TAJ MAHAL
INTRODUCTION
Taj Mahal stands in the city of Agra, in the northern Indian
state of Uttar Pradesh, on the banks of the Yamuna River.
TAJ MAHAL is a feeling that caresses one's heart like a pure
melody of love. Mesmerizing, majestic, scintillating - the
Taj Mahal in Agra India is a wondrous gift to the world that
depicts love in all its grandeur. India travel is incomplete
without experiencing the Taj Mahal. This supreme temple of
love, standing gracefully by the sacred Yumana at Agra, has
become the monument of a man's love for a woman. The Taj Mahal
is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was added to the UNESCO
list of world heritage sites in 1983, and described as "The
jewel of Muslim art in India".
HISTORY OF TAJ MAHAL
 The
origin of the name the "Taj Mahal" is not clear.
Court histories from Shah Jehan's reign only call it the rauza
(tomb) of Mumtaz Mahal. It is generally believed that "Taj
Mahal" (usually translated as either "Crown Palace"
or "Crown of the Palace") is an abbreviated version
of her name, Mumtaz Mahal (Exalted One of the Palace).The
Taj Mahal is a deserving resting palace for an Emperor's Empress.
It stands on the banks of the river Yamuna, which otherwise
serves as a wide moat defending the Great Red Fort of Agra,
the center of the Mughal emperors until they moved their capital
to Delhi in 1637. It was built by the fifth Mughal emperor,
Shah Jahan in 1631 in memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal,
a Muslim Persian princess. She died while accompanying her
husband in Burhanpur in a campaign to crush a rebellion after
giving birth to their 14th child. Construction began in 1631
and was completed in 22 years. Twenty thousand people were
deployed to work on it. The principal architect was the Iranian
architect Istad Usa; it is possible that the pietra dura work
was coordinated by an Italian artist.
DESCRIPTION OF TAJ MAHAL
 The
architecture of the Taj Mahal has been praised by historians,
architects, poets and travelers from all over the world. Built
of white marble brought from Makrana in Rajasthan, the Taj
Mahal appears different at different times of day and during
the changing seasons. The color of the sky is reflected by
the white marble, and the rays of the sun give it an almost
ethereal appearance. The sight of the Taj Mahal on a full
moon night is an enchanting experience. When seen from Agra
Fort across the Yamuna River on a foggy morning, the Taj Mahal
appears like a fairytale castle floating on a soft carpet
of air.
The Taj Mahal is part of a complex of structures. These
structures include the Darwaza or main gateway, the Bageecha
or garden, the Masjid or mosque, the Naqqar Khaana or guest
house and the Rauza or mausoleum. The entrance to the complex
is through the grand gateway. The gateway is inscribed with
Islamic calligraphy and floral decorations. As you enter
the gateway, its high arch frames the vista before you.
A path with green lawns on either side leads to the raised
platform on which the Taj Mahal is situated. The approach
to the Taj Mahal, with intersecting paths and waterways
is called the Charbagh.
The Taj Mahal is situated on a raised platform that is over
6 meters high. The actual tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz
Mahal are in the basement below this platform. The main
building surmounted by a curving dome is over 60 meters
long on each side. The dome rises to a height of over 60
meters at its pinnacle. The platform covers an area of almost
94 sq meters. A tall minaret of over 40 meters reaches up
to the sky at each corner of the platform. On either side
of the Taj Mahal there is a red sandstone building - a mosque
to the west and a guesthouse to the east. The fountains,
waterways, formal garden and the river Yamuna flowing in
the background add to the overall effect. The overall symmetry
of the Taj Mahal complex, makes it an aesthetically perfect
sight.
The architecture of the Taj Mahal is enhanced by delicate
inlay work. The interiors of the Taj Mahal are decorated
with inlay work known as pietra dura. Semi precious stones
such as jasper, jade, turquise, lapis lazuli and sapphire,
were used in these decorative devices, many of which can
still be seen. These decorative elements include inscriptions
from the Quran, geometrical designs and graceful depictions
of flowers and plants. The inlay work has been carried out
with great skill, creating a seamless and smooth surface
with no visible joints. The pristine white marble of the
Taj Mahal contrasts with the colors of the inlaid stones
creating a beautiful and majestic effect.
The beautiful proportions of each element of the complete
complex, their exquisitely decorated interirors, the brilliance
of the carving in the latticed screens that surround the
tomb and the setting of the Taj Mahal add up to the sublime
experience that is a glimpse of the Taj Mahal. The architecture
of the Taj Mahal Agra is considered the most spectacular
example of Mughal architecture in India.
HOW TO REACH Taj Mahal
AIR- Agra airport is 7 km from the city center
and 3 km from Idgah bus stand. Major Indian airlines operate
daily tourist shuttle flights to Agra, Khajuraho, Varanasi
and back. It only takes 40 minutes from Delhi to Agra.
RAIL- Agra is well connected by railroad.
The main railway station is the Agra Cantonment station.
Agra is well connected by rail to Delhi, Varanasi and cities
of Rajasthan. Trains like Palace on Wheel, Shatabdi, Rajdhani,
and Taj Express are the best choices if you want to reach
Agra from Delhi in luxury.
ROAD- Idgah bus stand is the main bus
stand of Agra, from where one can catch buses for Delhi,
Jaipur, Mathura, Fatehpur-Sikri, etc. Buses for Mathura
also leave from Agra Fort bus stand.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
When it comes to visiting Taj Mahal, there is no such thing
called best time and worst time, because the Taj Mahal offers
a different perspective to all the visitors all the time.
The colors of Taj Mahal changes at different hours of the
day and during different seasons. Like a jewel, the Taj sparkles
in moonlight when the semi-precious stones inlaid into the
white marble on the main mausoleum catch the glow of the moon.
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