Agra, India - Home To The Taj Mahal, A Wonder Of Love

Set against the skyline, it looks like a mirage in a desert. On moving closer the supreme majesty of the greatest monument to love comes into focus – with its hazy lawns and its pearl-white tomb. Travel to Taj Mahal ensures true glory and passion of love and as the sun rises to cast its impeccable aura on the monument, the wonderful memorial turns from lavender to yellow while at night, the monument bathes in moonlight.

There is a famous saying by Bill Clinton made during his presidential visit to India:

“The world is divided into those who have seen the Taj and those who have not.” 

And this is nothing but true. When Mumtaz Mahal died in childbirth in 1629, her husband, Emperor Shah Jahan immortalized their love by building the ‘dream in marble’, the finest illustration of Mughal architecture. It took over 22 years to build and over 20,000 craftsmen were employed for this extravaganza.  

There are three haughty gateways to the Taj Mahal complex. The central doorway is richly adorned with floral designs and is inscribed with passages from the Koran. A huge courtyard leads onto a lush garden, which is divided by a canal. The main monument is a two-storied octagonal building. Four sky-scraper tall minarets position themselves as if to guard the monument, all built out of brick and encased in fine marble. The graves of the celebrated duo, Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal are housed in the mausoleum below.  

The best time to visit this monument is during the Taj Mahotsav. The Taj Mahotsav is a 10 day event held annually at Shilpgram, near Taj Mahal, from 18 to 27 February. Ornamented elephants and camels, drummers, folk artists and master craftsmen together recreate the glorious past of the Mughals. During this fest, Taj Mahal comes alive with culture and traditions. 

The Taj is not the only wonder in this part of the world and on the banks of River Yamuna, lays the crimson-coloured Agra Fort. The fort has beautiful art works and a special mention should be made of the Jahangiri Mahal, the Khas Mahal (Private Place) with its sprawling vineyard called Anguri Bagh, and an ornamental bath housed inside the palace of mirrors called Sheesh Mahal. 

Due to its locale and tourism importance, Taj Mahal offers best of accommodation facilities like the Hotel Clark Shiraj, the Hotel Taj view and the Hotel Mansingh Palace just to name a famous few. The city has unlimited number of stay amenities and are well connected from New Delhi Airport and Railway stations. I needn’t mention that a visit to Taj Mahal can and will leave a never dying unmatched image of the stunning monument all through your life. You would always want to trip the Taj again and again.