Taj Mahal

Step well

Just outside our camp we stopped to see the Chand Baori step well - what's that? This is a structure built into the ground. It is square perhaps 200 feet on a side and about 100 feet deep with water at the bottom. Originally fed from an aquifer, today the bottom is just rain water. It provided a source of water all year long. On one side are rooms, the nearby water acted as a natural air conditioner, keeping them cool. The other three sides are a series of steps to provide support for the walls and provide access to the water. Seeing it generated a "Wow" from all of us. This was built in the 8th or 9th century. Nearby we watched a potter with his hand-turned wheel making primarily single use items: tea cups, candle holders for the upcoming festival of lights, and incense holders.  

Topic: Early Indian History. The original Indus civilization began in 3300 BC and stretched from the Indus to Ganges river, but this civilization disappeared after a flood. About 1000 BC, the Aryans arrived from the North and about this time is when Hindu philosophy came about with its caste system and animal sacrifices. In the 5th century BC, Buddhism and Jainism started to counter some of the evils of the caste system. In 326 BC Alexander the Great made it to Northwest India, but his army was tired and stopped their conquering there. In 272 BC, Ashoka the Great created the first Indian empire. He converted from Hinduism to Buddhism, creating many monuments preaching about non-violence. The Huns invaded in the 3rd Century AD, but only stone statues remain from their civilization. After Ashoka, the next five hundred years had India split up into many kingdoms. The next great dynasty was the Guptan Dynasty which went from 320-550 AD. This was a time of peace, when great advances were made in math, science, and literature. Kalidasa, the Shakespeare of India wrote his plays and poems during this period. Beginning in the 6th century AD, there have been regular invasions by Muslim armies, destroying Hindu and Buddhist temples, since they were considered sacrilegious. From 1206 AD, thirty five Muslim Sultans ruled from Delhi. Most these rulers would impose a head-tax on any non-Moslems, but they did allow the people to remain Hindu. From 1526 to 1550, Babur, a descendent of Genghis Khan and Turkey's Timur, became the founder of the Mughal Empire which ruled India for two centuries. The third emperor, Akbar 'the great' was the high point (1556-1605). He encouraged religious tolerance by removing the head-tax. Shah Jahan, his grandson was the ultimate spender. He built the Taj Mahal as a tomb for his wife, who died in childbirth. It took 20,000 artisans, and twenty-two years to built this tomb.

Taj Mahal

About 2:30, we arrived at the Taj Mahal. The grounds are in perfect symmetry.  We entered through one of the forecourts used for visitors, then through the main gate, said to separate earth from paradise. And there it was the classic view with reflecting pools you have seen so many times. The Taj Mahal is on the north side of the complex, next to the river. Thus it always has sun light shining upon it as viewed from the entrance. Internally made of brick, the entire facade is non-porous white marble. Carved into the stone are many flowers and patterns laid with semi-precious stones. The ornamentation is repeats itself throughout the monument, carved exactly the same. On both sides of the central tomb are sandstone buildings used as a mosque and a shelter. The symmetry is only broken by Shah Jahan's tomb next to his wife's and one pillar which was not fully carved because "only God is perfect". It was easy to appreciate the absolute beauty of this monument.

Detail of the walls