The Taj Mahal ,"crown of palaces", is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage".
In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar component of the Taj Mahal, it is actually an integrated complex of structures. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632. The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrate the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal. The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648 and the surrounding buildings and garden were finished five years later. The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision, including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer. Emperor Shah Jahan himself described the Taj in these words:
The Taj Mahal attracts a large number of tourists. UNESCO documented more than 2 million visitors in 2001, including more than 200,000 from overseas. A two tier pricing system is in place, with a significantly lower entrance fee for Indian citizens and a more expensive one for foreigners. Most tourists visit in the cooler months of October, November and February. Polluting traffic is not allowed near the complex and tourists must either walk from parking lots or catch an electric bus. The Khawass puras (northern courtyards) are currently being restored for use as a new visitor center.
Lists of recommended travel destinations often feature the Taj Mahal, which also appears in several listings of seven wonders of the modern world, including the recently announced New Seven Wonders of the World, a recent poll with 100 million votes.
The grounds are open from 06:00 to 19:00 weekdays, except for Friday when the complex is open for prayers at the mosque between 12:00 and 14:00. The complex is open for night viewing on the day of the full moon and two days before and after, excluding Fridays and the month of Ramadan. For security reasons only five items—water in transparent bottles, small video cameras, still cameras, mobile phones and small ladies' purses—are allowed inside the Taj Mahal.
Best Time to Visit The Taj Mahal:
The best time to visit The Taj Mahal is from october to march..but next two month fine as well..it would be light rainy season here. Keep in mind that Taj Mahal remains closed on friday.so plan accordingly. 2 days worth. The best time to visit The Taj is sunrise time. So do have one night..agra is situated 200 km from delhi. You can have hire or train trip from delhi to agra.
Transportation System:
Air:
Domestic Airport is available at Agra, which is connected to Delhi. Information regarding the connecting flights may be obtained from the Airport on the following phone number -+91-562--2400569 and from the following tourist offices:-
Rail:
Timing at Agra of Trains Agra is well connected to all major cities of India. Trains are : available at https://irctc.co.in/ Road: Agra is well connected to major cities in the country and is situated on the Golden Triangle of the Tourist Circuit (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur). It is connected to Delhi and Varanasi By NH-2, to Jaipur by NH-11 and Gwalior By NH-3. The major road distances are : Bharatpur-57 km, Delhi-204 km , Gwalior- 119 km, Jaipur- 232 km, Kanpur- 296 km , Khajuraho-400 km , Lucknow-369 km , Mathura- 56 km, Varanasi- 605 km. Where to Stay:Five Stars Hotels in Agra, India: |
