Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is beauty personified. It is an eternal symbol of love and an inspiration to romance. The Iconic Monument was a mausoleum dedicated by Mughal Emperor of India, Shah Jehan to his beloved wife, Mumtaz. It is perhaps the costliest monument built in the name of love in the history of mankind, an act unlikely to be surpassed. To know more about the Taj Mahal, check
Taj Mahal Tourism.
Located in the City of Agra, on the banks of the River Yamuna, the Taj Mahal is among the biggest tourist destinations in India. Approximately four million tourists visit it every year. The city of Agra is located at a distance of 250 kilometers from Delhi and Jaipur and forms a highly circuited tourist triangle with the aforementioned cities.
The Taj Mahal was commissioned by Shah Jehan in AD 1632 and the monument was completed in AD 1653, taking over twenty one years to build. The architecture of Taj Mahal is credited to Ustad Ahmad Lahoris design that brought together Turkic, Persian, Indian and Arab styles in this monument. He is supposed to have been assisted by Ismail Khan in the venture. Legend has it that Ustad Ahmad and the twenty thousand string labor that worked on Taj Mahal were physically harmed to ensure that such a monument could not be replicated.
The structure to this date remains an architectural marvel. Legend also has it that Shah Jehan was planning his own mausoleum on the opposing bank of River Yamuna, in black marble to contrast with the existing Taj Mahal. in fact, the foundation of the Black Taj Mahal can be seen from the existing Taj Mahal. The project was however abandoned by his son, Aurangzeb who had usurped the throne by force.
The structure is raised on a platform and has a main tomb with a domed top and four minarets. Also part of the complex are a beautiful garden and a mosque, a staying quarters and four gates on four sides. The first view of the Taj from entering upon any of the gates is one of the greatest visual treats for any visitor. The complex itself invigorates romance and is an ideal destination to propose marriage or to visit on an anniversary.
The Taj contains the tomb of both Mumtaz and Shah Jehan. People can visit the false tomb built as part of original plan to mislead anyone who could potentially destroy the structure. The actual tombs are based at a lower level and are not allowed for public visits. The visit to Taj is shut on Fridays, when the mosque in the Taj Complex is used for offering Muslim prayers. On other days, visitors can visit Taj from 6 AM until 7 PM. On Full Moon nights, there are special visit sessions at night when one can savor the Taj in moonlight. For the romantically inclined, night visit of the Taj is a must.
Due to security and environmental reasons, vehicle movement around the Taj has been restricted. Be prepared to walk a distance to enter the Taj and also be prepared to be frisked by security guards to ensure safety to the site and to visitors.
