Nindia 2008

Nindia is short for Nepal and India, a five and a half months trip we did in the winter 2008-2009.

We spent three months in Nepal hiking in the Everest region and moved on to India for the rest of the time.

This was our second visit to India and we came back hooked for good by this incredible country.

Full map of all Nindia 2008 pages

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Thinking of our next destination: Italy and Portugal come to mind, or maybe the time has finally come for a US road trip…

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Taj Mahal

(vero;2024-May-25)

The Taj Mahal is one of the iconic monuments of this world. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal who died in 1633 aged 39 at the birth of their 14th child. Construction was completed in 1648, a masterpiece of Mughal and Islamic architecture. It is believed that it was designed to represent an earthly replica of one of the houses of paradise.

The Taj Mahal is a perfect symmetrical building. The material used for its construction is brick-in-lime mortar veneered with red sandstone, marble and inlay work of precious/semi precious stones. The mosque on the west side and its mirror building on the east side are built of red sandstone whereas the tomb in the centre is full marble.

Our first glimpse of the Taj, viewed from the roof top of our guesthouse.

The main gateway, completed in 1648 hides the marble tomb from view from the outside, marking the divide between the secular world and paradise.

Main gateway: it is not until you pass its last doorway that you can see the marble tomb.

Carving on the red sandstone inside the gateway.

Stepping into the outside and the sunlight.

There were already many Indian tourists (although not as many as when I write this in 2024). It was foremost the time before the smartphone revolution and the ensuing selfie orgies we can experience today in monuments across India.

The 99 names of Allah are inscribed around the door.

Screens protecting the central chamber containing the tombs. Those however are replica, the real tombs are kept in the crypt below which is not open to the public.

Detail of the screen surrounding the central chamber, inlaid with pietra dura and precious stones.

An iris surrounded by tulips and other flowers.

The Taj Mosque on the west side of the complex. It is mirrored on the east side by an identical building which has no other purpose than symmetry and harmony (it cannot be used as a mosque as its Mihrab would not be facing towards Mecca; some suppose it might have been used as a guesthouse).

The Taj reflecting in the lotus pool named after its spouts shaped as lotus buds.

The Taj seen from the left bank of the Yamuna river.

The Taj reflecting in the waters of the Yamuna.

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