Day 6!

A day that was so magical that I needed to take a few days to find the words so I could write this post.

We started the day very early, with the girls meeting in my hotel room at 5.40am. After an amazing idea from Christine, we had all purchased sarees earlier in the week to wear on this highly anticipated day. Vish had arranged for a local lady to come and drape our beautiful sarees for us, before meeting the rest of the group to head off to see the sunrise at the incredible Taj Mahal.

There are genuinely no words to express the feeling I had when I walked through the entry gate and saw the phenomenal white marble structure sparkling in the distance, and it’s only became more surreal as we walked right up to and entered the Taj Mahal itself.

Construction began in 1632 and took more than two decades to complete, involving over 20,000 artisans from across India and beyond. Every inch of the Taj is carefully designed from the perfect symmetry to the intricate floral inlays made with precious stones. Learning about the history and love story leading to the existence of this monument was simply breathtaking.

In the early 1600s, Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan fell deeply in love with Mumtaz Mahal, a woman known for her beauty, grace, and kindness. She wasn’t just his queen, she was his confidante, his closest friend, and his greatest inspiration. Together, they had fourteen children, and she accompanied him everywhere, even on military campaigns.

But in 1631, while giving birth to their last child, Mumtaz passed away. Her last request to her husband was that he never forget her and the love they shared. Heartbroken and inconsolable, Shah Jahan vowed to build her a tomb so beautiful that the whole world would remember their love forever. And from that promise, the Taj Mahal was born.

After his death, Shah Jahan was laid to rest beside Mumtaz, completing the story of two souls reunited at last. Centuries later, the Taj Mahal remains as a timeless symbol of love strong enough to defy even death.

As the sun shifts through the day, the marble changes colour, glowing pink in the morning, milky white at noon, and golden under the moonlight. It’s said that Shah Jahan wanted the Taj Mahal to reflect the changing moods of his queen, even after her passing.

I genuinely don’t think I will ever in my life feel what I did when I saw this monument, and I still can’t believe how lucky I am to have had the opportunity to see it with my own eyes.

Once we were on the bus, we headed back to our hotel to get changed and have some breakfast before we were off again to see some more of stunning Agra.

Our second stop for the day was Agra Fort, a place that looks foreboding from the outside, but houses so much beauty. Just a few kilometres from the Taj Mahal the massive red sandstone fortress once guarded the heart of an empire.

It was also here that I got to finally hold one of the adorable squirrels we had been seeing since the beginning of our adventure!

Built in 1565 by Emperor Akbar, the fort became the main residence of the Mughal rulers for nearly a century. Behind its towering 20 meter high walls lies a maze of palaces, courtyards, mosques, and gardens which have to be seen to be believed. 

There was even a section where Akbar housed his harem of over 5,000 women and their maids! Some quick math and we had worked out that if he saw one different woman every night of the year, that meant he would only see them once every 13 and a half years!

Later emperors added their own touches with Jahangir building elegant halls, while Shah Jahan (who also built the Taj Mahal) replaced parts of the red stone with gleaming white marble. But in a tragic twist of history, Shah Jahan was later imprisoned here by his own son, Aurangzeb. From his marble balcony, he spent his final years gazing across the river at the Taj Mahal, the tomb of his beloved Mumtaz.

Today, Agra Fort stands as a powerful reminder of India’s royal past, a fortress of might, beauty, and bittersweet memories.

Our last stop before lunch was a stunning marble workshop and store where we had the chance to learn about all the techniques that were used to build the Taj Mahal. An art which is still used by experts in the field to this day to create stunning pieces.

They also had a coffee table that almost rivalled the amount of sparkle that is on mine… almost, but not quite!

After a delicious lunch of South Indian meals, we headed to some nearby shops, one of which housed a stunning gallery of silk embroidery with created by an absolute master of the craft, the late Shamshuddin. We weren’t permitted to take photos but I would definitely recommend looking up his work online as it is phenomenal and so incredibly detailed with some works taking him many years to complete.

I then spent some time souvenir shopping before it was time to head back to the hotel for our last night in Agra.

Before dinner we headed to the Kalakriti Theatre to watch Mohabbat the Taj show, an Indian theatre production with headphones provided that give you a real time translation into your own language.

The 90-minute show recreates the legendary romance of Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. Through dazzling dance, amazing music, and some of the most elaborate and spectacular costumes and sets I have ever seen, the story unfolds with all the drama, beauty, and heartbreak that inspired one of the world’s greatest monuments.

The production features dozens of talented performers and dancers with so much sparkle. Each scene draws you deeper into the emotion. from the royal court’s grandeur to Shah Jahan’s grief as he builds the Taj Mahal in eternal memory of his queen.

I have also never seen such complicated set and costume changes done so quickly in a full blackout!

Complete with balloons falling from the roof at the end of the performance, this show was an absolute must see in a beautiful theatre if you ever happen to find yourself in Agra!

Finally we had dinner at Sun Barbecue before heading to bed after this magical and unforgettable day!

Laura xx