It was all thanks to Lihi Verses my daughter. A medical student soon to become a doctor. She decided to spend her summer vacation in India’s Rishikesh attending a Yoga course in an ashram.

After the course conclusion we decided to meet in New Delhi, travel India and fulfill a secret dream: to visit the Taj Mahal. A monument officially recognized as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and a symbol of love, beauty, and timeless craftsmanship.

A connecting flight via Abu Dhabi brought me to India’s capital city, and the next morning – a Thursday – a private driver picked us up. Surrounded by a chaotic mix of cars, buses, auto-rickshaws, motorbikes, cycles, and endless bulls and cows, we headed south to the city of Agra. After almost four hours on bumpy roads, the idea of visiting the Taj Mahal became realistic. The only fear was the September monsoon rain. And with no alternative- since the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays –  anxiety was intact. Within the complex lies an active mosque, and on Fridays access is reserved exclusively for local Muslims.

The moment we reached our hotel in Agra, thunderstorms broke out and heavy showers swept across the landscape, drumming on the lobby rooftop and turning the streets into rushing streams. An hour later the rain stopped, and the sky cleared to a light cloud cover. Within 20 minutes we found ourselves at the gates of the Taj Mahal. To protect the monument from pollution, no vehicles are allowed within about 500 meters of the site, so a golf cart for a small fee was the perfect solution.

As we approached one of India’s most visited and protected monuments, entering became its own challenge. Fortunately, we had bought our tickets online in advance, avoiding the endless queues at the ticket office. Separate lines for men and women, as well as different queues for Indian and foreign visitors, awaited us. Bag checks and body scans at all entry gates were strict. My favorite mint drops candies,........

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