MONUMENT OF LOVE : THE TAJ MAHAL

HERITAGE MONUMENT OF LOVE: THE TAJ MAHAL 

Famous poet Rabindranath Tagore portrayed it as ‘a teardrop on the cheek of the universe’ and Rudyard Kipling called it ‘the embodiment of all things pure’. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan famously said – “it made the moon and the sun drop tears on it”. What is it that we are talking about? Of course the one and only Taj Mahal, a monument built out of immense love and memory, a monument that made hundreds of thousands of people bow down to their knees, a monument that made the city of Agra a famous and widely visited tourist spot in India. It is a place where you’ll fall in love with the Mughal Era and pleasure yourself with the architecture and royalty.

People widely consider it as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Located in the historical city of Agra, the Taj Mahal is called as the ‘symbol of love’. A wide range of visitors come around admiring the beauty of the monument and appreciate the architecture. Taj Mahal is known as the Crown of Palaces in Persian, giving a breathtaking sight to its aficionados. Regarded as one of the finest illustrations of Mughal architecture in India, Taj Mahal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the best parts of visiting the Taj Mahal is to appreciate the elegance of aptness of extents and luxuriousness of geometrical prototypes of such gracefully done gardens that enhance the dignity of the Taj Mahal, adding glory to the slenderness of this symbol of love, perseverance and beauty.

• Interesting Facts About Taj Mahal:

 

Any Taj Mahal information is incomplete without mentioning some interesting details about this place. Being one of the seven wonders of the world itself makes the Taj Mahal location an interesting spot to visit and explore. But here are some of the facts that we didn’t know about earlier. Let’s dig some of them:

* There is one small hole located on the ceiling of the main hall right above the tombstone of Shah Jahan’s beloved Mumtaz Mahal. Seems like there is a flaw in the magnificent Taj. It is said that one of the artisans decided to sabotage the emperor’s dream of having a flawless monument, so he made a hole which is perpendicular to the tombstone of the queen.

* There was a temple built and named after the infamous and one of the biggest Indian conman Natwarlal who apparently had sold the grandiose Taj Mahal at least thrice to some wealthy individuals. The infamous Natwarlal is widely known for selling the Taj repeatedly so his native villagers decided to build a temple on his name with his statue.

* The minarets were built leaning outwards. It was done so to protect the monument from natural calamities like earthquakes. It’s just a matter of keen observing and you’ll notice that the four minarets are leaning outwards. It was done to ensure the safety of the tomb.

* It is strange but it is a fact that the magnificent Mahal is quite taller than Delhi’s heritage monument – the Qutub Minar. The lofty Taj is actually five feet taller than Delhi’s Qutub Minar. Strange but true.

* If we ever decide to find out how expensive the Taj Mahal would be now, it sure will take a breath away. Shah Jahan had spent around 32 million rupees on the architecture during that time. If we do the calculations keeping the present rate in mind, the amount would be around 1,062,834,098 USD. Quite Expensive!

* The Taj is visited by over 12,000 people every day.

* The monument changes colors. Depending on the light outside and the time of the day, the monument can appear to change its colors. The beautiful Taj will look a little pink in the morning, white in the day time and golden-ish after the sun sets.

* More than 1,00 elephants used to transport the heavy supplies and materials that were going to be used in the construction of the Taj Mahal. 

* In 2007, the Taj Mahal was declared as one of the Seven Wonders Of The World by bagging 100 million votes. This increased the inflow of tourists double-fold. 

• Taj Mahal Timings And Entry Fee:

Taj Mahal, Agra timing is not set. The Taj opens 30-45 minutes before the sunrise and closes its gates about 30 minutes before the sunset each day. Also, one should note that the Taj Mahal remains closed on Fridays for public viewing.

The entry fee for this monument differs for the citizens of different countries. The normal fee structure is such:

Foreign nationals: INR 1100/- per person
SAARC and BIMSTEC nationals: INR 540/- per person
Indian nationals: INR 50/-
Main Mausoleum: INR 200/-

Note: Photography and videography are permitted inside the premises, but not inside the mausoleum. Tripods are strictly forbidden. Make sure you remove or cover your shoes before entering.

• Places To Visit Near Taj Mahal:

* AGRA FORT

 

* AKBAR'S TOMB

* VRINDAVAN

 

* FATEHPUR SIKHRI

• How To Reach Taj Mahal:

As Agra is well-connected with the major cities of India via different transports, it has never been difficult to reach the Taj Mahal. So, here are the main ways to reach this ‘symbol of love’:

* By Air: Agra is equipped with its own airport which is approximately 7 kilometers away from the city center. This is the fastest way to reach Agra from any part of India or the world. As several airlines travel here regularly, it is not difficult to find a ticket on one of the Indian airlines. From the airport, you can hire a taxi to reach the Taj Mahal. 

* By Rail: Agra connects very well with the rest of the country via railway. The main railhead here is Agra Cantonment and there are two other railway stations – Agra Fort and Raja ki Mandi. Some of the most popular trains plying to nearby cities are Taj Express, Shatabdi, Palace on Wheels, and Rajdhani. There are cab or taxi services easily available at the premises to reach your further location. 

* By Road: If you are traveling from any nearby city, then the best option is to plan an amazing road trip to Agra. Moreover, A/C buses, non-A/C buses, and state buses also ply between close places like Mathura, Delhi, and Jaipur. So, one can opt for bus service or drive themselves to Agra. 

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