My intrepid wife and children agreed to follow me to my seventh and final wonder of the world — eighth if you count the Great Pyramids. In terms of sheer beauty and exotic settings, I may have saved the best for last.

But it wasn’t easy to get to. Quite the opposite. Our journey halfway around the world demanded two long-haul flights totaling nearly 24 hours one way. It included a last minute visa scare, an additional four-hour drive from Delhi international airport, and an unthinkable crush of crowds, chaos, and several communication breakdowns.

I’m not doing a good job selling the trip but stay with me. The effort required to reach this wonder was undeniably worth it. And I’m not just talking about the Taj Mahal, which is astounding. The many kind and gentle people, lush jungles, fragrant air, Delhi delights, exotic monkeys, and fantastic food we encountered en route to Agra were just as memorable.

But the Taj is the star of the show and reason we came. And it exceeded our wildest imagination.

To reach the East Gate entrance reserved for tourists, you’ll walk along a literal red brick road covered in canopy and teeming with monkeys and local vendors clamoring for your money. After pushing through the turnstile, the anticipation and excitement build like something out of Disneyland. Only this is for real. The top of the famous white dome appears in the distance over a makhani colored brick wall that forces you to wait longer still, regardless of how many steps it took to get that far.

You turn right, follow the crowds leading up to a romantic giant doorway, and there it is — the beginnings of arguably the most famous building ever constructed. Like Yosemite’s dreamy Tunnel View, the Taj Mahal is teased until you cross the threshold. And then… wow.

The Taj is so much bigger, grander, whiter, intricate, and gardenesque than the photos show. Tourists appear as ants walking on its expansive marble terraces. The curvaceous facade captures glimmering light like I’ve never seen. The reflection pools, landscaping, and surrounding complex are massive. On the day we visited, the vast majority of swelling crowds were kind and considerate.

Not wanting to leave, we stayed over three hours. Built in the 1600s by a grieving emperor in memory of his late wife for which it was named, the Taj Mahal’s awe-inspiring presence, symmetrical elegance, and dramatic love story clearly demonstrate why it’s one of the seven wonders of the world. It is the most wonderful, most beautiful building I have ever seen on all seven continents. Like the often loud country it finds itself in, the Taj is full-on sensory (and sometimes emotional) overload.

As most Indians will tell you, visiting the world’s most populated country of 1.4 billion will inevitably lead to many moments of friction, discomfort, and social fatigue. You will encounter malnourished beggars with rotten teeth and sunken eyes. Since it’s seemingly not rude to stare at foreigners, you will be starred at for uncomfortable amounts of time.

You will endure 40 minute traffic jams at on ramps, honking horns that never stop honking, and gasp ar the seemingly lawless, laneless, and inchless roads and sidewalks shared by pedestrians, cars, cows, rickshaws, and stray dogs. “In India,” one local informed me, “The only rule is there are no rules.”

But amazingly, it works. I don’t know how, but it does. Like commonplace cows that are considered sacred in this part of Asia, India is symbolic of life, generosity, and nourishment. It is hospitable, hyper-affordable, and ultra stimulating. I’m so glad I made it with family and hope you’ll agree that the adventure is worth it.

ProTip: To avoid traveler’s diarrhea (aka “Delhi belly”), you’ll need to forgo unsealed water, ice, juice, cut produce, street foods — basically anything room temperature that wasn’t recently cooked by reputable handlers. Thankfully, the cooked dosas, curries, naan, dipping sauces, and delicacies are fantastic — among the best in the world.

Blake Snow contributes to fancy publications and Fortune 500 companies as a bodacious writer-for-hire and seasoned travel journalist to all seven continents. He lives in Provo, Utah with his wife, five children, and one ferocious chihuahua.