How I proposed at the Taj Mahal

In Dec 2018, Amy & I decided to visit India to meet my family.

I’m a romantic and knew I needed to get the timing and location perfect for my proposal. What better place than the Taj Mahal, the world-famous symbol of love?

Planning a proposal at the Taj wasn’t an easy job. Given the number of tourists visiting the landmark and countless other variables, I had to be a perfectionist with my planning, and so spent weeks and weeks researching the best spot for a Taj Mahal proposal, and exactly how I’d capture the precious moment with my camera.

As we arrived at the Taj Mahal gates in the evening, I anxiously surveyed the area – every detail had to be perfect to pull off this crazy plan.

I suggested we explore the Yamuna river behind the Taj instead of entering the palace gates.  Amy was confused, but followed me- I was a local after all. Yet as we walked towards the river, we heard footsteps echoing our own and turning back, saw a policeman right behind us.

My heart was racing as I held Amy’s hand and pressed onwards

In contrast to the Taj where throngs of tourists pour through the gates, the banks of Yamuna river were eerily quiet. On the banks, there was nothing more than a small, simple Hindu temple where locals sang prayers and offered food scraps to the mischievous wild monkeys, and a shabbily dressed old man scooped water from his boat’s hull.

The view of the Taj from the Yamuna was truly stunning, yet few ever see this sight. In fact, it’s illegal to take tourists on boat rides due to security concerns. I was an anxious, sweaty mess and worries kept circling around my head: How would she reply to my proposal? Would we get caught on our clandestine boat ride? And most of all – what exactly had I gotten myself into?? I couldn’t even swim for gods sake. Amy had no idea what was going on in my head.

As we approached the humble old boat, we carefully stepped around a group of armed policemen, and thankfully the men were far more distracted with their steaming chai and conversation than reprimanding a well-dressed multi-cultural young couple.

Amy cautiously stepped aboard the rickety wooden boat, and with a few pushes from the boatman, we finally set sail. As the sun set, it cast a golden glow on the Taj Mahal, whose intricate marble architecture was reflected in the glimmering river. As Amy admired the beauty of one of the wonders of the world, me reached out in my pocket and pulled out the ring, hands shacking and said, “Amy – will you spend the rest of MY life with ME?”

“Will you spend the rest of my life with me?”

Anxious from our harrowing journey, I couldn’t get the right words out. Amy laughed as she happily nodded ‘You mean the rest of YOUR life with me?!’ she giggled. Yet we both knew that romance is about so much more than saying the right words, it’s about actions, the kindness of our intentions and mutual loving support!