Author Rudyard Kipling once referred to it as "the embodiment of all things pure," and Rabindranath Tagore referred to it as "a teardrop on the cheek of the universe." Both of these descriptions are beautiful ways to think about it. One of the most famous quotes attributed to Shah Jahan, the Mughal monarch, is "It caused the moon and the sun to shed tears on it." What exactly are we talking about here? There is only one Taj Mahal in the world; it is a building that was constructed out of incomprehensible love and recollection; it is a building that has brought tens of thousands of people to their knees; and it is a building that is largely responsible for Agra becoming a well-known and popular tourist destination in India. While you are there, you might fall in love with the Mughal period while admiring the architecture and the royal families. Have you ever visited the Taj Mahal during the evening hours? If you haven't seen it before, allow us to reassure you that it is without a doubt one of the most stunning panoramas in the world.
India's Taj Mahal and Its History
It is frequently considered to be among the most stunning buildings in all of the countries of the world. The Taj Mahal, located in the historically significant city of Agra, is commonly referred to be the "symbol of love." The monument attracts a wide variety of visitors, each of whom comes to admire its architectural design as well as its stunning beauty. The Taj Mahal, which is frequently referred to as the Crown of Palaces in Persian, provides the devotees who visit it with a breathtaking view.
The Taj Mahal is considered to be one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture in all of India. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When you visit the Taj Mahal, one of the nicest things you can do is take in the elegance of the appropriateness of the extents and the opulence of the geometrical prototypes of such opulently finished gardens that enhance the dignity of the Taj Mahal and add glory to the slenderness of this emblem of love, endurance, and beauty. This is one of the nicest things about visiting the Taj Mahal.
Best Time To Visit the Taj Mahal
It is highly suggested that tourists go to see the Taj Mahal either during the sunrise or the sunset since the views of the monument against the many colors of the sky at these times of the day are extremely breathtaking. In addition, the months of October through March are the greatest time to go to Agra since the weather is perfect for sightseeing and tourists who come to see the Taj Mahal won't be troubled by the sweltering heat during that time of year.
History of the Taj Mahal
The well-known story of how the Taj Mahal came to be built has a way of enthralling everybody who listens to it. It is said that Emperor Shah Jahan created the Taj Mahal as a tender memorial to his third wife Mumtaz Mahal, who passed away in 1631 after giving birth to their 14th child. Mumtaz Mahal died shortly after giving birth to their child. It was in the year 1631 when the construction of the Taj Mahal was finally finished. The emperor was left in such a state of heartbreak that, over time, as a direct result of the agony he felt, his hair began to turn silver. You can choose to interpret it as a sign of profound affection if you like. It was at that time that he took the decision to build a memorial in her honor, and he began construction the next year, in 1632. He was inspired to do so by the beauty of her life.
According to some accounts, it took a total of eight years to complete the construction of the primary structure. Not until 1653 did the full structure of the monument reach its completion. The terrible part is that not long after the structure was finished, Shah Jahan was overthrown and executed by his own son, Aurangzeb. This happened not long after the structure was finished. He was held captive inside the Agra Fort for the remainder of his life, and during that time he would look out the window at his magnificent work of art and reflect on his devoted wife, Mumtaz. Whenever he did this, he was praising his effort and thought about the love he had lost. In the year 1666, he passed away, and his body was placed to rest inside the mausoleum of the Taj Mahal, alongside the body of his wife Mumtaz.
Nearly 20,000 laborers from India and Central Asia were brought in to work on the construction of the structure, according to some accounts. Shah Jahan placed high importance on the creation of magnificent white marble and pietra dura (marble inlay work), which consisted of hundreds of semiprecious stones. He was anxious to acquire some experts from Europe in this field, and he was particularly interested in finding people with experience in Europe. The Taj Mahal was given the title of a World Heritage Site in the year 1983. This is the highest award that can be bestowed on a building and is recognized all around the world. It was the subject of a substantial renovation project at the beginning of the 20th century. The Taj Mahal attracts visitors from all over the world not only owing to the beauty value of its gleaming white marble structure but also due to the historical significance of the mausoleum. Agra is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India.
Interesting Facts About the Taj Mahal
There is a deficiency in any description of the Taj Mahal that does not include a consideration of some of the more notable elements of this location. The fact that the Taj Mahal is recognized as one of the seven wonders of the world immediately elevates the site of the tomb to the status of a fascinating spot that should be visited and researched. However, in the past, neither one of us was aware of some of the information that is provided in this article. Let's look into a few of those, shall we?
There is a very little hole in the ceiling of the main hall, and it may be found exactly above the tombstone of Mumtaz Mahal, the woman who was Shah Jahan's cherished wife. It would appear that the magnificent Taj Mahal has a flaw in its construction. It is said that in order to resist the emperor's wish to have a flawless monument, one of the artists carved a hole in the tombstone of the queen that is perpendicular to the tombstone of the emperor. This hole was positioned so that it faced away from the emperor. It should be noted that the hole is situated on the same plane as the gravestone.
The minarets were built so that the slopes faced outwards as viewed from below. This was done in order to protect the ancient site from the dangers posed by natural calamities like earthquakes. If you look carefully, you'll notice that each of the four minarets has a tiny lean towards the outside of the building. Simply paying a little more attention to the specifics is all that is required. This was done to ensure that the tomb will continue to have a high level of protection.
Natwarlal, a notorious scam artist who is considered to be one of the most successful con artists in Indian history, was honored with the construction of a temple that bears his name. It is alleged that Natwarlal defrauded at least three separate wealthy persons out of their money by pretending to sell them the gorgeous Taj Mahal. Because the notorious Natwarlal is well known for repeatedly selling the Taj Mahal, the people in the village where he was born decided to build a temple in his name and include a monument of him in the temple. The monument will depict Natwarlal.
The stability of the Taj Mahal's foundation would have been jeopardized a long time ago if it weren't for the Yamuna River. In point of fact, the foundation was not intended to last for an infinite amount of time. The wood that was employed would, over the course of time, have degraded to the point that it was no longer useful. Throughout the process, the wood kept its robustness and retained its moisture thanks to the presence of the Yamuna River.
The incredible decorative work that can be seen inside the Taj Mahal is enough to impress even the most critical of guests. The inside of the Taj Mahal was built with stones sourced from all over the world, including China, Sri Lanka, Tibet, and other parts of India. These stones range from being relatively uncommon to being so rare that they are priceless. During the time that the British ruled India, the monument was vandalized a great number of times because of the presence of these stones. In the latter half of the 19th century, the first steps of the reconstruction process were taken. It is safe to say that anyone who went to the Taj Mahal would be awestruck by its immense wealth. The Taj Mahal is an architectural masterpiece.
The stately Taj Mahal is actually quite a little taller than the Qutub Minar, which is the most well-known historical site in Delhi. This may sound strange to some people, but it's actually the case. In point of fact, the magnificent Taj Mahal is five feet taller than Delhi's Qutub Minar. This is a significant difference. It's a puzzle, but it turns out to be accurate.
If we ever make the decision to investigate how much it would cost to build the Taj Mahal using today's materials, the findings are going to astound us beyond belief. During that period of time, Shah Jahan had allotted approximately 32 million rupees to the building of the structure. If we carry out the calculations while taking into account the existing rate, the total value will be very close to 1,062,834,098 USD. Quite Expensive!
PC Sorkar Jr., a famous Indian illusionist, utilize his optical illusion method to make the Taj Mahal vanish in its entirety in the year 2000. He did this by making the dome of the Taj Mahal appear and disappear. This was one of his most impressive feats, and it caused his audience to react with complete and total surprise.
More than 12,000 people travel to Agra, India, to see the Taj Mahal each and every single day.
It is believed that a second Taj Mahal, often known as the Black Taj Mahal, would have been constructed if Aurangzeb had not imprisoned his father, King Shah Jahan. Yes, it is true that Emperor Shah Jahan desired to build a Taj Mahal for himself in the same style as the one he built for his beloved wife Mumtaz, and this desire led to the construction of two Taj Mahals. According to historians and other experts, Shah Jahan had begun to create his own tomb, but he was unable to continue working on it after his son dethroned him and threw him in prison. This prevented him from completing the construction of his tomb.
The monument is capable of taking on a variety of looks. It is possible that the hues of the structure will appear to change depending on the time of day as well as the amount of light that is coming in from the environment that is surrounding it. The exquisite Taj Mahal will have an appearance that is slightly rose-colored in the morning, an appearance that is white during the day, and an appearance that is golden when the sun goes down.
The Taj Mahal required more than one thousand elephants to transfer the heavy supplies and materials that were going to be used in its construction. These elephants carried the supplies and materials from one location to another. These provisions and components were transported by these elephants.
A filmmaker from Bangladesh built a replica of the Taj Mahal in the year 2008 so that people in Bangladesh may enjoy it without having to travel to India to view the real. He lost around 56 million dollars worth of US money as a result of it.
2007 marked the year in which the Taj Mahal was officially acknowledged as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, with a total of one hundred million votes being cast for it. Because of this, the number of tourists that came to visit increased by a factor of two.
Taj Mahal Timings
There is no set time for the Taj Mahal in Agra. Every day, the Taj Mahal welcomes guests beginning roughly 30–45 minutes before sunrise and staying open until approximately 30 minutes before sunset. The fact that the Taj Mahal is closed to the public on Fridays so that it can be cleaned and prepped for the weekend is another thing that tourists are reminded of when they go there.
8 Places To Visit Near Taj Mahal
Even though the Taj Mahal has everything that is necessary to make your eyes feel at ease, you might want to consider visiting a few other places in Agra while you are there:
1. Agra Fort
The Taj Mahal is a well-known landmark in the vicinity of the Agra Fort, which is a popular destination for tourists. In addition to that, it is the place where Shah Jahan was held captive for the last years of his life. In the year 1565, Emperor Akbar oversaw the construction of this magnificent fort, which is now a site that must be seen to be believed. In addition to being built from red sandstone, it is also a World Heritage Site, as designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
2. Akbar’s Tomb
The monument in Sikandra which is commonly referred to as Akbar's Tomb is likely to be the location where Emperor Akbar was laid to rest for all eternity. There are only 13 kilometers that stand between you and the Agra Fort. It was completed by Akbar's son Jahangir, and it contains inscriptions of all 99 of the names that Allah is known. The architecture is unique in comparison to that of other Mughal structures, yet it is nevertheless quite attractive; as a result, it is regarded as one of the most important tourist attractions in Agra.
3. Mankameshwar Temple
One of the four recognized and pristine temples that are dedicated to Lord Shiva can be found in a place that is a fair distance away from the Taj Mahal, roughly 2.5 kilometers away, and around one kilometer away from the well-known Agra Fort. Both of these landmarks are located in the city of Agra in India. These attractions, one of which can be found at each of the city's four cardinal points, are an important part of any journey to Agra and should not be overlooked if you plan on going there. Ancient markets dating back to the Mughal era may be seen all around the temple and in the area immediately surrounding it.
4. Ram Bagh
It is believed to be the first Mughal Garden ever constructed in India, and Babur was the one who oversaw the building of it when it began in the year 1528. It is located on the banks of the Yamuna River, which puts it in close proximity to the Taj Mahal despite the apparent distance between the two locations. If you are interested in seeing the Taj Mahal, you will unquestionably need to go to the tranquil Ram Bagh first. This garden was formerly known by its ancient titular name, Aram Bagh, which quite literally means "Garden of Relaxation." More recently, however, it has been given a new name.
5. Vrindavan
The holy city of Vrindavan is looking forward to welcoming you with open arms because it is widely regarded as being one of the holiest pilgrimage destinations in all of India. If you are a dedicated follower of Lord Krishna, you will find this area to be your notion of heaven on earth since Vrindavan is home to a lot of temples, which means that if you are a devout follower of Lord Krishna, you will find this location to be your idea of heaven on earth. It is believed to be the site of around 4,000 temples, each of which recounts an incredible tale about Lord Krishna.
6. Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri, the former capital of the Mughal Dynasty and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, should surely be included in any journey to Agra. One may observe the great alchemy of many different architectural forms as well as the general notion of Islamic architecture in the mausoleums, buildings, arches, and columns that are there. The Diwan-I-Aam, the Diwan-I-Khas, the Jodha Bai's Palace, and the Panch Mahal are only a few of the many attractions that can be visited in Fatehpur Sikri; however, these four are among the most notable of the many that can be seen there.
7. Itmad-Ud-Daulah’s Tomb
Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb is the edifice that is recognized as the predecessor of the Taj Mahal due to the intricate carvings and inlay work that it features. This is because the Taj Mahal is known to have been inspired by the design of the tomb. In addition to having arched entrances, inlay work, and floral designs carved all over the structure, it also has minarets that are in the shape of an octagon that supports it. All of these features can be found throughout the building. The elaborate marble screen-work that was utilized to decorate the interior of Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb has attracted the attention of both tourists and historians. This is due to the fact that the tomb was constructed out of marble. There are only a few people who are aware of the fact that this tomb was the inspiration for the construction of the Taj Mahal; the majority of people are unaware of this truth. During your time in Agra, one of the activities that comes highly suggested is going to Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb and having a look around.
8. Dayal Bagh
Agra is home to several gorgeous works of architecture, like Dayal Bagh, which is just one of many that can be seen in the city. Marble is used at every step of the building process for this 110-foot-tall skyscraper, which is entirely made of marble. When one explores the area, One will have the opportunity to view the famous pieta-dura inlay work that contributes to the natural beauty of this location. This work is one of the factors that contribute to the beauty of this location. The samadhi of Radha Swami's founder, Swamiji Maharaj, can be discovered in this area; as a result, it is vital that the devotees of Radha Swami are informed of the existence of this spot.
How To Reach the Taj Mahal
Because Agra is so well-connected to all of the major cities in India through a variety of modes of transportation, traveling to the Taj Mahal has never posed much of a problem for visitors. The following is a summary of the most typical ways to acquire this so-called "symbol of love":
By Air
There is an airport serving the city of Agra, and it is situated approximately 7 km distant from the city's central business district. If you are heading to Agra from anywhere else in India or the world, this is the fastest way to get there that is currently available. Because there are a lot of airlines that fly to and from India on a regular basis, acquiring a ticket on one of the country's domestic airlines is not overly difficult. If you want to reach the Taj Mahal in a hurry, you can take a taxi from the airport straight to the monument.
By Train
Agra has very good connectivity to the rest of India thanks to the country's extensive railway network. In addition to the principal railhead, which is located at Agra Cantonment, there are also two more railway stations located in this region. These stations are located at Agra Fort and Raja ki Mandi. Some of the most well-known trains that travel to nearby cities are the Taj Express, Shatabdi, Palace on Wheels, and Rajdhani. These trains all travel to different parts of India. There are taxi and cab services conveniently situated on the premises, which will enable you to get to your next location in a speedy and uncomplicated manner.
By Road
If you are going from any of the adjacent cities, your best option for getting to Agra will be to drive there, so if you are up for the adventure, be sure you pack your driving shoes! In addition, buses with air conditioning, buses without air conditioning, and state buses make their way between nearby cities such as Mathura, Delhi, and Jaipur. A person planning a trip to Agra has the option of either taking a bus or driving there. 7
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