Till today these words seemed so cliched and I always thought of it as yet another tourism promoting gimmick, but only till yesterday…only till I visited The Taj.

Even though I had seen many pictures and movies of Taj , none of them seemed so captivating (in retrospect) as the “real” Taj. The moment I first saw Taj a smile just gathered on my face , almost spontaneously…kind of smile when one is utterly surprised and surprised I was. For the Taj had never appeared so majestic, spectacular and breath taking as today. And his was no special day weather wise. A hot, scorching, dust ridden day with not even a single cloud in sky and yet the Taj appeared so captivating. Indeed, Wah Taj seemed so appropriate.

The white minarets, the shining dome and the lush green gardens all added to those beautiful memories which have now been etched in my “heart” forever. Coupled to this the hustle of people on Taj platform, their awe struck faces and their minuteness against sheer size, magnificence, stature and charm of Taj just added a whole new perspective to my viewpoint of Taj.

That something as fascinating and as majestic could be made in that time and made such that even today its beauty can’t be rivaled, is just a testimony of the excellence of those who labored for the Taj. That someone can be in so much love that he goes against all odds, goes against the popular will to do none but everything that was in his purview for his beloved, to give a materialistic shape to his affection is perhaps what “true love” is. That he suffered rebellion from his own son and died captive, gazing and admiring Taj is perhaps what made him Shah Jahan. That anyone can be in so charming and make you love her so much , is perhaps what made her Mumtaz. That two people can love each other so much that their love Taj is still able to mesmerize the world, is really something special.

Back to beauty of the Taj, for words fail to glorify Shah Jahan and Mumtaz.

Just imagine how Taj would have looked when it was being created. Step by step, dome by dome; people would have watched it rise above the ground and banks of Yamuna. The reflected light from the glistening white marble would have been enough to blind anyone with its beauty; the towering minarets would have given a perspective never been previously seen, the cool breeze from Yamuna and soothing softness of marble would have been so refreshing in summers!! Walking on water sprinkled marble with lush green gardens and clean Yamuna in background and song of the boatman ferrying passengers at dusk under a fiery red sky, as if rose petals lay scattered across horizon…and all this with someone whom you love so deeply and truly, what a bliss!!

Situation looks a bit grim today. With rising pollution, pathetically dirty Yamuna and incessant drive at removing trees; the Taj certainly looks like a shadow of its glorious past. But then the true beauty of Taj is that even in face of adversities, against attacks of hundreds of rulers, against dust and storm and time, the Taj, our Taj has withstood all with dignity and majesty. Perhaps the creators of Taj and even Shah Jahan and Mumtaz would not not have predicted this, but a marvel has potential to survive on its own, for it has charm to captivate all those who wish to destroy it. And perhaps this holds true for not only humans but also the dust and weathering nature forces, for they blow not with aim to demean Taj but to get close to it, to hug it with their deepest affection…

Wah Taj!!