The Taj Mahal and Humayun's Tomb - a tale of two monuments.

If you have been to India, you have probably seen the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world and the ultimate monument to love. Built in white marble and one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, the Taj was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz. The building was completed in 1653 and stands 73 meters tall on the bank of the river Yamuna.

But if you travel upstream to Delhi, you will find another monument which has remarkable similarities to the Taj. Humayun's tomb stands proudly in the middle of India's capital city, not far from the same river. Humayun was the second Mughal emperor and his tomb was completed in 1572. It is 47 meters tall and is built in red sandstone and white marble.

So if you are unable to make a trip to Agra this time or want to visit only when you come with your wife or husband, take a trip to Humayun's tomb before you head for the airport!

#Tajmahal #Humayun #Agra #India 

Romantic Venice - celebrating life

We boarded Trenitalia from Milan on our way to Venice. Seated across us were an old and frail looking Australian couple who were coming back after twenty years. That kind of set the standard on how romantic Venice can be. And we hadn't even gotten there yet!

The rest of it was a lesson on how to celebrate life. Think about a city that started sinking even before global warming set in. Venetians have not only learnt how to cope with it but actually serenade it as their unique way of life. And the whole world comes to join in this celebration everyday.

The city is so old that there are no historical records of its founding. And old it looks. Parts of it are almost falling apart while the rest of it is struggling to stay upright. But the older it gets, the dearer it becomes and looks all the prettier for it. Although we were visiting for the first time, we felt that we had known this city for a long long time. We would love to go back in another twenty years.

#holiday #travel #photography #wanderlust #romantic #destination