The Taj Mahal

Nestled on the south bank of River Yamuna, the Taj Mahal is an immense mausoleum of the white marble that sets a true example of Love. The great wonder was built between 1631 to 1648 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of her beloved wife Mumtaz. It sets in Agra, the Mughal Capital is a jewel of Islamic art in India and one of the most famous World Heritage Sites. 

Agra, the city is located in the heart of India is part of the Golden Triangle Tour Packages. It was once the capital of India from 1833 to 1868. The city was prior founded by Sultan Sikander Lodhi, along with the great Mughal emperor Babar, the founder of the Mughal dynasty who also introduced the concept of Square Persian Styled Gardens. Later the city was adorned with magnificent monuments by the great Akbar such as Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, and more. 

With its harmonious proportions and its exotic incorporation of decorative elements, the Taj Mahal is known as the finest example of ancient Mughal Architecture. The site is a true blend of Islamic, Indian, and Persian style and emerged as the world’s most iconic monuments. In 1983, the wonderful complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Eager to know the history of the Taj Mahal!! Let’s read more!

Built by the brave Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1648, in the remembrance of her beloved wife Mumtaz and since then, it was also known as Mumtaz Mahal. She was a true emperor’s inseparable companion since their marriage and got apart after her demise in 1631 while giving birth to the great heir to the Mughal Dynasty. 

The plans for building the complex have been attributed to various architects of the period, and probably choose an Indian of Persian descent, Ustad Ahmad Lahori who stood as the chief architect of the grand Taj Mahal. The complex featuring the main five elements- main entrance gate, Mosque, Jawab (meaning answer; a building mirroring the mosque), square Persian-styled gardens, and mausoleum which includes its four minarets were designed as a unified entity and which was later listed under one of the Great Wonders in the World. 

The construction of the building commenced in 1632, and the entire complex got ready in 1947 including all decoration work. More than 20,000 skilled workers and labor were called from India, the Ottoman Empire, Europe, and Persia to complete the Mausoleum that stretched in an area of about 42-acre or 17-hectare with a building time spanned of 22 years. 

According to history, it is believed that Shah Jahan intended to build another mausoleum across the Yamuna River to bury his own remains but it did not happen. He spent the rest of his life imprisoned in Agra Fort. In 1658, he was deposed by his son Aurangzeb next to his beloved wife in Taj Mahal’s entrance to state- “O soul, you are at rest. Return to the Lord in peace with him, and he is at peace with you.”

As such, there’s no definite time to visit the Taj Mahal but the major tourist’s traffic emerges during the winter season that sets in India from October to March. The weather or climate of the place also contributes to make your memory a lifetime. 

During summers, the Agra is extremely hot due to its location that lies on the plains that counters the high temperatures. However, during summers, the marble becomes heated up and makes it difficult to walk through or enjoy scorching hot. 

In winters, you can experience the pleasant warmth of the Sun amidst mists that enhance the appealing beauty of the complex. Rains adds to the feel of Romance while witnessing the true epitome of love. 

No matter, whatever the time of the year, the Taj Mahal is always a glitzy white beauty whose shine is eternal. Catch the enchanting visual beauty of the Taj Mahal especially at sunrise or sunset or under the full moon night. 

Timings of Taj Mahal Entry through various gates- 

• Western Gate (Main Gate): about 45 mins before sunset
• Eastern Gate: about 45 mins before sunset
• Southern Gate: Only Exit permitted

Tickets Price of Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal entry ticket price for Indians is INR 45. For natives of BIMSTEC or SAARC countries, the ticket price of the Taj Mahal is just INR 535. And if you are a foreign native, the entry price is INR 1050. Children below the age of 15 get free entry (both domestic and foreign tourists).

Dissected by the water bodies, the ornamental gardens typically designed on the lines of the Mughal Charbagh, along with ornamental marble plinth running through its center. The elevated marble platform stands to the northern end of the Taj Mahal on which the main Mausoleum stands. So nicely built, a 40-meter-high white long minarets embellished each corner of the marble platform, which is known as one of the best engineering masterstroke. Towers of the complex lean outwards and were purposely designed, in case any earthquake hit the place, these minarets fall away untouching superstructure and let it remain unperturbed. 

The main entrance of the complex is an ornate Mughal Structure, made of White Marble with tomb-like archways. Every wall and each arch of the Taj Mahal is rich in calligraphy with high vaulted ceilings and walls carved with geometric designs. The two mirror-image buildings of the mausoleum made of red sandstone stand at the other end of the Taj Mahal. The western building that stands in the complex is actually a mosque and its preliminary version is a structure of Jawab (the answer).