About the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal, symbol of love of the great Indian Mughal ruler is one of the most beautiful structures in the world. It is situated in Agra in Uttar Pradesh on the banks of river Yamuna and is a premier attraction for tourists coming from various parts of the country as well as abroad. In the first half of the seventeenth century, Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperorordered the construction of this structure in the memory of his beloved late wife Arjumand Banu (better known as Mumtaz Mahal). The structure derives itsname too from the name of Mumtaz Mahal.
The construction of this beautiful white marble tomb took the hard work of more than 20,000 labourers for a period of 22 years. Today, this standing reminder of a great love story, is not only the largest mausoleum of the world, but also one of the seven wonders of the world.
The Architecture of the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is built of white marble and stands on a flat raised platform of 20 feet. The main structure is a combination of square tomb and a swelling dome. A couple of red sandstone building stand in its eastern and western side and actually enhances the beauty of the structure even more by presenting a contrast. The structure is a remarkable example of a perfect symmetry complete with gardens and fountains. Inside the Taj, three important element of Muslim decorative art heightens the beauty of thisstructure - the sayings from the Q'uran, geometrical shapes and a variety of plant forms and flowers.
The beauty of the Taj is best enjoyed when seen as a reflection in the river in a moonlit night. It appears golden and enlivens the aestheticsenses of all watching this beautiful view. The rest of the day also, the structure appears in different colours like pinkish in the morning and milkywhite in the evening. It is said that the changing colours of the Taj is a reminder of the changing moods of woman.
Reaching Taj Mahal
» By Air - Agra has its own airport known as the Kheria Airport which is situated at a distance of 6 kms from the city.
» By Rail - Agra is well connected by rails to all the major cities of India.
» By Road - Agra is well connected to all the majorcities of Uttar Pradesh by road as well as other cities also. Distance between Agra and Delhi is 204kms.
