Taj Mahal - A Gift of Love
Have you ever had that feeling in your gut that is so powerful that swells up emotions in your heart and leaves you speechless. This is the picture that was taken to freeze that moment when I set my eyes on Taj Mahal from the balcony of my room at the Oberoi Amarvilas. What was drawing me towards this timeless icon of peace, purity and love? Was it the serenity of the lush acres of land that surround it, the grandeur that reflects from its ivory-white marble façade or the story of passion and romance that echoes from its past.
As I stepped into the balcony to get a closer look I was not surprised to see a similar reaction from my fellow Travel Counsellors who I was travelling with on this trip of the Golden Triangle in India. We were all synchronized on our balconies mesmerized by the beauty of it all and trying to take it all in as much as we could. This beautiful hotel has all the rooms facing the Taj Mahal and is the closest hotel to the monument with a distance of mere 650m, making it a perfect way of appreciating its beauty from the comfort of your room.
Our journey of the Golden Triangle in India started from Delhi and our next stop on the itinerary was Agra where we were going to spend one night at the Oberoi Amarvilas to witness the mystic Taj Mahal. Our road trip from Delhi to Agra took us about 3 hours in the transfer coach on the Yamuna expressway. We were greeted by the hotel staff like family and were made to feel at home with their warm and genuine welcome as soon as we entered the hotel grounds.
The entrance of the hotel opens into a huge courtyard with terracotta-coloured walls and pillars that house small ponds with water fountains reflecting the ancient Moghul architecture. The lobby and the check-in area is a huge foyer with a regal ambience. Upon check-in, we were given the itinerary for our stay at the Oberoi Amarvilas. Since we arrived at around 2 pm we were given a choice to explore the city of love, Agra for those that were keen. We were accompanied by a local guide to the Agra fort who took us on a journey of India’s rich history and ancient past but most importantly we also had an opportunity to take in the sights, sounds and smells that the city had to offer. After our quick spin around the city, we headed to the hotels' terrace for sundowners followed by dinner at the hotels only Mughlai restaurant, Esphahan to experience the traditional flavour and flair. We were given an early start the next morning so we could beat the tourist rush to visit the Taj Mahal.
At the crack of dawn, we all gathered around at the lobby of the hotel where our guide for the day waited for us. We were transported in golf buggy carts provided by the hotel and within a mere 5 mins drive from the hotel we found ourselves at the entrance of the Taj Mahal surrounded by the pink and purple hues of the June morning sky and the mist rising from its grounds.
Silence… Awe… Surrender… Peace… Love… Surrender…
And then pure joy and happiness to have experienced something so real. This unforgettable experience was truly special and worth the early morning start. Taj Mahal has been inspired out of love for Mumtaz, the wife of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan who commissioned to built this mausoleum in 1632. This was his way of expressing his love for the woman he loved. If you have not been to the Taj Mahal yet then who is that special person that you would like to witness this eternal fable of love with?