February 18, 2025

Taj Mahal? What’s the Big Deal?

Everyone has heard of the Taj Mahal, after all it is one of the 7 wonders of the world. What I have not heard before is someone’s experience of actually seeing it in person. In this blog post I will try my best to share what it was like.

At around 6:00 am Sunday morning we all boarded our trusty big bus that spelled the word “Tourist” in large bold letters across its windshield. There was no shame in hiding it, we looked different, acted different, and spoke different so it only made sense that our mode of transportation stood out as much as we do. We then piled into what felt like the limousine version of a golf cart and took a short ride to get in line for the Taj Mahal entrance. After a chaotic 15 minutes or so of us ordering coffee, chugging my mocha that was 95% milk and jumping the queue, we were past security and on our way to the gate that would lead us to the Taj Mahal. While we were walking closer and closer, I could feel the excitement in our group buzzing. None of us could see it yet but we could tell that we were close. All of a sudden our tour guide stopped us and asked for a minute of our time. At first I was frustrated, why were we stopping right outside of the gate when we were so close? Why would he kill all this momentum and build up in this moment? As he started to explain the history of the Taj Mahal and its significance I realized I knew a lot less about the building than I had realized. In fact, I realized I knew next to nothing about it. My excitement turned to a slight sense of guilt. Why did I feel like I deserved to jump the gun for something I knew so little about? Was I actually interested in what we were doing or did I just want to check it off my list? I then listened intently and tried my best to digest every word said to gain a deeper appreciation for that we were about to experience.

After our tour guide’s quick description and a few questions, I felt somewhat better equipped to finally witness what all the fuss was about. After stepping through the gate, my mind went completely blank. My breath left my body for a moment as my hands shot up to the top of my head and I exclaimed “oh my god!”. After hearing myself I started to laugh out loud in a way that was partially out of embarrassment over my reaction but also pure joy. To say I was overwhelmed by the Taj Mahal’s beauty is an understatement. I did not expect to be physically moved in such a way that almost brought me to tears. I don’t know what came over me but I was just so happy to be there. Many thoughts and emotions soon rushed into my head. I felt lucky to stand so close to it. I felt proud that even just by studying Civil engineering and working in construction I was in the same space, the same world, that something like this exists in. I felt so small in comparison but in a way that left me impressed beyond words that building something of this nature was possible, especially in the 1600s.

As the sun continued to rise, the white marble changed colors from a pale cream to a soft golden hue. We got in line to go inside and see the craftsmanship of the precious stones and Arabic calligraphy up close that were used in its design. We walked around the replica of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal’s tombstones right above where the Mughal Emperor and his wife are actually buried. Admittedly, once inside, I took the opportunity to touch the structure itself several times.

As we were leaving, I would look back over my shoulder every now and then to get another glance. This would often turn into me staring for a few minutes at a time refusing to look away. Every time I looked back, it felt as though I was seeing it for the first time again. My heart would sink in awe of its stunning presence. I had never experienced such grace, elegance, and power in one place before and that feeling will always stick with me.

Looking back, I am grateful we took a pause at the gate before entering. The visit turned from me wanting to take something from the Taj Mahal to my enjoyment being deserved. I expected it to just be another tourist attraction that I would snap a couple photos of and text my friends and family about to say that I’ve done it, but instead I left changed. I still do not fully understand the Taj Mahal’s significance in my life or why it moved me the way that it did but I do know that I cannot help the way that it made me feel. On the plane ride back to Bengaluru tonight I met a man sitting in the seat next to mine named Simon who is from Sydney, Australia. I found out that we were at the Taj Mahal on the same day at the same time and both had similar experiences. Neither of us could fully articulate the impact the visit had on us but I could tell that it had a similar effect on him as it had on me. While we showed each other pictures of our visit, we shared a laugh over how we were so surprised because we didn’t take it seriously enough beforehand, but we both left feeling like we understood its significance a little more. If you have the chance, I would highly recommend paying the Taj Mahal a visit.

By,
Dillon