
hour bus ride from Delhi.
We traveled to
Agra in the first week of arriving in India, when we were still jetlagged and
everything was new. Our small group left our hotel well before dawn, so that we
could be at the Taj for sunrise. They say dawn is one of the best times to see
the Taj, so when the light shines behinds it you can see its magnificence. The
Taj had such an indescribable beauty – it’s so much more detailed and intricate
(not to mention massive) than pictures lead on. It takes your breath away, with
the huge marble pillars and stone inlays.
It was built as a symbol of love,
from the Moghul emperor Shah Jahan to his wife. It was built in the 17
th
century as a symbol of love for his wife, and holds both of their tombs in the
nondescript interior. This site holds such a cultural significance for the
people of India, and after visiting I now know why. Whether or not India is a
place you plan to visit, the brilliance of the Taj Mahal is something that
everyone should experience in their lifetime.
--
Gabby Compton, Peer Advisor
