The Taj Mahal is one of the most admired monuments on the planet, famous for its impeccable architecture, design, attention to detail, and the memorable story of two lovers – Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. The iconic monument is a wonder of the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a famous tourist place.
Through this blog, let us take you through the story of the Taj Mahal, its construction, the back story, and tips for tourists planning their Taj Mahal tour.
History and Significance of the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a Mughal-era monument built by Shah Jahan, the 5th Mughal Emperor succeeding Jahangir. The beautiful monument came to its complete beauty in 1648 when its construction was completed after some 18 years.
The monument is said to be the ‘Jewel of Muslim art in India’ certainly for its impeccable symmetrical designs, marble inlay artwork, use of precious and semi-precious stones, precision marble cutting, and the engineering involved in building such a masterpiece.
The Taj Mahal – The symbol of love
It began when the dearest wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan ‘Mumtaz Mahal’ died post-delivery of her child. She was so dear to the Emperor that their stories of intimation, and admiration for each other were very popular. It was a rare phenomenon at that time because marital privacy was prominent in Muslim communities back then and even today, these are kept with secrecy.
When Mumtaz Mahal died, she was in Burhanpur, and upon her demise, their daughter Jahanara sent a message to the Mughal Emperor. The news shattered him; he wept in sadness for days and didn’t appear in court for days (even though everyday presence in court was one of his strictest rituals).
He stopped wearing clothes with floral patterns, gave up perfume, his beard turned white, and he instructed the court to not conduct any festivities on Wednesday because Mumtaz died on a Wednesday.
This was the love he had for his beloved wife.
Building funerary gardens and tombs was a common phenomenon in the Mughal dynasty and for the imperial princess, it had to be unmatched! ‘May the abode of Mumtaz Mahal be a paradise’ says one of the historians for the Taj Mahal.
Agra was an ambitious project of the Mughals. They wanted to make it a riverfront garden city where there would be so many gardens that the entire city would smell like perfumes.
The site was finalized and the construction of the magnificent monument began.
The architectural style of the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is certainly the zenith of Mughal architecture. There is nothing close to the monumental beauty when it comes to the design and architectural planning of the monument. It is estimated that 10,000 tons of white marble was used for the construction and it was sourced from Makrana, around 123 km from present-day Jaipur. Further, ramps were created to put heavy white marble pieces on the top areas of the monument.
The Taj Mahal is symmetrical and identical from all sides thus, making it soothing to the eyes. The entire Taj Mahal complex is magnificent; the verdant Chahar-Bagh gardens, red sandstone entry gates, the four minarets, and the intricacy of the marble inlay work; all add up to the experience.
The pristine white marble has just 1% corrosion level making it the best possible marble for constructing such a monument. It took a lot of effort to get the white marble along with precious and semi-precious stones from parts of undivided India (modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan), and other parts of Asia.
Fascinating things about the Taj Mahal
Tilted Minarets
When you look at the Taj Mahal, the four pillars or minarets become an unavoidable part of the scene and elevate the presence of the monument.
But, did you know that all the minarets are slightly tilted outwards? Yes, these were originally planned like that so that in case of an earthquake or a similar occurrence, the pillars/minarets do not fall on the central structure.
Different colors at different times of the day
The alluring beauty of the Taj Mahal is because of its pristine white marble which has very less corrosive properties. This makes the white marble shine best at all times. This is impressive because you can witness the magnificent monument changing its colors at different times of the day.
The sunrise Taj Mahal experience is the best. The white monument when comes in contact with the first sun rays of the day, turns golden yellow thus, making it a sight to behold.
For such kinds of experiences, a dedicated Sunrise Taj Mahal Tour exists where you get to see the Taj Mahal in the dawn. Otherwise, you can have standard Taj Mahal tours where the Taj Mahal sightseeing is done at other times of the day.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Wonder of the World
The Taj Mahal is a beautiful monument built in authentic Mughal Architecture. The makers of this magnificent monument have had a glorious history that’s well-documented and popular across the globe.
The Taj Mahal was accredited the title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and was called ‘The jewel of Islamic art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.’
It being just a UNESCO World Heritage site couldn’t justify its impeccable beauty and architecture. Hence, in 2007, it was listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Visitor Tips about the Taj Mahal
Plan your Taj Mahal Tour
Taj Mahal is certainly one of the must-visit places on the planet and if you are planning a tour of it, here is how you can do it –
The best time to visit
- Winters – November to February is the best time to visit the Taj Mahal as the weather is pleasant at all times. These are winter months and the temperature ranges between 3°C to 15°C (37°F to 59°F). This is also the peak time so make sure that you plan your Taj Mahal tour a few months prior to avoid rush bookings and high flight tickets and room tariffs.
- Spring – The Spring months of March and April are also conducive to travel to Agra. You’ll witness a smaller crowd, and decent weather in these months. The daytime could be quite hot however, the mornings and the evenings are usually pleasant to explore the city.
- Summers – May-June! These are the hottest months in the Indian subcontinent and it is certainly not the best time to visit Agra. If you are not used to extreme summers, the scorching heat throughout the day can cause troubles like heat strokes, and dehydration.
- The Monsoon and Autumn months from July – October are largely hot and humid. The temperature is low, but still, it is humid and not the best time to visit. Though, you can make the best of the off-season discount deals on accommodation and transportation.
Photography guide
The Taj Mahal along with the entire city is nothing short of a paradise for photography enthusiasts. The city is picturesque and offers frames that look straight from the past. The Old bazaars of Agra, Jama Masjid, Agra Fort, Taj Mahal, are amazing places to capture mesmerizing moments.
Rules & Regulations
- Please note that the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays for the prayers.
- Women travelers are required to cover their heads at spiritual places like Temples, Mosques, and Gurudwaras.
- Drone photography/videography is prohibited at the Taj Mahal and other monuments in Agra.
Nearby Attractions (Agra Beyond the Taj Mahal)
Agra Fort
Agra Fort is a part of the riverfront garden city which the Mughal Emperors originally planned. It lies on the riverbank of Yamuna and is visible from the Taj Mahal. It was a grand residence of the Mughal Emperor and his kingdom.
The Red Sandstone Fort was the seat of power of the Mughals when Agra was the capital of the Kingdom. The Grand Mughal-era Fort complex houses multiple audience halls, Chahar Bagh gardens, residential complexes, and more.
Itimad-Ud-Daulah
Itimad-Ud-Daulah is a tomb of a high Mughal nobel Mirza Ghiyas Beg. He was the father of Nur Jahan, wife of Mughal Emperor Jehangir. Nur Jahan built the tomb of Itimad-Ud-Dualah in memory of her father. The word ‘Itimad-Ud-Daulah’ symbolizes ‘Pillar of the State’.
It is a beautiful funerary garden with a tomb, Chahar Bagh gardens, and beautiful craftsmanship of marble inlay work on its walls. It was one of the first Mughal monuments which were made of the White Marble. Before this, the use of Red Sandstone was prime.
You will see beautiful marble inlay work on the walls (Called ‘Pietra Dura’ or ‘Parchin Kari’). It is a beautiful illustration of precision marble cutting, stone cutting, and inlay work.
What’s noticeable is that, unlike other Mughal monuments, the Pietra Dura work at Itimad-Ud-Daulah is pictorial rather than floral.
Mehtab Bagh
The Mehtab Bagh is a beautiful garden on the opposite banks of the Taj Mahal. It is one of the earliest built Mughal gardens in Agra. As mentioned before, Agra was an ambitious project of the Mughals and they wanted to build multiple gardens in this riverfront city.
Mehtab Bagh is one of the gardens built in Mughal style and offers mesmerizing views of the Taj Mahal. You can visit this garden in the evening and enjoy a picturesque tranquil sunset overlooking the Taj Mahal.
Ending Note
Experiencing the beauty of the Taj Mahal is a lifetime experience. It is one of the most beautiful structures ever built and its story of construction is nothing less than of Laila and Majnun.
When planning a Taj Mahal Tour, you can opt for Same Day Taj Mahal Tour or an overnight Taj Mahal Tour where you get two days of sightseeing experience with a night stay in the city of Taj.
Reach out to our travel planner Shantam Kalra at [email protected] and check out our Taj Mahal Tour Itineraries