Come, Walk along the pathway beside the reflecting pool with fountains upto the mausoleum crafted in soft & pure marble and jewelled with semi precious stones, where in the serenity of paradise rests the Queen in peace with her King. Come to unfold the pages from the past to churn the charm out of its mystique and enrich your imagination about this marvel of an epic in stone, The Taj!
The grace of perfection of proportions and grandeur of geometrical patterns of well appointed gardens enhancing the poise of the whole complex together add magnificence to the delicacy of this mance of love, dedication and purity, ‘The Taj’!
Come take a dip into the saga of ‘The Taj’, culled out from no fiction but facts and unfurl a saga, which is set out of nothing but pure love!
Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder! Probably for Taj Mahal, the axiom is just the other way round.The Taj is the beauty personified! The Taj displays its different moods through its varied shades. The Taj has as many shades as any kind of beauty can ever have! The Taj is pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening, golden when the moon shines and the intermediary variants during different hours of the day and during different seasons in a year.
Picturesque descriptions by the historians contemporary to the period of its making, the facts revealed by the scholars & archaeologists of today and the panoramic montage of the reasons behind its making are sketched with every step you would walk towards the mausoleum the next time you visit The Taj!
A look this time at the Taj will keep you indulged with thoughts superimposing your sight and would make you feel the presence of Shah Jahan, the Maker and Mumtaz Mahal, the Reason, as though walking along with you.
Whence its breathtaking splendour makes you wonder breathlessly and you tend to pause for a while but to continue staring at ‘The Taj’, you would sense them standing beside you!
If one has a heart that beats and that beat throbs to seek, the purity of love in galore! Surely one deserves a visit to ‘The Taj’, as much as ‘The Taj’ deserves your visit once, and more!
Come to ‘The Taj’ with blissful pride! Bring the saga come alive!! Come; fall in love, every time!!! |
The Taj Mahal looms fairytale-like from the banks of the Yamuna River. It's India’s most recognized monument and is also one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The monument dates back 1630 and is actually a tomb that contains the body of Mumtaz Mahal -- the wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. He had it built as an ode to his love for her. It's made out of marble and took 22 years and 20 000 workers to complete.
Words cannot do the Taj Mahal justice, its incredible detail simply has to be seen to be appreciated.
Location
Agra, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, approximately 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Delhi. It's part of India's popular Golden Triangle Tourist Circuit.
When to Go
The best time is from November to February, otherwise it can be unbearably hot or rainy. You'll be able to get some excellent off-season discounts though.
The Taj Mahal appears to gradually alter its color in the changing light of the day. It’s well worth the effort to get up early and spend sunrise there, as it majestically reveals itself. Visiting around dawn will also enable you to beat the huge crowds that start arriving later in the morning.
Getting There
The Taj Mahal can be visited on a day trip from Delhi. Agra is well connected by rail. The main railway station is Agra Cantt. High speed Shatabdi Express services operate from Delhi, Varanasi, and cities in Rajasthan.
- Find out the best trains from Delhi to Agra.
The Yamuna Expressway opened in August 2012 and has reduced the travel time by road from Delhi to Agra to under three hours. It starts from Noida and a toll of 415 rupees per car for a one way trip (665 rupees round trip) is payable. Read more about hiring a car and driver.
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The bus is a good option if getting a train isn't possible. Comfortable, air-conditioned Volvo buses depart from Anand Vihar terminal in New Delhi every hour during the day. The cost is about 700 rupees per person. The buses go via the Yamuna Expressway and stop at Vango restaurant for a 30 minute snack and restroom break (the toilets are clean).
Alternatively you can fly from major Indian cities, or take a tour from Delhi.
What Is The Taj Mahal Quizlet
Taj Mahal Tours
Viator (in conjunction with Tripadvisor) offers a popular and highly rated Private Day Tour to Agra and the Taj Mahal from Delhi, as well as a combined Day Tour to Agra and Fatehpur Sikri and Day Tour to Agra with Culture Walk. It's also possible to see the Taj Mahal at night during the full moon on this 2 Day Private Tour of Agra from Delhi.
Alternatively, see the Taj Mahal on one of these recommended Agra day tours: 11 Hour Agra Day Tour including Sunrise and Sunset at Taj Mahal, Private Taj Mahal and Agra Fort Tour including meal with a view and optional professional photographer, or Sunrise or Sunset View of Taj Mahal on Yamuna River Boat Ride.
If you're looking for an inexpensive tour option, UP Tourism runs daily full-day sightseeing bus tours to the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.
The cost is 650 rupees for Indians and 3,000 rupees for foreigners. The price includes transport, monument entry tickets, and guide fees.
Opening Hours
6 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day except Friday (when it's closed for prayer). The Taj Mahal is also open for night viewing every full moon from 8.30 p.m. until 12.30 a.m., plus two days before and two days after the full moon (a total of five days). Night viewing is suspended during the holy month of Ramadan every year.
Entry Fees and Information
The price of entry tickets for the Taj Mahal increased in August 2018 and a discount is provided on cashless payments. For foreigners, the cash ticket price is now 1,100 rupees, and 1,050 rupees cashless. Indians only pay 50 rupees cash, and 45 rupees cashless. Children younger than 15 years can enter free.
Tickets can be purchased at ticket offices near the entry gates or online at this website. (Do note, tickets for the Taj Mahal are no longer able to be purchased at Agra Fort or other monuments, and only offer a minimal discount if you wish to visit other monuments on the same day).
The foreigner's ticket includes shoe covers, bottle of water, tourist map of Agra, and bus or golf cart service to the entry gate. It also enables ticket holders to enter the Taj Mahal ahead of any Indian ticket holders already waiting in line.
Night Viewing tickets cost 750 rupees for foreigners and 510 rupees for Indians, for half an hour’s admittance. Children aged three to 15 years must pay 500 rupees. These tickets must be purchased between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., one day in advance from the Archaeological Survey of India office on Mall Road. See more details here, including night viewing dates.
Vehicles aren't allowed within 500 meters of the Taj Mahal because of pollution. There are three entry gates -- South, East, and West.
- The West gate is the main gate that the majority of local Indian visitors enter through, and it generally has the longest lines throughout the day. However, it's the preferred option at sunrise to avoid the crowds at the East gate.
- The East gate is popularly used by foreign tourists, as it's closest to a number of well-known hotels. It usually has shorter queues except for at sunrise, when large groups tend to arrive there. If you buy your ticket in advance the day before, it's still the best entry point though. Do note that the ticket office (in Shilpgram) is inconveniently located about 10 minutes walk from the gate. Buses, golf carts and cycle rickshaws are available for those that can't, or don't want to, walk.
- The South gate is the least-used gate. It's close to a congested market area where many of the cheap hotels are situated, making it favored by budget and independent travelers. However, it doesn't open until 8 a.m. A huge sandstone gateway provides access to the inner compound there.
Security at the Taj Mahal
Strict security is in place at the Taj Mahal, and there are checkpoints at the entrances. Your bag will be scanned and searched. Large bags and day packs aren't allowed to be taken inside. Only small bags containing essential items are permitted. This includes one cell phone, a camera, and a water bottle per person. You can't bring edibles, tobacco products or lighters, electrical items (including phone chargers, headphones, iPads, torches), knives, or camera tripods inside. Cell phones are also banned during night viewing sessions, although cameras are still allowed. Luggage storage facilities are provided at the entry gates.
Guides and Audio Guides
If you want to marvel over the Taj Mahal without the distraction of having a tour guide with you, government-approved AudioCompass provides an inexpensive official Taj Mahal audio guide on its cell phone app. It's available in many foreign and Indian languages including English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese.
See the Taj Mahal Without Going Inside
If you don’t want to pay the costly admission fee or battle the crowds, you can get a great view of the Taj from across the river bank. This is ideal for sunset. Once such place there is Mehtab Bagh -- a 25 acre Mughal garden complex directly opposite the monument. The entry cost is 300 rupees for foreigners and 25 rupees for Indians, and it's open until sunset. Unfortunately, an unsightly barbed wire fence has been erected beside the river to stop tourists from wandering along it.
It's possible to take a row boat out on the river. Head down the path along the eastern wall of the Taj Mahal to the riverside temple, where you will find boatmen.
There's also a little-known abandoned watchtower across a sandy field on the eastern side of the Taj Mahal. It's an ideal place for a splendid sunset view of the monument. Reach it by heading east from the East Gate and taking a right at the fork in the road. Pay the official 50 rupees to enter.
Uttar Pradesh Tourism's Taj Khema hotel offers notable vistas of the Taj Mahal from its gardens too. A new marble bench was installed on a mound there in early 2015, especially for visitors. Sip tea and watch the sunset! The hotel is located about 200 meters from the monument, on the eastern side. It's a government-run establish, so don't expect great service though.
Another option is the rooftop of the Saniya Palace hotel, on the southern side of the Taj Mahal.
Cleaning of the Taj Mahal's Exterior
The first thorough cleaning of the Taj Mahal is currently underway, with the aim of removing the yellow discoloration from pollution and restoring the marble to its original brilliant white color. To achieve this, a natural clay paste is being applied to the monument's exterior. As at August 2018, the work is in its final phases. The main structure of the Taj Mahal is free of scaffolding. In addition, the treatment of the four cupolas under the main dome is due to be completed by the end of the month. The clay packing of the main dome remains and is planned to be undertaken in stages, starting from the front of the monument. The entire dome won't be covered in scaffolding.
Festivals
Taj Mahal Wikipedia
The week long Taj Mahotsav takes place at Shilpgram in Agra, right near the Taj Mahal, from February 18-27 each year. The focus of this festival is on arts, crafts, Indian culture, and recreating the Mughal Era. It gets underway with a spectacular procession that includes elephants, camels, and drummers. Camel rides are on offer, and there are also games for the kids and a food festival. The venue has special significance, as it's apparently located on the site where the artisans who built the Taj Mahal once lived.
Where to Stay
Unfortunately, many of the hotels in Agra are as uninspiring as the city itself. However, these top Agra hotelsshould help make your stay a memorable one. There are accommodations to suit all budgets and many have Taj views.
Dangers and Annoyances
Visiting the Taj Mahal can be overwhelming for all the wrong reasons. Be prepared to encounter plenty of beggars and touts there. According to this news report, it has become an increasingly troublesome problem, and many visitors go back home feeling cheated, threatened and abused. Touts operate in sophisticated gangs that have counterparts in other cities who identify potential targets at railway stations. Once the tourists reach Agra, the touts start pestering them by claiming that they are guides or taxi drivers. They commonly use ploys such as free taxi rides or the promise of heavy discounts.
Note: There are 24 hour official prepaid auto rickshaw and taxi booths just outside Agra railway station.Use these to avoid the hassle, and if you book a tour there check the quality of your vehicle to make sure it's satisfactory.
Do be sure to tell auto rickshaw drivers which Taj Mahal entry gate you wish to be taken to, otherwise it's likely that you'll find yourself dropped off in the area where expensive horse and cart or camel rides wait to take tour groups to the west gate.
Apparently, there are only 50-60 approved guides at the Taj Mahal. However, more than 3,000 touts posing as photographers, guides or middleman, openly solicit customers at the monument's three gates (especially at the western gate, which receives around 60-70% of visitors). Hundreds of hawkers (who pay bribes to the police) are also a problem at the Taj Mahal, despite being officially banned.
In addition, foreigners, particularly women and parents with young children, are frequently asked to pose for photographs (or even being photographed without permission) by other people including groups of guys. This can be intrusive and uncomfortable. This news article warns about selfie seekers at the Taj Mahal.
Lastly, do be aware of the notorious gem scam, which is alarming prevalent in Agra.
Other Attractions Around Agra
Agra is a rather dirty and characterless city, so don’t spend too much time there. In case you're wondering what else to do in and around the city, take a look at these Top Places to Visit in Agra and Around.
Nature lovers will appreciate a trip to the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary at Keoladeo Ghana National Park, 55 kilometers (34 miles) from Agra.
Contents
The Taj Mahal is an enormous mausoleum complex commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the remains of his beloved wife. Constructed over a 20-year period on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, India, the famed complex is one of the most outstanding examples of Mughal architecture, which combined Indian, Persian and Islamic influences. At its center is the Taj Mahal itself, built of shimmering white marble that seems to change color depending on the daylight. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, it remains one of the world’s most celebrated structures and a stunning symbol of India’s rich history.
Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan was a member of the Mughal dynasty that ruled most of northern India from the early 16th to the mid 18th-century. After the death of his father, King Jahangir, in 1627, Shah Jahan emerged the victor of a bitter power struggle with his brothers, and crowned himself emperor at Agra in 1628.
At his side was Arjumand Banu Begum, better known as Mumtaz Mahal (“Chosen One of the Palace”), whom he married in 1612 and cherished as the favorite of his three queens.
In 1631, Mumtaz Mahal died after giving birth to the couple’s 14th child. The grieving Shah Jahan, known for commissioning a number of impressive structures throughout his reign, ordered the building of a magnificent mausoleum across the Yamuna River from his own royal palace at Agra.
Construction began around 1632 and would continue for the next two decades. The chief architect was probably Ustad Ahmad Lahouri, an Indian of Persian descent who would later be credited with designing the Red Fort at Delhi.
In all, more than 20,000 workers from India, Persia, Europe and the Ottoman Empire, along with some 1,000 elephants, were brought in to build the mausoleum complex.
Design and Construction of the Taj Mahal
Named the Taj Mahal in honor of Mumtaz Mahal, the mausoleum was constructed of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones (including jade, crystal, lapis lazuli, amethyst and turquoise) forming intricate designs in a technique known as pietra dura.
Its central dome reaches a height of 240 feet (73 meters) and is surrounded by four smaller domes; four slender towers, or minarets, stood at the corners. In accordance with the traditions of Islam, verses from the Quran were inscribed in calligraphy on the arched entrances to the mausoleum, in addition to numerous other sections of the complex.
Inside the mausoleum, an octagonal marble chamber adorned with carvings and semi-precious stones housed the cenotaph, or false tomb, of Mumtaz Mahal. The real sarcophagus containing her actual remains lay below, at garden level.
The rest of the Taj Mahal complex included a main gateway of red sandstone and a square garden divided into quarters by long pools of water, as well as a red sandstone mosque and an identical building called a jawab (or “mirror”) directly across from the mosque. Traditional Mughal building practice would allow no future alterations to be made to the complex.
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As the story goes, Shah Jahan intended to build a second grand mausoleum across the Yamuna River from the Taj Mahal, where his own remains would be buried when he died; the two structures were to have been connected by a bridge.
In fact, Aurangzeb (Shah Jahan’s third son with Mumtaz Mahal) deposed his ailing father in 1658 and took power himself. Shah Jahan lived out the last years of his life under house arrest in a tower of the Red Fort at Agra, with a view of the majestic resting place he had constructed for his wife; when he died in 1666, he was buried next to her.
Did you know? According to one gruesome (and most likely sensational) story, Shah Jahan had his minions cut off the hands of the Taj Mahal's architect and his workers after the structure was completed, ensuring they would never build another of its kind.
Taj Mahal Over the Years
Under Aurangzeb’s long rule (1658-1707), the Mughal empire reached the height of its strength. However, his militant Muslim policies, including the destruction of many Hindu temples and shrines, undermined the enduring strength of the empire and led to its demise by the mid-18th century.
Even as Mughal power crumbled, the Taj Mahal suffered from neglect and disrepair in the two centuries after Shah Jahan’s death. Near the turn of the 19th century, Lord Curzon, then British viceroy of India, ordered a major restoration of the mausoleum complex as part of a colonial effort to preserve India’s artistic and cultural heritage.
Today, some 3 million people a year (or around 45,000 a day during peak tourist season) visit the Taj Mahal.
Air pollution from nearby factories and automobiles poses a continual threat to the mausoleum’s gleaming white marble façade, and in 1998, India’s Supreme Court ordered a number of anti-pollution measures to protect the building from deterioration. Some factories were closed, while vehicular traffic was banned from the immediate vicinity of the complex.
Everyone recognizes the Taj Mahal as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The mausoleum is a glorious structure, built of white marble, and symbolizes purity, love and pain, like no other architecture does. Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore called the Taj Mahal “a tear drop on the cheek of time.” The Taj Mahal, built in Agra, India, has many stories revolving around it. Let us look at some of the interesting facts about Taj Mahal.
1. Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal
Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan had the Taj Mahal built in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, whom he held precious. Mumtaz Mahal was giving birth to the fourteenth child of the emperor, and she died in the process. This was in 1631. Legend has it that Shah Jahan, who considered his empress an integral part of his life, was broken after her death, and within just a few months, his hair and beard grew snow white, such was the terrible impact of the demise upon him.
2. Time and amount
The construction of the Taj Mahal was begun in 1632, a year after the death of Empress Mumtaz. The construction was completed in the year 1653, which means that it took approximately 22 years to complete this astounding piece of architecture. At that time, the estimated construction cost was a whopping sum of Rs. 32 million, which, when considered in terms of today’s value of money, would be something way above $1 billion.
3. Construction and employees
The architect behind all the magic was Ahmed Lahauri. He put more than 20,000 people into building the Taj, including labourers, stonecutters, painters, embroidery artists, calligraphers, and many others. But, how were the stones and materials required for the construction of the mausoleum transported? Well, elephants were employed to do the task, and amazingly, there were more than 1,000 of the majestic creatures employed.
4. Materials Used
The magnificent edifice is bounded on three sides by red stone walls. It is constructed completely of white marble. The emperor had marbles of the best quality brought from Rajasthan, Afghanistan, Tibet and China. But this was probably not enough for the emperor. It is believed that more than 28 different types of precious and semi-precious stones, including the striking lapis lazuli, were inlaid into the marble. Now we know where all the money went.
5. Inscriptions
The Taj Mahal being the dedication and homage of Mumtaz Mahal, it has calligraphy all over the interior and exterior, which, among other patterns and holy inscriptions, also has calligraphy on the tomb that identifies and praises Mumtaz Mahal. Another interesting fact is that there are 99 names of Allah found on the sides of the actual tomb as calligraphic inscriptions. After all, Shah Jahan did envision Mumtaz’s home in the paradise, and Taj Mahal was that imagination coming to life.
6. The Perfection that Taj Mahal Is
The Taj Mahal is one of the world’s most symmetrical structures. Its four sides are perfectly identical, built using the principles of self-replication and symmetry in geometry and architecture, thus creating a mirrored image on either side. But, to keep the male tomb larger than the female, the two tombs inside are unequal in size. The four minarets were prudently built slightly outside of the plinth, so that if they fell, they would fall outside, and not upon the main structure.
7. Changing Moods of the Taj Mahal
Did you know that the Taj Mahal dose different colours at different times of the day? The white marble and the reflective tiles help the Taj change colours. In the early morning, it assumes a shy pinkish hue, which turns to a glowing white as the day rolls on, and turns a burnished golden at night in the moonlight. The Taj Mahal is a particular attraction when on full moon nights. The changing colours are said to be analogous to the moods of a woman – Mumtaz Mahal, to be specific.
8. Attack on the Taj Mahal
The rebellion of 1857 took a toll on the Taj which was partially damaged. The soldiers had also chiselled out some of the stones and lapis lazuli, and the garden was harmed. At the end of the 19th century, Lord Curzon, the erstwhile Viceroy of British India, ordered its renovation through an extensive project which was completed in 1908. The garden that we see today was incorporated to restore the lost elements of the Charbagh. He also gifted a chandelier, which hangs in the Taj Mahal.
9. Myths
One of the common myths about the Taj Mahal is that Emperor Shah Jahan had the thumbs of the workers chopped off, to prevent them from constructing a replica of his masterpiece. However, this is not true. Another popular myth suggests he wanted to build a black Taj Mahal, but was unable to execute his plan after being deposed. The idea probably generates from European traveller Jean-Baptiste Tavernier’s fanciful writings, but has no evidence to support its validity.
10. Taj Mahal was a Shiv Temple?
The Taj Mahal was built with a blend of Indian, Persian and Islamic styles of architecture, and is considered the magnum opus of Mughal era’s architectural exploits. However, in an Indian writer, P. N. Oak, went on to claim that the Taj Mahal was actually a Shiv Temple and a Rajput palace, Tejo Mahalaya, built by a Hindu king Parmar Dev, and had been seized by Shah Jahan. His petition in 2000 to declare the same, and excavate the site for proof, was dismissed by the High Court.
Today, the Taj Mahal, surrounded by gardens, guest houses and a mosque on 17 hectares of land within its complex walls, battles to hold on to its glory, as the milky marble suffers from environmental pollution. It is gradually turning yellowish, particularly due to the acid rain. The Yamuna, by which Shah Jahan had once approached the Taj Mahal in a boat and set his eyes upon his dream-mausoleum for the first, is now dry. But Emperor Shah Jahan lies in peace beside his beloved Mumtaz Mahal, within the wall of the Taj Mahal, which stands as the symbol of their love, a story that will echo for all eternity.