One of the Seven Wonders of the World Visited by Seven Javelinas
Leaving at 6:30 in the morning, the mood of our group was sluggish yet excited. A four-hour journey awaited us with our only expectation being “it’s going to be blisteringly hot.” The bus that took us was well conditioned but tight. The first stop in our journey was a food court and immediately our mood brightened as the thought of eating entered our minds. Getting back on the bus with full stomachs we were ready to see one of the seven wonders of the world. Prior to getting there, our guide suggested we stop to get saris and sherwani-kurtas. All the women were ecstatic to be fitted in the traditional dress of India. The men had no idea what they were walking into but enjoyed it, nonetheless. Finally, the next stop was the Taj Mahal.
Dressed in our traditional outfits we arrived at the checkpoint to the Taj. We all hopped on an electric cart and set out for the East Gate, the VIP gate (it was truly just the gate for tourists to enter). There we were greeted by many looks and comments. The only audible word we understood was “sari.” This preceded the photo requests by locals, amazed at the fact we were sporting their traditional garments. As we entered through the Royal Gate, we were baffled by the sheer size and beauty of the Taj Mahal. We then entered the tourist mindset, snapping photo after photo of every angle and every portion of this wonder.
Finally, as we approached the Taj Mahal, Tarun Joshi, our guide, educated us on the history of the Taj Mahal. He spoke of how it took 22-years to build this perfectly symmetric, crystal-inlaid marble mausoleum and described the reasoning behind the erection of such a structure. Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan, at the request of his dying wife, Mumtaz Mahal, built the Taj Mahal to represent the immensity of their undying love. The Taj Mahal now serves as a monument to love for all who visit.
Leaving the Taj Mahal, it was difficult to fully grasp the beauty, size, and perfection that is one of the seven wonders of the world. We left feeling grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime experience and relieved that the heat and crowds were not as much as we expected.
Nicholas S., Suyin D., and Natasha L.