TAJ MAHAL

 

The Taj Mahal, one of the world's seven wonders, is situated on the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra. It was created as a memorial for Shah Jahan's third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. It also houses Shah Jahan's personal tomb. Taj Mahal is one of the most stunning monuments in the world, built completely of white marble in the 17th century. Every year, more than the whole population of Agra passes through the majestic gates in order to see this amazing monument!

The Taj Mahal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that means "Crown of Palaces" in Persian. The tomb is rectangular in shape and is entered through a large doorway with an arch and alcoves on both sides. The entrance has water channels and fountains, making the monument even more magnificent. The Yamuna's reflection of this magnificent sight is almost poetry in its perfection!

The Taj Mahal was built over a 42-acre plot of land in 1631, and it took 17 years to complete in 1648! It was built with white marble from the Rajasthani town of Makrana.

Opening and closing times: 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after dusk.
On Fridays, It's closed.
On Fridays, The Taj Mahal is exclusively open to practising Muslims who wish to attend afternoon prayers

2 hours are required.

Fees: INR 50 for Indian citizens and INR 100 for visitors from SAARC nations.
INR 540 for citizens of SAARC and BIMSTEC countries.
INR 1100 for foreign visitors (Additional INR 200 for every tourist who wishes to enter the mausoleum)
All youngsters under the age of 15 are admitted free of charge.

Entry Gates: 

• There are three entrance gates to the Taj Mahal.
• Independent travellers enter through the south gates, while tour groups enter by the east and west gates.
• The lineups are the shortest at the east gate.
• At each of the three gates, there are distinct lineups for men and women.

Taj Mahal from the inside

The Taj Mahal has three entrances: east, west, and south. The decorative gardens within the grounds are designed along Mughal charbagh principles (formal Persian garden). The monument is located at the northern extremity of the park, on a raised marble platform with its back to the Yamuna River. Its elevated position is a brilliant design choice because it just has the sky as a backdrop. White minarets stand 40 metres tall on each corner of the platform. Taj Mahal is fashioned out of semi-translucent white marble and inlaid with hundreds of semi-precious stones. The Taj's four distinct faces are perfectly symmetrical, with majestic vaulted arches incorporating pietra dura scrollwork and Quranic verses. Four tiny domes adorn the top of the tower.

Directly beneath the main dome is Mumtaz Mahal's cenotaph. It's an ornate faux tomb encircled by a beautiful marble screen inlaid with various semi-precious stones, which balances off the Taj's symmetry. Finely carved marble screens allow light to penetrate the central area. These are replicas of Mumtaz Mahal's genuine tombs, while Shah Jahan is entombed in a sealed compartment underneath the main chamber.

To the west of the compound is a red sandstone mosque, which serves as a key meeting place for Agra's Muslims. The Jawab, a similar structure to the east, was constructed to maintain symmetry. The Taj Museum, which is located within the Taj, displays several genuine Mughal miniature paintings. The monarch Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal are shown in a pair of 17th-century ivory pictures. It also possesses several Caledon plates, which are claimed to shatter or change colour when poisonous food is served on them.

Taj Mahal's History

Shah Jahan created the Taj Mahal as a tomb for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 while giving birth to their 14th child. The emperor was devastated by her death, and his hair is reported to have gone grey overnight. The Taj Mahal's construction began in 1632. The main structure took eight years to finish, while the entire complex took until 1653 to complete. Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb and imprisoned in the Agra Fort shortly after the building was completed. He would only be able to see his magnificent work through a window for the rest of his life. After Shah Jahan's death in 1666, his mortal bones were interred here with Mumtaz.

Across 20,000 individuals from all over India and Central Asia contributed to the construction of this remarkable structure. The exquisite marble screens and marble inlay (pietra dura), which is constructed of thousands of semi-precious stones, were created by specialists sent in from as far as Europe. UNESCO listed the Taj Mahal as a World Heritage Site in 1983. It still looks as good as it did when it was built. In the early twentieth century, the monument received extensive renovation.

When is the best time to see the Taj Mahal?

The finest time to view the Taj Mahal is undoubtedly during daybreak, when it appears to be at its most magnificent. Because there are less people, this is also the most pleasant time to visit. Sunset is another great time to visit the Taj. It's also open to the public for five evenings surrounding the full moon. The number of admittance tickets available at this time is restricted, and they must be purchased a day in advance at the Archaeological Survey of India office.

What is the best way to get to the Taj Mahal?

Tongas, electric buses, and tempos can take you to the Taj Mahal and surrounding Agra. Auto rickshaws and governmental buses are also available. Vehicles are not permitted in the area of the Taj and must be parked in parking lots located within a short distance of the tomb in order to reduce the impact of pollution on the monument. Visitors can take non-electric tourist buses from the parking area.

The Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort are near to one other, and if the weather isn't too hot, you may stroll between them. Aside from that, there are several automobiles and battery-powered rickshaws commuting between the two major monuments for a low fare.