The Taj Mahal: Truly a world wonder

Consuelo Naranjo/Columnist

Go to the temple of love, touch the cold dazzling white marble walls, close your eyes and ask for a wish. The absolute devotion of this infrastructure will give you what your heart truly desires, a famous legend said. Taj Mahal, one of the Seven World Wonders, welcomed me with unpredictable chaos, persistent sellers and the unbearable heat of August. Despite the craziness of New Delhi and my constant fear for volatile sexual arrestments, the house of love, in some way, gave me hope.

Surrounded by richness, suffering and infinite superstitions, this mausoleum located in Agra, a northern city in India, is a tribute for Mumtaz Mahal, the most beloved wife and chosen one of the Emperor, Shah Jahan.  According to the BBC documentary, The Mystery of the Taj Mahal, the best architects, painters, load animals, thousands of workers and translucent gemstones were used for the construction of this majestic architectural piece. Twenty-two years passed by and finally, in 1648, this unrepeatable monument of faith, crowned by majestic domes was complete.

Millions of curious souls have stepped in and out this garden tomb and finally, I had the fortune to be one of them. Like every other western tourist, my desire for take a photograph that would receive the maximum of Facebook likes was my priority. However, by walking around those shiny floors while trying to decode the scriptures of the Quran that are locate around the doors, I understood the unbreakable connection that we as humans have with each other. I had traveled thousands of miles to enjoy India’s eccentric beauty. But somehow I was in the middle of a love tribute that structurally resembles heaven according to Islamic scriptures.

Having the opportunity to enjoy and intermingle with different cultures is one of the charms of traveling. Walking far away from your comfort zone breaks you in pieces, awakens you and somehow allows your natural survival instinct to kick in: an instinct that is normally suppressed by everyday western daily routine.

Traveling is an important element in the construction of our own Taj Mahal, our life. Every block of marble, every precious gem, and every grain of dirty sand can build a beautiful and a unique structure. Our lives are always under constant change such as of the temple of love that changes its colors depending on the reflection of the sunlight. Every good or bad experience will represent and become an irreplaceable piece in your Taj Mahal. Such as this wonder we need to open our minds, give and receive.

If you are wondering if I asked for a wish, well, I did. Just time will reveal if my deep and pure desire came true. Meanwhile, I encourage you to build your path that is as precious as one of the Seven Wonders. Give yourself the priceless gift of traveling. Save money, fund raise, apply for scholarships and give your soul the chance to live and feel anger, happiness, fear, misery, poverty and hope, because no one will ever be able to take that experience away from you.