Jenny created this Taj mostly from memory — Security only allowed a pencil and held her markers, pens and paints at the gate.

The Taj Mahal is an opulent architectural eulogy expressing the Emperor Shah Jahan’s love for the most beloved of his wives.  The untimely death of Mumtaz Mahal occurred while giving birth to her 14^th child.  Undoubtedly, that feat alone justified employing 20,000 workers over 22 years to construct this 17^th century world wonder.

Millions of visitors come to marvel the marble masterpiece each year, which is why on previous visits to India, we avoided it.  But admittedly, in the presence of such profound man-made beauty, we found that all we could do was spend hours staring at it and taking photos like everyone else.  We sat in wonderment, surrounded by the elaborate, well-groomed gardens hemmed in by reflective pools with fountains.  We were utterly hypnotized by its mere enormity and meticulously detailed Mughal architecture, with its smooth, pure-white marble curves, ornate floral design inlays of semiprecious gemstones and the exterior black marble calligraphy quoting verses from the Holy Qur’an.

Although we were able to have chai delivered to us while waiting in line at 5:30 in the morning, we were shocked that there was none available inside.  And as all good things must end, my body’s call for its afternoon tea necessitated our departure.

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