Marbeled Black

Taj Mahal – Visit and Explore

Situated in Agra, the Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful monuments in the world. It is a mausoleum built by Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire’s greatest prosperity. It was built in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during the birth of their fourteenth child. The Taj Mahal is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Ottoman, Indian and Islamic architectural styles. Building of the Taj Mahal began around 1632 and was completed around 1653.

Taj Mahal is among the Seven Wonders of the World and is today one of the most visited tourist destinations in India.

The Taj Mahal is built on a raised platform surrounded by four minarets. The marble dome that surmounts the tomb has a height of around 35 meters. Inside are delicate mosaic works and marble walls with patterns of inlaid precious stones. The minarets, which each are more than 40 meters high, display the architect’s penchant for symmetry.

The Taj Mahal is one of the most visited places in India, and therefore there are many hotels nearby at all levels to suite any ones budget. Although it is possible to visit Taj Mahal on a day trip from Delhi, most people prefer to stay at least for one night in Agra, one of the reasons being that the Taj Mahal changes color during the day, it appears pink in the morning, white during the noon and golden in the moon light, so many visitors want to see and take pictures of Taj Mahal at different times of the day. Hotel bookings in Agra can at times be difficult because all is already fully booked, so planning in and booking in advance is advisable.

The Taj Mahal attracts from 2-4 million visitors annually, many of them from overseas. The grounds are open from 6 am to 7 pm weekdays, except Friday when the complex is open for prayers at the mosque between 12 pm and 2 pm. The complex is also open for night viewing on the day of the full moon and two days before and after, excluding Fridays and the month of Ramzan.

Many visitors prefer to travel to Taj Mahal on a package tour, where guides will provide information about the story of the construction and explain all facts related to the site and its history.

Some of the stories the guides will tell you are probably myths. One of the most persistent is that Shah Jahan planned to built second Taj Mahal identical to the one we know today, but located on the opposite side of the Yamuna river, and built in black marble. It has been suggested that Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb before it could be constructed, because of the escalating costs to built the first one. Shah Jahan was jailed in the nearby Red Fort where he remained until he died about 10 years later. There is no evidence that the story about a second, identical Taj Mahal in black marbel is correct.

By the late 19th century, parts of the buildings had fallen badly into disrepair. During the time of the Indian rebellion of 1857, the Taj Mahal was defaced by British soldiers and government officials, who chiseled out precious stones and lapis lazuli from its walls. At the end of the 19th century, British viceroy Lord Curzon ordered a sweeping restoration project, which was completed in 1908.

Usually vacation packages to Agra and Taj Mahal include a visit to Agra Fort, also called the Red Fort. It  was built between 1565 and 1571. The fort is similar in layout to the Red Fort in Delhi, but is considerably better preserved. It is constructed mainly from red sandstone, and later converted into a palace, being reworked extensively with marble and pietra dura inlay. The fort is built by the river and has a beautiful view of the Taj Mahal. Notable buildings in the fort include the Pearl Mosque, Jahangir’s Palace, Khas Mahal, Shish Mahal and the Musamman Burj. The total perimeter of Agra Fort is 2.4 km (1.5 mi), and is ringed by double castellated ramparts of red sandstone punctuated at regular intervals by bastions.

Plan your trip to India with us and we promise to show you the best of India. Visit and explore!!! For more information about incredible India tours, visit http://indiatouristguide.com.

About the Author

Svend is a frequent writer of articles about India, and has written this article for India Touristguide.com. India Touristguide arranges quality package tours to India. Visit http://www.indiatouristguide.com to experience the authentic India.

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