A Teardrop on the Cheek of Time
No trip to India is complete without coming here.
Of the hundreds of guides to places to see or things to do before you die, all are agreed on the Asian continent’s number one attraction. Agra’s exquisite dome of inlaid white marble must be one of the planet’s most recognised and admired feats of architecture - and probably the most enigmatic monument to romance ever created.
Agra is not all about the Taj Mahal, of course; the nearby fort is another marvel of the Mughals’ ambition and achievements and there are countless other attractions to occupy you for a couple of days at least.
It’s also the jump-off point for a visit to Fatehpur Sikri, another of the area’s UNESCO World Heritage inscribed sites, a majestic sprawl of buildings and monuments built by the great Emperor Akbar.
But we don’t have time, and after all, why rush it on Christmas day? Like the best present ever, it’s almost impossible to take our eyes off it. Even the crowds don’t get in the way.
The Taj Mahal is incapable of disappointing, but people always are. Graffiti has been etched into the marble tiles beside the main dome as recently as the 1990s. It’s sad.
Even outside the enclosure of the Taj Mahal, India remains a land of stark contrasts. Amid the breathtaking beauty you’re just as likely to find the scams, fakes, squalor and filth that are the blight of many travellers’ experiences, if not more so – it’s all part of the mix.
Be on your guard, then, but also remind yourself that Agra is still one of the few places on Earth where you truly can touch the face of eternity.
'A Teardrop on the Cheek of Time' - Rabindrath Tagore
Comments
Interesting Article! I would like to see this one day! How was your impression of the UNESCO World Heritage Site? State of Preservation, Tourism, etc?
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Simona had the idea that perhaps a system of advance ticketing could be in order - not to restrict people from visiting, since this is a right, but simply to manage the flow somehow.
Ie. people have to buy tickets in advance, and a limited number can enter per day, so as to ensure that visitors are committed and not just 'walk in' types who don't respect the monument or landscape.
Just a thought. - Phil
Posted by: Matthias Ripp | January 12, 2006 6:21 PM