Taj Mahal: The Epitome of Love
Many incidents leave us speechless. Despite having many things to say and being able to listen to the voices echoing inside our head, we are unable to utter a single word. It might happen when one visits Taj Mahal, a tomb in the state of Uttar Pradesh, which is world-famous for its beauty, size and historical significance.
Location
The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra and is easily accessible through public and
History
Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan for his third wife Mumtaz Mahal, who passed away during childbirth. Agony made his heart its home, which was filled with immense love for Mumtaz. The construction of the tomb began in 1632 and went on for 21 years. A total of twenty thousand workers were employed for the construction of this tomb, which has now been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The total cost that went into the construction is estimated at Rs 32 million. The construction material was brought from all over Asia and different parts of India. Around 1000 elephants were engaged to bring in the materials.
Upon its completion, Taj Mahal became a classic example of a structure built using elements from different architectural styles such as Persian, Indian, Islamic and Ottoman. The design of this mausoleum was created by Ustad Ahmad Lahauri though Shah Jahan had appointed a few more architects in the board.
Within a few months after construction was completed, Aurangzeb, Shah Jahan’s younger son, kept him at the Agra Fort under house arrest till the time he died. His body was buried in the tomb, next to his wife.
As time passed and India came under the clutches of British rule, no attention was paid towards the maintenance of the Taj. The soldiers of the British army defaced the exterior and fled away with the gems and stones from the walls of the monument.
Soon, a massive restoration project was initiated by Lorz Curzon. The gardens encompassing the monuments were made into British style lawns.
There are a few legends associated with this historical monument. One legend goes that Shah Jahan executed or mutilated the workers involved in the planning and construction of the mausoleum though there is no concrete evidence to support this theory.
Another legend states that Shah Jahan also wanted to construct another mausoleum out of black marble. This theory was supported for a while when black coloured marble was found during the excavations, which was later discarded, as these were white marbles that had accumulated dust on the surface and turned black.
What to See
Apart from the main tomb, the Taj Mahal complex include several structures in its vicinity. There are many other mausoleums around the central tomb, most of which were built for Shah Jahan’s other wives. One of the tombs was built especially for a favorite servant of Mumtaz Mahal.
The main entrance of the tomb complex itself appears like a monument signifying the Mughal architectural patterns. The gates that lead to the tomb stand tall and appear more like vigilant guards employed to look after the remains of Shah Jahan’s beloved.
The insides of the grand monument carry inscription from the Quran, while the flowers carved with perfection highlight the obsession of Mughals with gardens and all its byproducts. The ornamentation on the Makrana marbles is as beautiful as the marble itself. These marbles have become synonymous with the tomb due to their elegant yet sober feel.
The dome inside the tomb rises to a height of 24.35 metres while the external dome is measured to be 44.4 metres.
Another highlight of the tomb complex is a pair of identical structures, backside of which runs parallel to the east and the west wall. The building on the west is a mosque, whereas the one in the east is supposed to be a guest house.
The water fountain of Taj Mahal is a beautifully constructed portion with an inlet brought water from the nearby Yamuna river. This inlet was visible before the construction of a temple on the river banks.
Eat, Drink, Collect
There are several restaurants located close to the historical monument. You can head to the Treat Restaurant, Joney’s Place, Priya Restaurant, Gulshan Highest, Terrace Grill or other restaurants which offer Indian and western cuisines, beverages, desserts, etc.
Agra is famous for a sweet called Petha, which is sold across the city by several outlets. There are two variants of this sweet, the plain petha and the angoori (grape flavored) petha.
There are many around the town that sell jewelry, vanity kits, stone products and boxes for multiple use that carry inlay work similar to those found in Taj Mahal. This tourist place is also famous for leather goods which can be purchased at a reasonable price provided that visitors bargain well before zeroing on a price.
The U.P handicraft and Handloom Centre, close to the East gate of the monument, is a place from where visitors can purchase postcards, paintings, marble gift items, garments and handicrafts.
Best Time to Visit
The grounds of Taj Mahal remain open from 06:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m., except on Friday. The best time to visit the tomb complex is between the months of September through March, when the temperature remains cool.
How to Reach
Taj Mahal is easily accessible through local transport modes, as it is located in the middle of the town. Agra is well connected with road and rail transport and is also serviced by a domestic airport, which enables visitors to reach here easily.
Location
The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra and is easily accessible through public and
History
Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan for his third wife Mumtaz Mahal, who passed away during childbirth. Agony made his heart its home, which was filled with immense love for Mumtaz. The construction of the tomb began in 1632 and went on for 21 years. A total of twenty thousand workers were employed for the construction of this tomb, which has now been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The total cost that went into the construction is estimated at Rs 32 million. The construction material was brought from all over Asia and different parts of India. Around 1000 elephants were engaged to bring in the materials.
Upon its completion, Taj Mahal became a classic example of a structure built using elements from different architectural styles such as Persian, Indian, Islamic and Ottoman. The design of this mausoleum was created by Ustad Ahmad Lahauri though Shah Jahan had appointed a few more architects in the board.
Within a few months after construction was completed, Aurangzeb, Shah Jahan’s younger son, kept him at the Agra Fort under house arrest till the time he died. His body was buried in the tomb, next to his wife.
As time passed and India came under the clutches of British rule, no attention was paid towards the maintenance of the Taj. The soldiers of the British army defaced the exterior and fled away with the gems and stones from the walls of the monument.
Soon, a massive restoration project was initiated by Lorz Curzon. The gardens encompassing the monuments were made into British style lawns.
There are a few legends associated with this historical monument. One legend goes that Shah Jahan executed or mutilated the workers involved in the planning and construction of the mausoleum though there is no concrete evidence to support this theory.
Another legend states that Shah Jahan also wanted to construct another mausoleum out of black marble. This theory was supported for a while when black coloured marble was found during the excavations, which was later discarded, as these were white marbles that had accumulated dust on the surface and turned black.
What to See
Apart from the main tomb, the Taj Mahal complex include several structures in its vicinity. There are many other mausoleums around the central tomb, most of which were built for Shah Jahan’s other wives. One of the tombs was built especially for a favorite servant of Mumtaz Mahal.
The main entrance of the tomb complex itself appears like a monument signifying the Mughal architectural patterns. The gates that lead to the tomb stand tall and appear more like vigilant guards employed to look after the remains of Shah Jahan’s beloved.
The insides of the grand monument carry inscription from the Quran, while the flowers carved with perfection highlight the obsession of Mughals with gardens and all its byproducts. The ornamentation on the Makrana marbles is as beautiful as the marble itself. These marbles have become synonymous with the tomb due to their elegant yet sober feel.
The dome inside the tomb rises to a height of 24.35 metres while the external dome is measured to be 44.4 metres.
Another highlight of the tomb complex is a pair of identical structures, backside of which runs parallel to the east and the west wall. The building on the west is a mosque, whereas the one in the east is supposed to be a guest house.
The water fountain of Taj Mahal is a beautifully constructed portion with an inlet brought water from the nearby Yamuna river. This inlet was visible before the construction of a temple on the river banks.
Eat, Drink, Collect
There are several restaurants located close to the historical monument. You can head to the Treat Restaurant, Joney’s Place, Priya Restaurant, Gulshan Highest, Terrace Grill or other restaurants which offer Indian and western cuisines, beverages, desserts, etc.
Agra is famous for a sweet called Petha, which is sold across the city by several outlets. There are two variants of this sweet, the plain petha and the angoori (grape flavored) petha.
There are many around the town that sell jewelry, vanity kits, stone products and boxes for multiple use that carry inlay work similar to those found in Taj Mahal. This tourist place is also famous for leather goods which can be purchased at a reasonable price provided that visitors bargain well before zeroing on a price.
The U.P handicraft and Handloom Centre, close to the East gate of the monument, is a place from where visitors can purchase postcards, paintings, marble gift items, garments and handicrafts.
Best Time to Visit
The grounds of Taj Mahal remain open from 06:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m., except on Friday. The best time to visit the tomb complex is between the months of September through March, when the temperature remains cool.
How to Reach
Taj Mahal is easily accessible through local transport modes, as it is located in the middle of the town. Agra is well connected with road and rail transport and is also serviced by a domestic airport, which enables visitors to reach here easily.
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