You may have been wondering about signage in India. Not as amusing as China, but funny non-the-less.

These signs are at the entrance of the Taj Mahal.

Everywhere we go we must line up in separate lines.  It is not okay to touch the other gender in public.  Long story here, but I’ll save it for later.

This is the reason everyone comes to Agra if not India.

 

This famous monument to love is as timeless as it is beautiful. So, here’s the story.  Shah Jahan was a Hindu prince who took over from his father at a time when there was great unrest between Hindus and Muslims.  In order to forge a truce he married a Muslim princess who became the love of his life.  They were never apart and she bore him 14 children, only 6 of whom made it to adulthood.  Anyway, during the birth of the 14th child the princess died and this sent Shah Jahan into a deep depression.  His minions finally took him from the spot where she died but he really was never the same again. On her deathbed he promised to build her a garden to last for all eternity and thus began the 22 year build of the “Taj.”  During this time the third son killed his two brothers and usurped the crown from his father exiling him to Agra Fort where the Shah was con fined to a small set of rooms.  He could only watch out the windows as the Taj was built.  At last it was done and he buried his wife there and shortly died himself at age 72 and was interred next to her.

These are the eternally fresh and beautiful flowers the Shah gathered for his beloved.  The two that are inlaid use a forgotten art which came from Italy.  Semi-precious jewels are used and shine in the sun.

This is the courtyard outside the Shah’s rooms where he was confined for the 8 years before he died.

This is his set of rooms.  They are beautiful although I guess Jahan was pining for his wife.

This is the view he had from his window.  So this sad story ended and the monument to everlasting love still draws admirers from around the globe.

 

This is Agra Fort, where Shah Jahan spent his final years and where he lived with his princess.

This is the entrance in the inner courtyard.  This fort was never breached and in this level they kept lions and tigers.

 

This is the palace the Shah had built for his new bride. It is in the Muslim style, to help her feel at home.

The Hindu temple where the Shah worshiped his gods.

The grand presentation hall.  It would be imposing if you came to call!

We all commented that in a country with arranged marriages it seems there are a lot of stories about true love.  This is the ultimate tribute to that.