I HOPE ..

MAKE NO MISTAKE .. I FULLY REALIZE HOW BLESSED AND HOW LUCKY AND HOW FORTUNATE I AM TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL AS I DO. THE ENTIRE POINT OF MY WEBSITE HERE IS TO REALIZE MY DESIRE THAT .. IN SOME SMALL WAY .. ONE OF MY POSTS OR ONE OF MY PHOTOGRAPHS WILL MAKE ONE PERSON'S DAY JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

TO FEEL GOOD .. DO GOOD !

I HOPE THAT SOMEONE VISITING MY WEBSITE WILL SEE SOMETHING ON IT THAT THEY WILL NOT EVER BE ABLE TO SEE OR TO DO OTHERWISE .. AND THAT THIS EXPERIENCE WILL MAKE THEIR DAY OR THEIR LIFE JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER !


IF YOU HAVE YOUR HEALTH AND ADEQUATE MONEY TO FOLLOW-YOUR-DREAM .. WITH DISCERNMENT .. FIND THE COURAGE AND HAVE THE GUTS TO DO WHAT GOD IS CALLING YOU TO DO!


TRULY THIS IS MY DOXOLOGY .. MY PRAISE TO GOD!

YOU CAN ALSO VISIT .. http://babakaps.net .. TO SEE MY OTHER WEBSITE.

Wednesday 13 January 2016

JAN 13, 16 .. THE TAJ MAHAL ..

Today's Rhetorical Question:

How could Patti .. Who had not seen The Taj Mahal for twenty years .. NOT go see The Taj on this trip to Agra Cantt?

Patti's one and only visit to The Taj was in February of 1996.

Answer: It is a no-brainer .. We couldn't stay away.

Even I who visited The Taj in May of 2015 wanted to re-visit Mumtaz.

For all you will ever want to know about The Taj and then some please visit Google and Wikipedia.

So here we all go for a photographic visit to The Taj Mahal. Persian for 'Crown of Palaces' .. The Taj is the burial site of Mumtaz Mahal the favorite wife of Shah Jahan who died while birthing their 14th child.

I have published several lengthy posts of The Taj. Each and every photo in this post is new and original. All were snapped on Wednesday the 6th of January 2016. So you may think you have seen some of the below photos but I assure you that you have not.

I personally love the bicycle-ricksha ride out to The Taj. 

All aboard .. Here we go!

For the grand sum of 100 Indian Rupees (US $ 1.53 and this includes a 40% gratuity) Patti and I enjoyed a most pleasant ride out to The Taj.

 It was mid-morning and the traffic was very light.


 The signs prove we are on-the-way.

 A sweet calf.
Thank goodness for a low traffic ricksha ride. In heavy traffic the traffic circles are quite an adventure!
You-name-it and a bicycle man will try to carry it. It looked like very heavy metal.


 A nice clear photo of some Hindi writing.



As Patti wrote on babakaps.net .. 


We ended up at the East gate entrance to The Taj, letting the ricksha driver go, only to be told we had to go one kilometer away to get tickets to enter The Taj. Sigh. Off, more than a little distressed, Cap went. I waited by the gate and watched Cap’s magic happen right before my eyes. Cap had not walked ten feet when an electric multi-person shuttle cart waved him to come over and to sit down and ride! I was so pleased at this sudden good-turn-of-events! He returned with tickets in hand again riding courtesy of the shuttle.
At security, inside the gate, they waved me through with only my cane in hand. Cap had to let them look through his backpack. They said he could not bring in the little packets of snacks we had brought. NO gum, candy, other food, cigarettes, and a list of other items could be taken into The Taj grounds nor could he bring in the two SMALL flashlights he was carrying.  Back he went to the place where you leave such items to be retrieved on your way out of the complex, snacks and flashlight checked in for our return, Cap then rejoined me inside the gate. After our visit all of our items were returned intact and safe.

Below is THE entry archway structure into The Taj.


To the left of the above structure is a long low building shown below.
Going through the above entry archway and walking around to your left below you see The Taj view of the above long low building.


This long low building houses an amazing exhibition of India historical data. In my opinion this exhibition is an absolute do not miss seeing it should you ever visit The Taj.

Below are just a scant few photos of the exhibition.




 A last look back at the exhibition corridor.


If you look 90-degrees to your left from the above photo you see the below magnificent grounds of The Taj behind Patti.



The entire site is just magnificent.





In the above and below photos notice the gathering of wildlife along the right side of the sidewalk.
Do any of the rest of you love Chipmunks!


It took awhile to snap these group photos. At first when I just began to walk toward them they scattered like crazy. So I just remained where I was and they returned. Again I would walk toward them and again away they all ran. Finally I was in their midst and snapped away.







And now?

Some photos of The Taj!



You will notice the right minaret of The Taj is being refurbished. You can see the scaffolding around it.




If you look very closely at these photos you will see that the left rear minaret is also being refurbished.

The below side shot of The Taj shows the scaffolding around the left rear minaret I mention above.
I am happy to have so many photos of The Taj with no refurbishing in progress.





 The amazing Taj .. Patti's expression says-it-all!



The two of us went inside of The Taj. Because of the many narrow steps to go up and down as well as the crowding of other visitors neither of us knew if it would be too much for Patti. She did it like a real trooper!




Looking at the entryway structure with The Taj at my back.


How could it be more grand and majestic?
The Taj is on the Yamuna River.





It was a wonderful visit. We took our time and really relaxed walking slowly with Patti being able to use a Taj furnished wheel chair. 

With Reverent and Humble Joy at being able to again visit The Taj Mahal ..



Patti and Cap .. 

10 comments:

  1. You sure had better weather than I had just a year ago and almost at the same date.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What can I say .. YES the weather was gorgeous indeed. Thanks for staying with us .. we have been very busy just getting from here to there and are way behind in e-mail and posts .. Smiles from the two of us .. Patti and myself ..

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  2. What a delightful post, and I particularly enjoyed Patti's comments. Oh how I look forward to seeing The Taj myself someday, but until then I have thoroughly enjoyed it through your eyes. Thank you. Fondly, Kitty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am delighted you checked it out Kitty and liked it. A post card of thanks will be in the mail as I have already written it. I met some people here and they have been coming to India for a number of years and have NOT seen the Taj. Go figure. IF you were to look at the several posts I have published you would have a great idea of the Taj and her grounds. Smiles .. Cap

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  3. I have a few comments and a question: Do you know why the tree trunks on your ride to the Taj Mahal are painted with red and white stripes?

    Speaking of stripes, the "chipmunks" in India have wider stripes than those I see in Wisconsin.

    Your final photo with the Taj Mahal in the background is wonderful. I hope you hang a framed copy on your wall.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have absolutely no idea about the red and white markings on the trees as you go to the Taj. To tell you the truth I myself have also wondered about them. I may try to look into it when we are back there next month but have no idea of who to ask. Yes the chipmunks are different in color also. Love the little critters. Happy you liked the photo than was snapped by Matthew. Thanks for following along here Shaddy. Smiles .. Cap

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  4. Have you ever seen the Taj from the park across the river? It's really something to see, especially at sundown.

    ReplyDelete
  5. No I have NOT seen the Taj from across the river. In fact I would have to find out how to access this park. Maybe when we are back there next month I will try to do this. Yes it must be nice with the setting sun behind it. Thanks for the Idea. Cap

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  6. WOW! What a great photo log Cap! I almost can smell the air of India and feel it pressing against my soul. I am looking forward to the experience even more now. Thanks

    Peace,
    Matthew

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank You So Very Much for your comment Matthew. I am pleased you like this Post. I can't wait for your upcoming trip to India in January 2018 to take place. Smiles .. Cap

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