Clad in pristine white, the Taj Mahal speaks the tale of love and beauty entwined. Situated at Agra, this majestic monument is hailed as the symbol of eternal love all across the world. The glittering gemstones on the pure white marble, the intricately carved calligraphy, and the exquisite designs combine to make this monument one of the most beloved tourist attractions in the world. It is one of the loveliest hallmarks that bespeaks of the glorious and rich Indian history.

No wonder it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Mughal emperor Shah Jahan commemorated the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal by constructing the mighty monument in her honor. It took nearly two decades (1632-1653 AD) for this beautiful monument to take its final form and ever since, it has been casting a bewitching spell on humankind! Shah Jahan left no stone unturned to ensure that Mumtaz rested in what would become the most iconic example of Indo-Islamic architecture. He commissioned more than 20,000 workers from India, Persia, and Europe to erect this masterpiece under the supervision of Ustad-Ahmad Lahori, the chief architect of the Taj Mahal.

One of the most fascinating stories about the history of the Taj Mahal is that Shah Jahan ordered the thumbs of the workers be cut off once the mausoleum was completed. He wanted the Taj Mahal of Agra to be the one of its kind in the entire world and rightly so. At dawn, when the rays of the sun first strike the dome of this iconic mausoleum and gradually bring its beauty to life, the gemstones that adorn the exterior of the monument begin to sparkle, emanating a heavenly glow. From a pinkish hue, it takes on a radiant white glow as the sun rises higher up. This image contrasts with the picture of the Taj Mahal on a moonlit night – as the moonlight falls on the mausoleum, it decks up with a subtle and serene pearly glow.

 

The Taj Mahal is a fine example of symmetrical planning with a tomb, mosque, guest house, the main gate, and four minarets flanking the sides of the monument, integrated beautifully into one large complex. The exterior and interior of the central tomb chamber are decorated with beautiful flower and plant motifs. This historical tomb houses the cenotaphs of both the Emperor and his beloved wife. While the cenotaphs present in the upper chambers are merely illusory, the real graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal lie in an underground lower chamber of the tomb.

Interesting Facts About The Taj Mahal

• The monument is decked with nearly 28 types of precious and semi-precious stones. Many of these precious stones had been ripped off from the walls of the monument by the Britishers during the Indian rebellion of 1857.
• The Taj Mahal appears to take on different colors at different times of the day. Some equate this to depict the changing moods of a woman.
• The sophisticated artwork and calligraphic carvings took about 17 years of hard labor.
• All the materials used for constructing the Taj were transported to the monument site by 1,000 elephants!
• The sides of the real grave of Mumtaz Mahal display calligraphic engravings of 99 different names of Allah.
• Every year, the Taj Mahal attracts nearly 2 million visitors from around the world!

Best Time To Visit The Taj Mahal

Any time is a good time to visit this wonderful architectural marvel, yet it is highly recommended that you visit it during the winter months, precisely between November to February. If you visit during hardcore summers (March-June), the chances are that you won’t be able to appreciate the real beauty of the majestic Taj in the scorching heat! And you don’t want that; there’s so much to see and soak in, that it’s better you visit when the weather is favorable.
The monument remains open every day from sunrise to sunset, except for Fridays which are open only during the afternoons for Muslims to attend the prayers.

Tidbits you need to know before visiting the Taj

This iconic monument is visited by a large number of visitors every single day. So, one can only imagine how overwhelming the experience can get if not planned wisely. If you want to visit the Taj in peace to witness its astounding glory, we suggest that you make it before sunrise. Not only is this the least crowded time of the day, but also you will get to see the Taj light up beautifully as the sunrays gently kiss it.

You can enter the Taj from any of the three gates – Western Gate, Eastern Gate, and Southern Gate. Among these, the Eastern gateway is the shortest way inside and hence is recommended. The issue with the other two gates is that the Southern gate doesn’t open until 8 AM and the Western entrance is followed by a vast stretch of woods that one must cross before getting anywhere near the monument.

Although the ticket counter opens at 6 AM, the line formation commences way before that. So, make sure you’re up early to be ahead of the line that can stretch up to a mile long! While there are two ticket lines – one for the locals and one for the foreigners, there are four lines of the entrance – two for local and foreign women, and two for local and foreign men.

The price of tickets vary. For the foreigners, it costs ₹1000, including a water bottle and shoe coverings. For locals, the cost is ₹40, and for the citizens of SAARC or BIMSTEC countries, it is ₹530. The admittance fee for children below fifteen is free.

Try to take minimal belongings while visiting the Taj Mahal to avoid wasting time in checking in and also because most of it will have to be kept in the lockers. There is a strict no-food and cigarette policy at the Taj Mahal. Here are the only essentials that you’ll be needing:

• Water
• Passport
• Wallet
• Camera
• Phone, and
• Medicine (for emergencies)

Photography within the inner chambers of the mausoleum is strictly prohibited. Do not make the mistake of carrying tripods and bulky cameras for they aren’t allowed either! Try to avoid wearing laced up shoes as you have to open them before entering the inner chamber of the tomb. They take ages to open!

Is Now A Good Time To Visit The Taj Mahal?

Very recently, the news of the Taj undergoing a mud mask rejuvenation has been making headlines. As is known to all, the Taj Mahal has greatly suffered over the decades due to the rampant air pollution in the city, so much so that, the once white marble now has a visible yellowish tint to it.

According to experts, the mud mask will help remove the yellow stains from the Taj. The restoration work will apparently begin in early April 2018. First, the four small domes over the four minarets will be restored using the mud mask and only after the completion of this will include the restoration of the central dome will commence. Since the work will take place in phases, it may take a couple of months for the restoration to complete.

So, while the good news is that one of India’s richest historical treasures will be restored back to its former glory, it will probably be inaccessible to visitors for the upcoming few months. But don’t fret over that too much. Take a moment and appreciate the beauty of the Taj Mahal. Now, imagine if the Taj is so beautiful now, despite how hard we’ve tried to ruin it with all the pollution, how much more pristine will it look, once restored?