UNESCO World Heritage Sites, India

[minisoji]

Taj Mahal

Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal. It is a sublime experience of the greatest love story ever told. Today, India’s most fascination and beautiful masterpiece, this perfectly symmetrical edifice is set amidst landscaped gardens on the banks of the Yamuna.


Taj Mahal


The Taj was built to enshrine the remains of Begum Mumtaz Mahal, the consort of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Built by the Persian architect Ustad Isa, the Taj has the verses of the Holy Quran inscribed on it, with the gate being crowned by 22 small domes.

Renowned for its architectural magnificence and aesthetic beauty, Taj counts among man’s proudest creations. The Taj has been constructed on 313 square feet marble platform that stands above sandstone. The entire portion is enclosed within a high boundary wall with broad octagonal pavilions at the corners.

The most elegant dome of the monument has a diameter of 60 feet that rises 80 feet over the building. Semi-precious stones are inlaid in to the marble in beautiful patterns and with superb craftsmanship in a process known as pietra dura. Within the dome lies the jewel-inlaid cenotaph of the queen.

The Taj in all its timeless beauty is still the inspiration of poets and painters, writers and photographers. The dome is made of white marble, but the tomb is set against the plain across the river and it is this background that works its magic of colors that, through their reflection, change the view of the Taj.

So perfect are proportions of the Taj, so exquisite its workmanship, that it has been described as having been designed by giants and finished by jewelers.

Tourist information

Open from sunrise to 19 hours. Entry fee for those above 12 years : Rs.15. Free entry on Fridays.

Best time to visit : From November to February.

Access : Agra is connected to Delhi by air. One can also use the Taj express or the Shatabdi to get there. One can even drive or bus it ( 204 km from Delhi).

Where to stay

Agra has a wide range of hotels and resthouses. The luxury hotels provide air conditioned accommodation. UPSTDC’s tourist complex, Taj Khema near the Taj Mahal offers accommodation in tents and deluxe rooms. There is a UPSTDC tourist Bungalow as well. Hotels and restaurants offer both Indian, Continental and Chinese food. Mughlai cuisine is Agra’s speciality. There is an ITDC restaurant near the Taj.

Places to visit : Itmad-us-daula’s Tomb, Chini-ka-rausa, Ram Bagh, Agra fort, Fatehpur Sikri (36 km, another a world heritage site).