Final Days: Historical Architecture & Ruins

We’ve spent our last days in India embarking on more tourist activities. On the 18th, we visited Fatepur Sikri after departing Delhi for Agra. Fatepur Sikri was built by Mughal Emperor Akbar and was one of many capitals of the empire during his reign. The entire building is made of red stone, and many of us were shocked that it still stands 500 years after it was built. Its landscape included perfectly-trimmed gardens with flowers in all colors — a tribute to the architectural prowess of the Mughal lineage. 

We were early risers on the 19th, waking up at 5:00 am in order to leave our hotel and be at the Taj Mahal by 6. Our goal was to see the Taj at sunrise, but instead our visit was accompanied by cloudy skies and some rain here and there. But the weather did not take away from the beauty of this monument that Shah Jahan built for his wife Muktab after her death. The entire building is made of marble, with two red stone mosques to accompany it on either side. It was a surreal experience, walking on the ground that royalty centuries ago once walked on. On Muktab’s grave, there is a Qur’an verse written on it, which attributes to the liberal nature of Jahan’s reign. When the shah himself died, his survivors buried him next to his wife, even though the Taj was not built to accommodate two people. For some locals, being in the mosque was more a religious achievement than a tourist one, so seeing that difference in perspective was also eye-opening. After visiting the Taj Mahal, we visited the descendants of the family who had done all of the marble inlay. We learned about their process which is done entirely by hand with no electrical machines. The detail of their pieces is incredible with some having hundreds of tiny pieces of colored marble. We then got a tour through their warehouse and were able to see their completed pieces. 

 

In the afternoon, we journeyed on to the Agra Fort, another massive red stone and marble complex built by Emperor Babur in the 15th century. Our tour guide, Shantum, gave us a deep dive into the history of the Mughal Empire, noting that this fort was the beginning of the incredible building abilities of the Mughal emperors. Agra Fort is a massive city-like structure that was home to the Mughal Emperors. The place was built over many decades so it is an interesting mix of the tastes of all the different emperors. The fort contains residential spaces, mosques, and public audience halls as well as an amazing view of the Taj Mahal across the Yamuna River. The Mughals were once the most powerful rulers of India and it was fascinating to see how they lived. Next, we had a quick lunch at a South Indian restaurant before getting on the bus and driving back to Delhi. We arrived back at our hotel in Delhi in time for a quick dinner before we all went to bed. 

 

We spent our final day in India exploring New Delhi. New Delhi is the part of Delhi that was built during British rule. Aesthetically it is very different from Old Delhi in that there are no ancient ruins next to the convenience store, but you can also tell that this is the more modern part of the city where average Delhites spend most of their time. 

 

Our first stop in New Delhi was a Hindu temple to Hanuman, the monkey god. The temple was  lavishly decorated with bright fabrics and shining metal covering every surface. We were able to watch as people brought offerings of flowers or fruit to the gods and went about their prayer rituals. After leaving the temple, it struck me how the temple did not feel out of place even in the center of the city because religion and society are so intertwined in India.

 

Outside the temple, we came across a woman who did henna, which is a traditional Indian temporary tattoo. Everyone ended up getting some and the designs were incredible, ranging from flowers to peacocks. 

 

For the rest of the morning, we wandered around an open-air marketplace and different shops in the area. For lunch, we went to McDonalds, which was a much different experience than I would have expected. The menu was entirely different from that in the United States but it reflected Indian culture. For example, there was an entirely vegetarian menu and they even incorporated some traditional Indian spices into the dishes.

 

After lunch, we headed to a different marketplace called Khan Market. I spent my time there in a small bookstore that felt like it came out of a movie. There were books stacked everywhere with little room left to navigate around them. Once we completed our shopping, we drove over to Shantum-Ji’s house. There we had our last circle sharing where we reflected on the trip. There were lots of laughs and some tears, but overall it felt like the right way to end the trip. Then, we had one last dinner at a restaurant nearby before we headed to the airport to bring the long journey back home.

Many people shared about how this trip has inspired them to appreciate life more, and not pay too much attention to the tangible parts of life. I have learned to live and meditate in the moment instead of always thinking ahead to what is next. Our group has really connected well, and I hope to visit this beautiful country once again.