TajMahal

TajMahal nights is not the name of a new Indian restaurant, but an essentialaddition to the itinerary on your trip to the sub-continent. The world-famous TajMahal reopened its majestic doors to the public for night-time viewing for the first time in twenty years yesterday (Saturday). The occasion didn’t quite live up to expectations as although initially it was bathed in moonlight, it later became enveloped in fog. This did not dampen the spirits of one of the 300 lucky visitors, photographer Raghu Rai, who told the AFP press agency “When moonlight falls on the white marble it’s like a glowing diamond, a jewel in space. You have to sit far away and gradually walk towards it. Full moon is mind-boggling.” Ring your travel agent now!

Don’t all rush at once however, because it will only be open on the five nights a month that surround the full moon. Security fears have limited the number of visitors to a maximum of 400 people. A ban on night viewing was imposed in 1984 when it was feared the monument might be attacked at night by Sikh militants who were battling the government for their own homeland in India’s northern state of Punjab. Fears for the Taj’s safety continued amid the tensions between India and Pakistan over Kashmir and their nuclear weapons race, when it was camouflaged to avoid attack by air.

The 17th-century architectural masterpiece was built by the heartbroken Mughul emperor Shah Jahan as a monument of his love for his second wife MumtazMahal. It is now recognized as one of the seven modern wonders of the world as well as one of the most romantic and photographed sightseeing spots. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, meaning the Indian government is directly responsible for any changes to the site. It received a facelift two years ago in preparation for its 350th anniversary, celebrated in September.

*** Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

All are architects of Fate, Working in these walls of Time; Some with massive deeds and great, Some with ornaments of rhyme. Nothing useless is, or low; Each thing in its place is best; And what seems but idle show Strengthens and supports the rest. For the structure that we raise, Time is with materials filled; Our to-days and yesterdays Are the blocks with which we build. Truly shape and fashion these; Leave no yawning gaps between; Think not, because no man sees, Such things will remain unseen. In the elder days of Art, Builders wrought with greatest care Each minute and unseen part; For the Gods see everywhere

Let us do our work as well, Both the unseen and the seen; Make the house, where Gods may dwell, Beautiful, entire, and clean. Else our lives are incomplete, Standing in these walls of Time, Broken stairways, where the feet Stumble as they seek to climb. Build to-day, then, strong and sure, With a firm and ample base; And ascending and secure Shall to-morrow find its place. Thus alone can we attain To those turrets, where the eye Sees the world as one vast plain, And one boundless reach of sky.

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