Taj Mahal: The Ultimate Guide to the Monument of Love

Are you fascinated by the Taj Mahal, the magnificent monument of love that stands as a testament to the artistic and scientific accomplishments of the Mughal Empire? Do you want to learn more about its history, architecture, beauty, and significance? Do you want to plan a visit to the Taj Mahal and other attractions in Agra? If yes, then you have come to the right place.

In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide to the Taj Mahal and its aspects, covering everything you need to know before you embark on your journey to witness this wonder of the world.

History and Legend of the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is not just a mausoleum, but a monument to love. It was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 while giving birth to their fourteenth child. Shah Jahan was heartbroken by her death and vowed to build a tomb for her that would surpass anything the world had ever seen. He commissioned the best architects, artisans, and workers from India and beyond to construct the Taj Mahal, which took 22 years and cost a fortune to complete. The Taj Mahal is considered to be the finest example of Mughal architecture, which combines elements of Persian, Islamic, and Indian styles. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The Taj Mahal is not only a marvel of engineering and design, but also a symbol of the eternal love and devotion of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. According to legend, Mumtaz Mahal asked Shah Jahan to fulfill four promises before she died: to build a tomb for her, to marry again, to be kind to their children, and to visit her grave on every anniversary of her death. Shah Jahan fulfilled all these promises, except for marrying again. He devoted his life to the Taj Mahal and spent most of his time admiring its beauty from the nearby Agra Fort. However, his son Aurangzeb, who usurped the throne in 1658, imprisoned Shah Jahan in the Agra Fort and deprived him of his wealth and power. Shah Jahan spent the last eight years of his life in captivity, gazing at the Taj Mahal from a window, until he died in 1666. He was buried beside Mumtaz Mahal in the Taj Mahal, fulfilling their wish to be together forever.

Architecture and Beauty of the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a masterpiece of art, architecture, and beauty. It is a complex of buildings and gardens that covers an area of 17 hectares and is enclosed by a high wall and four gates. The main attraction of the complex is the mausoleum, which houses the tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. The mausoleum is a symmetrical and balanced structure that consists of a large white marble dome, four slender minarets, a mosque, a guesthouse, and a platform.

The dome is the most prominent and impressive feature of the Taj Mahal, as it rises to a height of 73 meters and is adorned with a lotus motif and a crescent finial. The dome is supported by four arches that form the main chamber, where the cenotaphs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal are placed. The actual graves of the couple are located in a lower chamber, which is closed to the public. The minarets are 40 meters tall and are slightly tilted outwards to prevent them from falling on the dome in case of an earthquake. The mosque and the guesthouse are identical buildings that flank the mausoleum on the west and east sides, respectively.

The beauty of the Taj Mahal lies not only in its grandeur and symmetry, but also in its intricate and exquisite details. The Taj Mahal is decorated with fine inlay work and calligraphy that showcase the skill and craftsmanship of the artisans. The inlay work consists of embedding precious and semi-precious stones, such as jasper, jade, turquoise, lapis lazuli, coral, and onyx, into the marble to create floral and geometric patterns. The calligraphy consists of inscribing verses from the Quran and Persian poems into the marble using black marble or jasper.

The verses and poems are chosen to reflect the themes of love, paradise, and judgment. The inlay work and calligraphy are not only ornamental, but also functional, as they serve to enhance the optical effects and acoustics of the Taj Mahal.

Shades and Moods of the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a living and breathing monument, as it changes its shades and colors according to the time of the day and the season of the year. The Taj Mahal is said to have different moods and expressions, as it reflects the emotions and feelings of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is also said to have different personalities and characters, as it reveals the secrets and mysteries of its creation and fate. The Taj Mahal is a sight to behold, as it mesmerizes and captivates the viewers with its ever-changing beauty and splendor.

The Taj Mahal changes its shades and colors due to various reasons and factors, such as the sunlight, the moonlight, the pollution, and the restoration. The sunlight affects the color of the Taj Mahal by creating different hues and tones, depending on the angle and intensity of the rays. The moonlight affects the color of the Taj Mahal by creating different shades and contrasts, depending on the phase and position of the moon. The pollution affects the color of the Taj Mahal by creating different tints and stains, depending on the level and type of the contaminants. The restoration affects the color of the Taj Mahal by creating different effects and outcomes, depending on the method and quality of the work.

Visiting and Exploring the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves art, architecture, history, and culture. It is also a perfect place for couples, families, solo travelers, and groups, as it offers something for everyone. However, visiting and exploring the Taj Mahal requires some planning and preparation, as there are some practical and essential information and tips that you need to know before you embark on your journey to witness this wonder of the world.

The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in northern India. It is about 200 kilometers from Delhi, the capital of India, and about 240 kilometers from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. The Taj Mahal is open to the public every day, except for Fridays, when it is closed for prayers. The visiting hours are from sunrise to sunset, except for the full moon nights and two nights before and after, when it is open for night viewing from 8:30 pm to 12:30 am. The entry fee for the Taj Mahal varies depending on the category of the visitor and the type of the ticket.

The types of the tickets are:

Basic ticket: Includes entry to the Taj Mahal and its gardens

Additional ticket: Includes entry to the main mausoleum, where the cenotaphs are located

Composite ticket: Includes entry to the Taj Mahal and other monuments in Agra, such as the Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Itimad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb, and Mehtab Bagh

The Taj Mahal has four entry gates:

the south gate, the east gate, the west gate, and the north gate. The south gate is the oldest and the main gate, which faces the city of Agra. The east gate and the west gate are the most popular and the busiest gates, which face the parking lots and the hotels. The north gate is the least used and the most peaceful gate, which faces the Yamuna river and the Mehtab Bagh. The gates have different opening and closing times, as follows:

The south gate: Opens at 8:00 am and closes at 5:00 pm

The east gate and the west gate: Open at sunrise and close at sunset

The north gate: Remains closed, except for the night viewing

The entry fee for the Taj Mahal varies depending on the category of the visitor and the type of the ticket. The categories of the visitors are:

Indian citizens and visitors of SAARC and BIMSTEC countries: Rs. 50 per person

Foreign tourists: Rs. 1100 per person

Children below 15 years of age: Free

The Taj Mahal is the ultimate guide to the monument of love, as it provides you with a comprehensive and informative guide to the Taj Mahal and its aspects. In this article, we have covered everything you need to know before you embark on your journey to witness this wonder of the world. We hope that this article has helped you to understand and appreciate the Taj Mahal and its aspects, and has motivated you to plan a visit to the Taj Mahal and other attractions in Agra.

Taj Mahal Reviews

Pavithra G Srinivas

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Tajmahal (Beauty in the Banks of Yamuna River) One glance at the Taj Mahal and you will fall in love with the scintillating beauty what you are experiencing something surreal. Even after 400 years it was built, this architecture in the pure white marble is a breathtaking poetry is one of the best masterpiece. Artisans from across India, Central Asia and Europe were employed to work on the Taj. Taj Mahal Architecture:There are four side entry to Taj mahal main Entrance. Eastern Gate:This gate faces towards FatehabadTown. There is a domed tomb erected on an elevated platform near this gate. This Tomb was built in the memory of another wife of Shah Jahan called Sirhindi begum. Due to this, the gate is known as ‘Sirhi Darwaza’. The main building is eight sided, having twenty four arches,a big hall and a verandah. One should prefer this gate to avoid crowd. The Western Gate: It is the main entrance to the Taj Mahal and this gate faces towards Green Garden, Agra cantonment. There is a red sandstone edifice outside this gate which is known as Fatehpur Begum another wife of Shah Jahan. The Southern Gate: This gate is closed for entry. The Gate is towards the south, Which faces the old Mumtazabad . It is meant for the pedestrians. On the right side of this gate is a Tomb of red stone which is surrounded by court yards and crowded with a dome. It is said that this is a grave of one lady companion of Mumtaz Mahal. Due to this reason this building is called as the Tomb of a Maid of Honour. The Gateway To The Taj Mahal:This gateway is an octagonal entrance , surrounded by small rooms on both sides of the floors having ornamented gates on two sides, one opening towards the court yard side and the other towards the Mausoleum itself. On the three sides of this gateway, there are strong balconies. The Main Entrance to Taj: It is an Mughal structure predominantly made of white marble. The arches are rich in calligraphy and have vaulted ceilings and walls with geometric designs. The colors in the taj mahal are not paints but are gems and hand crafted ones. There are two identical red sandstone buildings, the western building is actually a mosque. When i first looked on to it from the center of taj mahal, it is built exactly in the same line. Built in semi-translucent white marble with intricate carvings and inlay work of precious and semi-precious gems, the four identical sides of the mausoleum is majestic in its detailing. Right below the main dome lies the cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal with gorgeous jaali and inlay work in marble, and beside it the cenotaph of her husband. The construction is such that sunlight streams in directly through the jaali and falls on the cenotaphs. But the actual tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz are in a chamber in a basement room that is not open for public viewing. The Archaeological Survey of India gives you detail that there are presence of three sets of graves in the Taj Mahal. The first one is in Cenotaph chamber. It is open throughout the year for all the tourists. The second set of grave is situated in Catacomb chamber and the opened for public viewing on the death anniversary of Shah Jahan. It is observed every year in the month of May. The third set of grave is located at the garden level. Secret Myths of Taj Mahal: It changes color throughout the day according to the weather. In the winter season it will be warm inside the taj mahal and in summer it will be cool. Planning to Visit:You have to take a guide if you want to know all about the beautiful architecture and history or read some blogs if you want to go all by your own. Buy the covers outside because you won't be allowed to go with the slippers inside. For visiting Mausoleum you have to pay extra Rs.200 Foreigners its Rs. 1100 and for Indian its Rs. 50 Timing:sunrise to sunset every day (06:00 am to 06:30 pm) except Friday. Every Friday the Taj Mahal is closed and only accessible in the afternoon for Muslims to attend prayers. Nighttime: 08:30 pm to 12:30 am. The night view of the monument is only available 5 days a month: the full moon night and 2 days before and after that day, except Friday and on the month of Ramadan

Vanshika Oberoi

122 Followers

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Every Indian or a vacationer needs to have the capacity to see the incredible Taj Mahal. I too had arranged a trek to visit the colossal compositional ponder in the city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh. Having known about the excellence and the accounts around this Wonder of the World, it had been my hotly anticipated dream to encounter this renowned worldwide landmark of affection. Landing in expectation I touched base in Agra, a walled city where there is an amalgamation of Hindu and Muslim history, clear in its rich engineering and culture. My hotel window gave me the most lovely perspective of the Taj, at a top notch rate obviously! Yet, everything was justified, despite all the trouble, as I looked at the landmark in the setting sun, bowing rationally to its glory, unfit to sit tight energetically for the following day when I would have the capacity to visit it face to face. The day of the visit I needed to pass by maneuver to a parking garage, where I secured my entrance ticket and from where the broken-down enchanting rickshaw took me to the passageway of the Taj Mahal. I felt my fervor develop as I moved toward the mausoleum.The front door is straightforward and doesn't give the scarcest of trace of what lies behind. When I ventured into the entrance of the entryway, I got my first impression! Having seen such huge numbers of photos of the Taj Mahal previously, I was certain I recognized what's in store. How wrong I was! My first experience was a photo consummate scene. The white coating marble magnificence, with reflecting waters and the green patio, against the background of the sky, was captivating. In its straightforwardness and severity.For some time I disregarded my environment and stood expanding. I more likely than not dropped my jaw totally open in ponder I presume. A slight brushing of another guest against my shoulder woke me up from my dream! The best known image of India is each piece consistent with its distinction. Impeccably symmetrical structures that make a geometric ponder have numerous a mathematician pondering concerning how such exactness could be accomplished in those occasions. Having perused up such a significant number of realities about it as a prelude to the visit, I too felt similar inquiries flying in my brain, as I followed the consummately smooth perimeter of one of the minarets. The legend was one of the uncommon attractions of this ponder is the wonderment it makes in both the artists that draw motivations from it for their organizations, and in addition engineers that endeavor to comprehend the faultless execution of the development of this grand building. The stunning story of Shah Jahan, having assembled this lovely sepulcher for his darling wife Mumtaz Mahal, feels to wait noticeable all around the Taj. As I strolled in and around, I could feel a feeling of unexplainable riddle, as though the adoration is still particularly flourishing between the two. Greatest declaration that the sovereign could achieve what he went for that his affection for his ruler is known for quite a long time. Some more than is said dependably, the unpredictable carvings and trim work in the dividers was so wonderful. I marveled at how the skilled worker from Persian and Mughal schools of engineering had increased such authority. Totally drenched in my musings, I took rounds of the landmark over and over and after that went inside the tombs that are impersonations of the genuine ones underneath. The scene inside was tranquil and similarly dazzling! The trellis work which enabled light to stream inside was wonderful. Looking inside the real tombs from above left me with a blended sentiment of wonderment and a shivering impression of feeling where I could strikingly envision the assemblages of the sovereign and his better half lying alongside each other in peace until the end of time. I bowed rationally to their undying adoration! Farewell with an overwhelming heart as I cleared out the stunning magnificence, I felt somewhat tragic, beyond any doubt that I had left a piece of me with it. However I felt more extravagant, as I conveyed a piece of the affection and excellence of the Taj with me. So we turned we turned out to be a piece of each other. Such is the puzzler of the Taj!

The Roving Man

80 Followers

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Taj Mahal is a symbol of love and no one is unknown with this fact. A giant yet surprisingly beautiful piece of architecture was built in 1648 AD and situated in the heart of India, Agra, this place will literally drop your jaw for a while in your first visit. The building is a tomb of Queen Mumtaz Begum and King Shahjahan. It is said that out of his 16 wives, Shahjahan loved Mumtaz the most and out of that he dedicated Taj Mahal to her after her death as a symbol of his love. Her grave (replica) is placed in the center of the entire mausoleum in white marble with cravings of Quran on it. Even the whole building is decorated with amazing designs of quotes from the holy book of Quran and certain carvings reflecting the Mughal Era. After narrow and complex lanes of Agra, you enter the compound via east or the west gate. The south gate is meant for exits only. And after all the security check you enter the main area via the Great gate. The first glimpse you get just after that is a thing to keep in your heart forever. We knew it would be hot and sunny and crowded as well as the day grow up and that’s why we decided to visited the place as early as possible, which is half an hour before the sunrise and the Taj didn’t fail us with its charm. In front of you, a long passage of Mughal Garden arrows towards the white marble palace with its reflection the in clear waters between the trees. You walk for approx. 100 m to reach to the main platform from where you can climb upstairs. There are two other buildings along side of Taj Mahal, The Masjid (The Mosque) and the Mehman Khana (Guest House). Both the places serve a breathtaking view of the Taj at sunrise and the sunset respectively. The main building entrance will directly navigate to the replica of the graves of the Queen and the King as the original graves are kept just beneath them for security reasons. It is said the Shahjahan was captured and kept in Red Fort of Agra (just behind Taj Mahal). He was kept looking at Taj Mahal with a small window from there for over 8 years before he died. As his last wish he said he wanted to be with his wife in his grave. And that’s why you see another grave (bigger one and not in the center) which belongs to him. Such was the story of love between them which is still sung out of the stones there. Taj Mahal is one of the 7 wonders of the world for some reasons which you’ll witness once you are there. So pack your bags and hit the place. Tips: Taj Mahal opens half an hour before sunrise, closes half an hour after the sunset and remains closed throughout the day on Fridays. There are two tickets available, the ordinary tickets for everything but the main building and the other one for everything including main building. Also, if you are visiting the Taj somewhere around the full moon day, do witness the white beauty turning in blue in the moon light in the night times. For this you have to buy the tickets in a day advance in person where you can book a half an hour slot for the visit. No cameras are allowed for this special visit. Wear full body cloths as a gesture of respect.

Yasmin Mirza

1059 Followers

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Symbol of love Taj : Question is why it is called"Symbol of love". The reason behind this is that this beautiful architecture was built by Shah jahanin the memory of his lovable wife Mumtaj Mahal. Taj Mahalmeans"Crown of the Palace"is an ivory-white marble mausoleumon the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. Construction of Taj was started in 1632and completed in 1643but work continued on the other phase of project till 10 more years. Estimated cost in building the architecture is around 32 million rupees. This is listed in UNESCOworld heritage sites. When the Taj was completed, Mumtaz Mahalwas entombed here, just as she wished. Shortly after, Shah Jahanwas imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb for squandering the families wealth to build the Taj Mahaland weakening their empire. He was imprisoned in the AgraFort, across the Yamuna River, for 18 years with only one wish being granted, he was to have a view of the Taj fit for a king. When Shah Jahandied in his prison, he had one last request. Shah Jahanwanted to spend eternity with his love. He wanted to be buried at the Taj Mahalwith Mumtaz. His family fulfilled his wish and Shah Jahanand Mumtaz Mahal now lay side by side at the Taj Mahal, the most iconic tribute to love. There’s no mausoleummore grand, no declaration of love more apparent than building a marble masterpiece for one’s favourite wife. This historical building built in Agrabetween 1631 and 1648. You need to keep patient while going to watch the Taj because before entering there was a long queue and we had to wait a lot. There was too much rush in the area. Also we found guides who was offering their services on high price but as we are Indian so I don’t think we need a guide to tell the story of Taj. We all are aware about the history. There are lots of foreigners who visit the Taj but if you are indian then you have no choice to miss this place.

Escape Route: Travel And Food Blog By Saloni Aggarwal

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The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the city of Agra, India. It was commissioned by Mughal emperor, "Shah Jahan" in 1632 for his favourite wife "Mumtaz Mahal" who died during the birth of their 14th child. This is how he describes it in his own words: “Should guilty seek asylum here, like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin. Should a sinner make his way to this mansion, all his past sins are to be washed away. The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs, and the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes. In this world this edifice has been made to display thereby the creator’s glory.” The Taj Mahal took two decades to complete and was said to be architect by Ustad Ahmad Lahouri (the same person who designed the red fort at Dehli). The exterior & interior of the mausoleum is made of white marble that has been carved, painted, and inlaid with precious stones. The design is a combination of Indian, Persian, and Turkic styles. Passages from the Qur’an are also used as decorative elements. The inner chamber where the tombs are located is in the shape of an octagon. Surrounding the tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal is an octagonal-shaped marble screen. The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". It is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history. The Taj Mahal attracts 7–8 million visitors a year and in 2007, it was declared a winner of the New7Wonders of the World (2000–2007) initiative.