Taj Mahal, the jewel of Agra Summary: Taj Mahal is a beautiful white marble mausoleum and the most precious jewel of Agra. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a World Heritage Site.
There is hardly anyone who hasn't heard about Taj Mahal. Located at the prime area in the state of Agra, it is the jewel of the city and of the nation. It is a beautiful white marble mausoleum and is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It has also been recognized as a World Heritage Site. Built in the orders of Shah Jahan in the years between 1632-1653, the monument shows the incredible architecture of Mughals; a style formed by the combination of elements of Persian, Islamic, and Indian architectural styles.
If you are in the northern regions of India, then don't miss your rewarding opportunity to head to the city and visit Taj Mahal. Even the foreign nations are attracted to this monument, and it is evident from the large count of the foreign travellers in the city. Legends has that, the monument was built in the loving memories of Mumtaz Mahal by Shah Jahan. She was his third wife, a Persian princess, and died during the birth of their child. Shah Jahan was grief-sicken and hence constructed the monument. According to historical facts, a board of skilled architects was established with maestro like Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, Makramat Khan, and Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur. Their task was to supervise and direct the construction of the building.
The inspiration of the building came from several other tombs and monuments. These included Humayun's Tomb, Gur-e-Amir, Itmad-Ud-Daulah’s Tomb, and Jama Masjid. The tomb, located at the centre of the complex is the prime focus. It is a beautiful white marble building with arched shaped doorways and topped by a dome and finial. Surrounding it, are the four minarets located at each corner of the complex. The main chamber also houses two fake tombs.
However today, the complex is not exactly the same as before. But, the good thing is that the complex hasn't lost all. It has been very well-preserved and still is magnificent. Originally the complex had several parts made of gold and precious stones carved on the walls. In addition, the exterior decorations also consisted of beautiful paintings, calligraphic, and stucco. Taj Mahal is set on a large Mughal Bhag, a garden 300 m wide. There are pathways leading to the complex and a raised marble water tank, right at the centre of the garden. The tank is called al Hawad al Kawthar referencing to a tank of abundance. Rest part of the garden consists of trees, flowerbeds, and fountains. The style of the garden is inspired by the Persian gardens, which was introduced by Babur, the first Mughal emperor. Additionally, there are several additional mausoleums and monuments from the Mughal era, lying outside the walls of Taj Mahal. The most important include the tombs of Shah Jahan's other wives and the tomb of Mumtaz's serpent. Although, Taj Mahal looks beautiful all the time, yet watching it at the full moon night is simply an incredible experience. Simply head to the city in your next vacation and experience what it is to be in Agra. If you are concerned about the accommodation, then check out the several good hotels in Agra near Taj Mahal, offering all the comforts and conveniences. About Author: Hi , I am Atul Singh. I write about Agra tourism and provide all the information about the tourism services in Agra, such as Places to visit in Agra , famous tourist places in Agra, best places to hangout, Hotels in Agra, and flight information like: Delhi to agra flight etc.