At the outset, I would like to declare that I am a
Hindu by birth and an agnost by choice and before anyone accuses my blog
to have communal overtones, let me declare that this has got to nothing
to do with the religion of the builder in question.
Wikipedia describes Taj Mahal as "The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage".
For years the NCERT history texbooks have shoved this information down our throats that the Taj is a wonder and probably the finest examples of Mughal architecture in India. I've heard almost everyone who visited the site to say that the Taj is massive and it is brilliant!
In the early 90s it was customary for every middle class family member in South India who had visited Delhi to have a taken a picture with the Taj Mahal in the background and decorate (sic) their wardrobes with this photo!
I never had a chance to visit Taj Mahal before, The last time I visited Delhi, I didnt have time to detour to Agra. So this time when we were visiting Rajasthan on a holiday, we ensured to have enough time to visit the Taj. The security check was really thorough, we were asked why we were carrying a thermos flask (even after seeing that we were with a Toddler!). The security thought our powdered milk was not safe enough to be carried into the Taj and threw it! He even threw away one of my Son's favourite plastic key chain! I will also like to point that at this time I was really frustrated and had second thoughts on visiting the place. After nearly 1 hour of security checks we were finally ready to see Taj.
At this point I was expecting to be bowled over by the beauty, but to say I was disappointed will be an understatement! With due respect to all those who asked me to visit the Taj, I have to say, I can't understand what is wonderful in the Taj Mahal?
Like numerous other Indians, I had on numerous occassions voted for Taj as a World Wonder. That was a more patriotic and not objective decision. As I had not seen the Taj earlier. I just wanted an Indian heritage site to be among the Wonders of the World. If asked to vote again. I will definitely not do so!
Some claim that the Taj is a wonder because, it is massive! Really?? Well there are more massive heritage buildings than the Taj. Size alone cannot be a determinant of beauty! But if this is a criterion for measurement. We can all agree, that there are numerous more massive buildings than the Taj.
Numerous forts in Rajasthan come to mind. The Amber Palace, the Mehrangarh Fort etc are more massive and have impressive architectures. The Jaisalmer's Sonar Qila is built on Sanstone and has excellent carvings done on them. You would have thought the carving was done on wood!
While others claim that The Taj is an excellent marble heritage building. In my humble opinion those who claim the Taj to be an excellent architecture on
marble have either not seen Dilwara Jain Temples of Mount Abu, Rajasthan or do not understand architecture! Photography is prohibited in Dilwara Temple and hence I cannot show you any photographs to prove this, but then a photograph wont do justice in depicting the wonder of the temple! Also the Dilwara temples were built nearly 500 years before the Taj Mahal!
You don't need to take my word for it. But a visit to the Dilwara temple will leave you breathless. You will wish to have more eyes to view the wonders or else you will want to walk upside down to view the intimate carvings that are done on marble in the temple.
Attached is a photograph of Dilwara temple (taken from a postcard).
Needless
to say, these photographs cannot help you in seeing my point of view.
But do visit the places and decide for yourselves.
Furthermore I think that the like most lessons in our NCERT history textbooks are biased, there is bias in the promotion of sites for tourism as well. The Indian Govt must objectively consider Dilwara temple as a major tourist spot of promote it!
So the next time some asks me to vote for The Taj as a wonder, I will ask them to first visit Dilwara Temple and the decide.
Wikipedia describes Taj Mahal as "The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage".
For years the NCERT history texbooks have shoved this information down our throats that the Taj is a wonder and probably the finest examples of Mughal architecture in India. I've heard almost everyone who visited the site to say that the Taj is massive and it is brilliant!
In the early 90s it was customary for every middle class family member in South India who had visited Delhi to have a taken a picture with the Taj Mahal in the background and decorate (sic) their wardrobes with this photo!
I never had a chance to visit Taj Mahal before, The last time I visited Delhi, I didnt have time to detour to Agra. So this time when we were visiting Rajasthan on a holiday, we ensured to have enough time to visit the Taj. The security check was really thorough, we were asked why we were carrying a thermos flask (even after seeing that we were with a Toddler!). The security thought our powdered milk was not safe enough to be carried into the Taj and threw it! He even threw away one of my Son's favourite plastic key chain! I will also like to point that at this time I was really frustrated and had second thoughts on visiting the place. After nearly 1 hour of security checks we were finally ready to see Taj.
At this point I was expecting to be bowled over by the beauty, but to say I was disappointed will be an understatement! With due respect to all those who asked me to visit the Taj, I have to say, I can't understand what is wonderful in the Taj Mahal?
Like numerous other Indians, I had on numerous occassions voted for Taj as a World Wonder. That was a more patriotic and not objective decision. As I had not seen the Taj earlier. I just wanted an Indian heritage site to be among the Wonders of the World. If asked to vote again. I will definitely not do so!
Some claim that the Taj is a wonder because, it is massive! Really?? Well there are more massive heritage buildings than the Taj. Size alone cannot be a determinant of beauty! But if this is a criterion for measurement. We can all agree, that there are numerous more massive buildings than the Taj.
Numerous forts in Rajasthan come to mind. The Amber Palace, the Mehrangarh Fort etc are more massive and have impressive architectures. The Jaisalmer's Sonar Qila is built on Sanstone and has excellent carvings done on them. You would have thought the carving was done on wood!
While others claim that The Taj is an excellent marble heritage building. In my humble opinion those who claim the Taj to be an excellent architecture on
marble have either not seen Dilwara Jain Temples of Mount Abu, Rajasthan or do not understand architecture! Photography is prohibited in Dilwara Temple and hence I cannot show you any photographs to prove this, but then a photograph wont do justice in depicting the wonder of the temple! Also the Dilwara temples were built nearly 500 years before the Taj Mahal!
You don't need to take my word for it. But a visit to the Dilwara temple will leave you breathless. You will wish to have more eyes to view the wonders or else you will want to walk upside down to view the intimate carvings that are done on marble in the temple.
Attached is a photograph of Dilwara temple (taken from a postcard).
Furthermore I think that the like most lessons in our NCERT history textbooks are biased, there is bias in the promotion of sites for tourism as well. The Indian Govt must objectively consider Dilwara temple as a major tourist spot of promote it!
So the next time some asks me to vote for The Taj as a wonder, I will ask them to first visit Dilwara Temple and the decide.
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