The love story begins here!
Taj, the symbol of love and eternity, built by Shah Jahan in the memory if his love Mumtaj Mahal. I planned to explore Taj on Thursday but due to the excursion to other places I was not able to get up early on that particular morning.

“Well get ready honey, it's already 10'0.” said my girlfriend. And we both got ready and took a rickshaw, a three tyre vehicle, to Taj. As we were near the Taj, I was able to feel the love in the atmosphere. Well, by going through the brochures I came to know that Taj opens it doors to visitors as soon as the sun rises and closes around 7 pm in the evening.

“ Jaldi....(Hurry) Rs 60/- for two” asked the person on the ticket counter. “ Do you have any children, below 12, no ticket” hastingly asked the the person sitting on the ticket counter. In fact, I was quite astonished by his hasty act. He was sounding so busy as if he had to control the all the activity within Taj.

“Oho! We could have come on Friday!” I exclaimed. “Why?” asked my girlfriend. “See entry is free on Friday” as I pointed a notice board.

Since Taj looks extremely beautiful during sun rise and sunset, the tourism department charges Rs 970 for foreigners and Rs 210 for Indians and member of SAARC countries.

The entrance of Taj is shadowed by shops authorized by the Tourism Dept. We took a local guide, Ajay, who charged us Rs 100 for telling us the intricacies that Taj behold. Mind it! The guide may ask for alarming amounts but one has to be really negotiable. “Rs 500” asked Ajay. “ O no no no I will give Rs 100” And there he was telling us the entire history, and detailing us the architecture.

The End !!
“ Ma'am Taj lelo( Buy a Taj)” pleaded a young boy selling a miniature Taj built in soft white marble. “Wow, for how much” asked my girlfriend. I took out a note of 100 and gave it to that boy and he pleasantly wrapped the small Taj in the wooden carton.