Wonder of Love

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Weekend Independent

Friday, 17 February 2012

Author / Source : by Zaid Islam

Some call him a madcap. His son locked him up in his later years for spending up the treasury's money. But Emperor Shah Jahan lived up to the promise he made to his beloved Mumtaz Mahal. He built something by which till this day the world remembers them, their love. My wife Raka and I visited the great Taj Mahal last month. My first visit to this structure that stands as a universal symbol of love. High security measures are in place. Each individual is frisked and scanned thoroughly, and the only item allowed to carry inside are water in transparent bottles, still cameras, mobile phones and small ladies' purses. I had to check in my mini tripod at the locker before entering. There is a two tier ticketing system, Indian citizens pay a nominal fee, while foreigners pay heavily. As citizens of a SAARC country, we got a slight discount.
It is estimated that 2 to 4 million visitors come to the Taj annually. One of the recent concerns is pollution, and also the falling water level of River Jamuna. The Indian government is trying to address these issues. It has set up the Taj Trapezium Zone which is a 4000 sq mile area around the monument with strict emission standards in place. Polluting traffic is not allowed near the complex. Tourists must either walk, take rickshaws, camel driven carts, or the more recently introduced electric vehicles. But what can be done about the Jamuna?
We went across the river right before sunset. Raka says she saw me spending mesmerised moments there. I present you with some photos taken with my compact camera.