Agra is a city in Uttar Pradesh which is 200 miles away from New Delhi. During Mughal rule the capital of India was Agra. Since Shah Jahan was unable to stay in the country after the death of his beloved wife, he transferred the capital to Delhi. Agra receives a large number of visitors every year. The city is rich with fine reminders of the Mughal Empire. The city also has the famous Taj Mahal, one of the world’s seven wonders.
Taj Mahal is a white marble building, situated on the bank of the river Yamuna. It covers an area of 17 hectares and is 160 ft. above sea level. It is a fine example of Muslim architecture. Commissioned in 1631 by Shah Jahan the Mughal emperor for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
History of the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is the symbol of immense love and timeless beauty. Shah Jahan created the mausoleum for his beloved wife Arjumand Banu Begum, named Mumtaz Mahal. She died in 1631 after giving birth to their child. When she was accompanying her husband to Burhanpur. At first, Mumtaz Mahal was buried near the campaigns at Burhanpur. But after the war, her remains were dug up and taken 700 km back to Agra. Then again buried near the place bought to build the Taj Mahal.
Shah Jahan was in grief after her death and announced the mourning for 2years. During this time, he started planning to build a beautiful grave for his lovely wife. Shah Jahan himself was passionate about architecture. Therefore, he appointed the most skillful architect in the world.
The construction of the Taj Mahal took nearly 2 decades to complete. It was started in the year 1631 but was completed in 1653. The mausoleum is made of white marble, the “Sangemarmar” imported from Makrana, Rajasthan. The land of the Taj Mahal was bought from Maharaja Jai Singh for a big palace in the center of Agra.
The mausoleum was built by more than 20,000 artisans, who were summoned from across the world. Not only artisans were summoned but 28 kinds of precious gems were bought from different parts of the world. Crystal, Lapis Lazuli, Jasper, Sapphire, etc. were bought from more than one thousand elephants.
How to Reach
The Taj Mahal the epitome of love is in Agra, the city that is 204 km away from south of Delhi. It is easy to reach Agra as it’s the major city of Uttar Pradesh. Agra is well-connected with railways, roads, and air networks. The best means to reach Agra is via railways. The city hosts three railway stations connecting with important cities of India. Tourists can also take flights to reach the city as the city has its airport 7km from the main city. Once you reach Agra then the Taj Mahal is not so far. After reaching Agra local transports are available which can take you to the destination. Transports like cycle-rickshaw, auto-rickshaw, taxi, and tempo are available.
The Best Time to visit Agra
The best time to visit the Taj Mahal is between the months of March to June in summer. Because in winter fog clouds the monument. Tourists can visit the whole week, except for Fridays. Most of the visitors visit the Taj Mahal early in the morning at sunrise. During sunrise the jewels on its exterior sparkle and change their colour.
Special Monuments of the Taj Mahal
- Tomb :- the tomb is the major attraction of the Taj Mahal. It is the place where the remains of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are buried. It is built on a square block of white marble in the center of the mausoleum. The tomb has Islamic inscriptions of calligraphy on it.
- Charbagh :-it is the Mughal garden set around the Taj Mahal. The garden divides the four-by-four pathways into sixteen flowerbeds. Charbagh is a Persian structure mentioned in the Holy Quran. On the way from the entry gate to the main mausoleum there is a beautiful water tank between the garden.
- Darwaza-E-Rauza :- this is the main entrance to the mausoleum. The gateway is a fine example of symmetries and patterns. It is a two-story building made with red sandstones. The gateway is made with a trick, when you move far from the gate size of the Taj Mahal decreases. It is the best location for taking pictures.
Conclusion
However, it is said that Shah Jahan has made his promise to his wife, that he’ll never let the world forget about her. The Taj Mahal is not just a building with the finest architecture but a true example of pure love. It is an immortal love story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. Additionally, it has become the witness to many love stories in the world completed as well as started in Agra.
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