Taj Mahal Of Agra

The Taj Mahal of Agra is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife Mumtaz. Mumtaz died in 1631 while giving birth to their 14th child. It was in the memory of his beloved wife that Shah Jahan built a magnificent monument as a tribute to her, which we today know as the “Taj Mahal”. The Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.

When was the Taj Mahal built?

The construction of the Taj Mahal was started in the year 1631. What we see today took around 22 years. Masons, stonecutters, inlayers, carvers, painters, calligraphers, dome-builders, and other artisans were requisitioned from the whole of the empire and also from Central Asia and Iran as well. More than 20,000
workers and nearly 1000 Elephants were employed from India, Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and Europe to complete the mausoleum itself by about 1638–39.
The adjunct buildings were finished by 1643, and decoration work continued until at least 1647. It was built entirely out of white marble, which was brought in from all parts of India and central Asia. Taj Mahal was finally completed in the year 1653 with a cost of approximately 32 million rupees. This is also a beautiful Taj Mahal Story

Where is the Taj Mahal?

It’s the city of Agra located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India has received the honor of having one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Since medieval times Agra has been a powerful city. Agra is recognized as the capital of the Mughal Empire from the year 1526 to 1658 under the emperors like Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan.
Taj Mahal is situated in the eastern part of the city on the southern bank of the Yamuna (Jumna) River.

Which day Taj Mahal is closed?

Taj Mahal is open for general visitors from Saturday to Thursday, It opens 30 Minutes before sunrise and closes 30 minutes before sunset. Taj Mahal stays closed every Friday and there is the reason behind that.
The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum as well as a mosque (the place where Muslims worship). The name of the mosque is Mumtaj mosque. In Islam, a Muslim is required to offer prayers five times a day regularly throughout his life. But in case someone is not able to do so, they can simply make up for it by attending the Jumm’ah (Friday’s Prayer ) prayers compulsorily.

Also read: Essential Tips for Planning a Solo Trip

Best time to visit Taj Mahal?

There is no definite best time to visit the Taj Mahal but early summers, i.e., from March to June are the best time to visit the Taj Mahal. In winter’s i.e from the months of November to February there is too much fog so try to avoid this time.
Whatever be the time of the year the Taj is always a beauty.
Taj Mahal is closed on Friday so try to avoiding visit on Friday
As it is one of the seven wonders of the world, it is always more crowded so to avoid the crowd try to visit as early as possible in the morning to get the best view.

Why Taj Mahal is special?

The shimmering white marble used in the construction of the Taj Mahal changes color according to the time of day from the uplifting yellow of sunrise to the desolate deep blue of night. People have imagined poetically that the color changes reflect the feelings the late emperor underwent during his time with Mumtaz Mahal and after her death.

How to reach the Taj Mahal?

• By Air: Agra airport is the nearest airport to Taj Mahal at a distance of just 13 Km, and it takes around 30 minutes to reach from the airport to Taj Mahal.
• By Train Route: Agra Cantt is a very near railway station at a distance of just 6 Km, and it takes around 15-20 minutes to reach from railway station to Taj Mahal
• Road Route: If you are coming to Taj Mahal from Delhi NCR by road, you can take the Yamuna Expressway connecting Greater Noida with Agra; it is approximately 165 km drive.

Ticket of Taj Mahal

• Rupees 50 per person Domestic/Indian
• 1,300 Indian Rupees per person For Foreigners
• Rupees 740 per person Citizens of SAARC and BIMSTEC Countries
• No entry fee for children below the age of 15 years (both Domestic and Foreigner)
• 250 per person Entry + main mausoleum

Interesting facts about the Taj Mahal

• The name Taj Mahal Stories means ‘Crown Palace’ in Persian
• Shah Jahan built it in honor of his favorite wife
• Cars and buses must stay at least 500 meters away from the Taj Mahal
• The Taj Mahal’s color changes constantly throughout the day
• The architecture of the Taj Mahal is a combination of Islamic, Persian, and Indian style
• It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World
• The Taj Mahal “hides” during times of war
• Other wives and favorite servants of Shah Jahan’s are buried outside the Taj Mahal
• The best times to visit the Taj are sunrise, sunset, and night

Also read: Places To Visit In Rajasthan