Agra, India

Sadly, awake and hacking most of the night. Hoping “team doc Emilie” finds some good drugs on her trip to the pharmacy today. I’ve depleted my cough and cold supplies. Lots of people in the group sick with URI’s now. Cambodia and China smog did us in. We are up very early this morning to leave for the Taj Mahal in time for sunrise and then will tour the grounds before the site gets too crowded. The Taj Mahal is absolutely magnificent. There was a mist in the air as we entered the gates to catch our first glimpse. As we toured about the grounds, the sunlight continued to lighten up the building and skies. It was magical to see it transform through varying shades of light and color throughout the morning. Commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the remains of his cherished wife, the Taj Mahal stands on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, India. The famed mausoleum complex, built over more than 20 years, is one of the most outstanding examples of Mughal architecture, which combined Indian, Persian and Islamic influences. At its center is the Taj Mahal itself, built of shimmering white marble that seems to change color depending on the sunlight or moonlight hitting its surface. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, it remains one of the world’s most celebrated structures and a stunning symbol of India’s rich history. In 1631, Mumtaz Mahal died after giving birth to the couple’s 14th child. The grieving Shah Jahan, known for commissioning a number of impressive structures throughout his reign, ordered the building of a magnificent mausoleum across the Yamuna River from his own royal palace at Agra. Construction began around 1632 and would continue for the next two decades. The chief architect was probably Ustad Ahmad Lahouri, an Indian of Persian descent who would later be credited with designing the Red Fort at Delhi. In all, more than 20,000 workers from India, Persia, Europe and the Ottoman Empire, along with some 1,000 elephants, were brought in to build the mausoleum complex. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE TAJ MAHAL Named the Taj Mahal in honor of Mumtaz Mahal, the mausoleum was constructed of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones (including jade, crystal, lapis lazuli, amethyst and turquoise) forming intricate designs in a technique known as pietra dura. Its central dome reached a height of 240 feet (73 meters) and was surrounded by four smaller domes; four slender towers, or minarets, stood at the corners. In accordance with Islamic tradition, verses from the Quran were inscribed in calligraphy on the arched entrances to the mausoleum, in addition to numerous other sections of the complex. Inside the mausoleum, an octagonal marble chamber adorned with carvings and semi-precious stones housed the cenotaph, or false tomb, of Mumtaz Mahal. The real sarcophagus containing her actual remains lay below, at garden level. The rest of the Taj Mahal complex includes a main gateway of red sandstone and a square garden divided into quarters by long pools of water, as well as a red sandstone mosque and an identical building called a jawab (or “mirror”) directly across from the mosque. Traditional Mughal building practice would allow no future alterations to be made to the complex. I’ve taken the afternoon off to treat myself to a spa treatment and try to get rid of this cold! I had an amazing Shiroabhyanga treatment by Lily at the spa. Great way to spend some downtime relaxing and regrouping. We’re being totally lazy and skipping the evening lecture/festivities to have dinner in our room. Chill out night!