Taj Mahal

Taj a symbol of eternal love

The Taj Mahal is a world famous monument situated in Agra city of Uttar Pradesh. One among the Seven wonder of the world, the Taj is a major tourist attraction. The monument was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Arjumand Bano Begum, famous as Mumtaz Mahal. The queen died in childbirth, while accompanying her husband to Burhanpur to control a rebellion. Her body was buried temporarily in the Zainabadi Garden in Burhanpur and later brought to Agra. The Taj Mahal was the result of one of the four promises, made by Shah Jahan while Mumtaz Mahal was alive. The Taj Mahal stands as the symbol of eternal love of a man for his wife.

The Construction of Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal, Agra The construction work of the Taj started in 1631 A.D and completed by 1654 A.D. More than twenty thousand of workers worked continuously to built this magnificent monument. The monument presents a finest example of Mughal architecture, an architectural style that combines elements of Indian and Persian architectures. The construction material to built the mausoleum was brought from many parts of India and central Asia.

Attractions around Taj

Apart from Taj Mahal one can discover the marvels of the great Mughal Empire in and around Agra. The Mughals built some of the most enduring monuments, among these popular one are

Agra FortThe fort is located very close to Taj Mahal. The Mughal emperor Akbar began the construction work of this magnificent fort in 1565. Later additions were made up until the rule of emperor Shan Jahan. Made of red sandstone the fort is an example of the Mughal architectural tradition. The fort complex houses many buildings which represent the assimilation of different cultures of the Mughals. The fort mainly served military purpose during the rule of Akbar, while by the time of Shah Jahan it also served as a palace and court.

Akbar's Tomb The tomb of Akbar is situated around 4 Kms north-east of Agra at Sikandra. Akbar's Tomb is a superb example of blend of different architectural styles and is somewhat different from earlier Mughal buildings.

Fatehpur SikriThe place located near Agra, was the imperial city of Mughals between 1571 and 1584. The Mughal Emperor Akbar built this city, which is renowned for architectural grandeur.

Itmud-Ud-Daulah Tomb Itmud-Ud-Daulah Tomb was built by Nur Jehan in memory of her father Ghiyasuddin Beg in between 1622 and 1628 A.D. The tomb lies in Agra which marks a significant departure from the earlier tombs of the Mughals. The beautiful edifice has elaborated carvings and impressive inlay work.

Vrindavan Located very close to Agra, Vrindavan is a sacred place of the Hindus. Vrindavan has its connection with life of Lord Krishna. Vrindavan houses around 4,000 temples most of them dedicated to Lord Krishna.

How To Reach Taj

Agra is easily accessible by air, rail and road routes. One can reach to Taj Mahal by taking city buses, auto-rickshaw or taxis. As Taj Mahal is located in green zone so motor vehicles are not allowed up to certain distance of Taj Mahal premises. From the nearest Bus terminal the pollution free vehicles run regularly for Taj.

By Air : The Kheria Airport is located at a distance of 6 Kms from Agra city centre. Indian Airlines operates daily flights to Delhi, Khajuraho and Varanasi. From the airport one can reach Taj Mahal by taxis and auto-rickshaws.

By Rail : The nearest realhead is Agra Cantt. Railway Station, which is well-connected to major cities of the country.

By Road : The city of Agra is connected by road with cities like Delhi (203 Kms), Khajuraho (393 Kms), Gwalior (118 Kms) and Jaipur 237 (Kms) etc.

Where To Stay

The hotels in Agra offer enough accommodation options to tourists. The hotels situated nearby Taj Mahal provide comfortable stay, along with the magnificent view of the monument. The most famous Agra hotels are Welcome Hotel Mughal Sheraton (5 Star Deluxe), Jaypee Palace Hotel (5 Star Deluxe), Taj View Hotel (5 Star), Trident Hilton Agra (5 Star), Hotel Agra Ashok (5 Star) and Hotel Clarks Shiraz (5 Star) etc.

Ideal Time to Visit Taj

It is hard to say what is the ideal time to visit Taj, as the colour of Taj Mahal changes at different hours of the day and during different seasons. Taj Mahal provides varied perspective to all the visitors all the time. The Taj appears pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden when the moon shines. The climate of Agra is tropical and maximum temperature soar up to 45 degree celcius so the best time to visit Taj Mahal is between October and March. Seeing the Taj in full moon night is an unforgettable experience, so keep in mind the full moon days while you plan to visit Taj.