Wet

The raindrops hit the windows of the train and rolled down the plexiglass in neatly spaced slanted lines.  The dark gray sky was evidence of what was to come. 

It was monsoon.  In Agra.  At the Taj Mahal.

I have been to the amazing Taj Mahal many times.  But never in the rain.  As we planned this trip to Agra, it never even entered my mind that it might be raining or even overcast on the day we visited.  It has always been sunny and beautiful and bright and warm when I have visited this monument in the past.  

Not today.

As the train pulled into Agra Cantt station, we wondered what we would do.  We had no umbrellas.  Would the cloud cover obscure the view of this white-marbled  masterpiece?  We tried to buy umbrellas on the way from the train station to the hotel and then again on the way to the Taj.  However, we had arrived so early in the morning that there were no stores open.

We were going to get wet.

The rain let up briefly as we made the amazing step from the front courtyard, through the red sandstone entrance gate and had our initial glimpse of the tomb's beauty.  It was distinctly gray-er than in previous visits due to the overcast conditions.  Historians were also doing preservation work on the front which required bamboo scaffoldings and a lot of natural mud which had been applied to the inlaid stone areas.

It was beautiful nonetheless.  Despite the aesthetic distractions and the inclement weather, the marvel of the Taj was still present.  We learned again about the symmetry.  We learned again about the significance and the symbolism.  We mingled amid the crowds all trying, and likely failing, to take the perfect photo of their loved ones in front of this monumental being.

It was a nice visit, rain and all.  Although I do have to say we were glad to be back in an air conditioned, non-humid, non-soaked hotel restaurant enjoying a delicious buffet lunch.  Just a bit more comfortable, but not nearly as gorgeous.

~lk