b_A wrote:It is a humongous waste of marble.

Rashmun wrote:

b_A wrote:It is a humongous waste of marble.

people from all over the world come to see it. its great for the economy.

Rashmun wrote:is there any monument in India as beautiful as the Taj Mahal? i think not. Shah Jahan--who built the Taj--had this idea of building a replica of the Taj Mahal just opposite where the Taj presently sits. This new Taj Mahal was to be built in black marble. Unfortunately he lost power and was unable to complete the new project.

MaxEntropy_Man wrote:

Rashmun wrote:is there any monument in India as beautiful as the Taj Mahal? i think not. Shah Jahan--who built the Taj--had this idea of building a replica of the Taj Mahal just opposite where the Taj presently sits. This new Taj Mahal was to be built in black marble. Unfortunately he lost power and was unable to complete the new project.

isn't enjoyment of art, architecture, and music a subjective experience? to me more than anything else, the pallava temple architecture is more appealing than anything else; even more than the temple architecture of my native place, thanjAvur. i love the kanchi kailAsanAthar temple.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanchi_Kailasanathar_Temple

b_A wrote:

MaxEntropy_Man wrote:

Rashmun wrote:is there any monument in India as beautiful as the Taj Mahal? i think not. Shah Jahan--who built the Taj--had this idea of building a replica of the Taj Mahal just opposite where the Taj presently sits. This new Taj Mahal was to be built in black marble. Unfortunately he lost power and was unable to complete the new project.

isn't enjoyment of art, architecture, and music a subjective experience? to me more than anything else, the pallava temple architecture is more appealing than anything else; even more than the temple architecture of my native place, thanjAvur. i love the kanchi kailAsanAthar temple.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanchi_Kailasanathar_Temple

Yes. Even the local swaminarayan temples have intricate patterns in arches sculpted in marble. Except for its monstrosity , there is nothing special about it. If the size is reduced by half and built with limestone or any other material , nobody will be even talking about it. There are many such tombs in Hyderabad and nobody gives a second look at them.

Rashmun wrote:

b_A wrote:

MaxEntropy_Man wrote:

Rashmun wrote:is there any monument in India as beautiful as the Taj Mahal? i think not. Shah Jahan--who built the Taj--had this idea of building a replica of the Taj Mahal just opposite where the Taj presently sits. This new Taj Mahal was to be built in black marble. Unfortunately he lost power and was unable to complete the new project.

isn't enjoyment of art, architecture, and music a subjective experience? to me more than anything else, the pallava temple architecture is more appealing than anything else; even more than the temple architecture of my native place, thanjAvur. i love the kanchi kailAsanAthar temple.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanchi_Kailasanathar_Temple

Yes. Even the local swaminarayan temples have intricate patterns in arches sculpted in marble. Except for its monstrosity , there is nothing special about it. If the size is reduced by half and built with limestone or any other material , nobody will be even talking about it. There are many such tombs in Hyderabad and nobody gives a second look at them.

The tomb shown below is called Bibi ka maqbara. It was built by Aurangzeb in the memory of his wife. Notice how it seems to lack the symmetry and proportionality of the dimensions in the Taj's architecture and u will appreciate the Taj more. So it's not just about the marble, it's also about the perfect symmetry and proportionality.

Rashmun wrote:

b_A wrote:

MaxEntropy_Man wrote:

Rashmun wrote:is there any monument in India as beautiful as the Taj Mahal? i think not. Shah Jahan--who built the Taj--had this idea of building a replica of the Taj Mahal just opposite where the Taj presently sits. This new Taj Mahal was to be built in black marble. Unfortunately he lost power and was unable to complete the new project.

isn't enjoyment of art, architecture, and music a subjective experience? to me more than anything else, the pallava temple architecture is more appealing than anything else; even more than the temple architecture of my native place, thanjAvur. i love the kanchi kailAsanAthar temple.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanchi_Kailasanathar_Temple

Yes. Even the local swaminarayan temples have intricate patterns in arches sculpted in marble. Except for its monstrosity , there is nothing special about it. If the size is reduced by half and built with limestone or any other material , nobody will be even talking about it. There are many such tombs in Hyderabad and nobody gives a second look at them.

The tomb shown below is called Bibi ka maqbara. It was built by Aurangzeb in the memory of his wife. Notice how it seems to lack the symmetry and proportionality of the dimensions in the Taj's architecture and u will appreciate the Taj more. So it's not just about the marble, it's also about the perfect symmetry and proportionality.

bw wrote:never been to the taj though i have been to delhi many times - have no desire to go see it either. no interest in the much touted akshardham either.

lodi gardens, on the other hand, is awesome. i loved that place.

Hellsangel wrote:

bw wrote:never been to the taj though i have been to delhi many times - have no desire to go see it either. no interest in the much touted akshardham either.

lodi gardens, on the other hand, is awesome. i loved that place.

It is one of those mindless tourist places surrounded by filth. And when you think about it, in the end it is just a tomb that cost a lot more in lives than the one person buried in it.

The pyramids are also tombs but thankfully they are spared that filth around them

MaxEntropy_Man wrote:i did the agra + fateh pur sikri thing when i was 14, on my own. was visiting an uncle in delhi for the summer holidays. he put me on one of those tourist buses which do day trips of agra and FPS. doing the taj once is enough. there is better value elsewhere for the money i want to spend as a tourist. the taj's beauty unfortunately does not make up for the shit hole that's agra.

Rashmun wrote:

MaxEntropy_Man wrote:i did the agra + fateh pur sikri thing when i was 14, on my own. was visiting an uncle in delhi for the summer holidays. he put me on one of those tourist buses which do day trips of agra and FPS. doing the taj once is enough. there is better value elsewhere for the money i want to spend as a tourist. the taj's beauty unfortunately does not make up for the shit hole that's agra.

What did u think of Fatehpur Sikri?

bw wrote:a monument made out of guilt?

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-27970693

bw wrote:never been to the taj though i have been to delhi many times - have no desire to go see it either. no interest in the much touted akshardham either.

lodi gardens, on the other hand, is awesome. i loved that place.

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

bw wrote:never been to the taj though i have been to delhi many times - have no desire to go see it either. no interest in the much touted akshardham either.

lodi gardens, on the other hand, is awesome. i loved that place.

I was like you oooonlyyy...but I ended up visiting it in Jan and just quickly walked though it in the middle of 1000s people.

bw wrote:

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

bw wrote:never been to the taj though i have been to delhi many times - have no desire to go see it either. no interest in the much touted akshardham either.

lodi gardens, on the other hand, is awesome. i loved that place.

I was like you oooonlyyy...but I ended up visiting it in Jan and just quickly walked though it in the middle of 1000s people.

am sure that during one of our delhi visits, we will make the trip as well just to show the kids "the taj" and also take the obligatory picture.