The Taj Mahal - the jewel in India's crown

When you read through the list containing the current Seven Wonders of the World, many people may have a few qualms over some of the landmarks that appear. However, in my opinion, there is no doubt that the Taj Mahal thoroughly deserves its place.

With a new vote already underway, the famous Agra temple's days as one of the Seven Wonders are numbered, but in my mind, it will always be one of the most special and fascinating places on Earth. I find it difficult to comprehend the sheer magnitude of the building, which took 20,000 workers more than 20 years to complete. They do say that good things come to those who wait.

The flawless symmetry and the mirror image that is created in the surrounding water on a sunny day really does take your breath away. While the Taj Mahal is undoubtedly the jewel in India's crown, there is far more to the country. I have always relished being in an urban setting, but nothing could quite prepare me for the bustling nature of Delhi.

It is an amazing city and somewhere that really tests your reactions, as there is something going on everywhere you look. Although it has a population in the region of one billion, there are still some places to escape from all of the rickshaws and street sellers. Heading out into the sticks to see tigers in their natural habitat was an undoubted highlight, but for me, it still couldn't live up to the excitement I felt at seeing the great Taj Mahal.

My animal-loving girlfriend would almost certainly disagree, so finding a package that allowed us both to travel to different parts of the Asian country and get the most out of our Indian adventure was absolutely vital. One thing we could both agree on though is that visiting India was a magical experience.