Taj Mahal, Agra, India | Tourist Attraction (2024)

The Taj Mahal is a symbol of the eternal love of an emperor for his favorite queen.

History

The Taj Mahal is made of white makrana marble, built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in Agra between 1631 and 1648 in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz, the Taj Mahal is a pioneers of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.

Tomb Architecture & Design

The base structure is a large multi-orbital cube with an uneven eight-sided structure with four corners approximately 55 m (180 ft) at each of the four long edges. Each side of Ivan is decorated with a large pishtaq or vaulted arch with two equal-sized arched balconies on either side. This design of stacked pishtaq is repeated on the corner areas of the chamber, making the design completely symmetrical on all sides of the building. Four towers cover the mausoleum, which is located at each corner of the platform, facing the flat corners.

The most spectacular feature is the marble dome that extends the tomb. The dome is about 35 meters high, close to the measurement of the base length, and is highlighted by cylindrical “drums”, which are about 7 meters high. Due to its shape, the dome is often called an onion dome.

The top is decorated with a lotus design that serves to highlight its height. The shape of the dome is emphasized by four small domes placed at its corners, which replicate the onion shape of the main dome. The dome is slightly asymmetric. Their pillar bases open through the roof of the tomb and provide illumination to the interior. Tall decorative spiers (bouquets) extend from the sides of the base walls, and provide visual emphasis at the height of the dome. The lotus motif is repeated on both dome-shaped pavilions and decorative spiers. The domed and decorative spillers are a gilded finale, which combines traditional Persian and Hindustani decorative elements.

The towers, which are more than 40 meters (130 ft) high each, display the designer’s penchant for symmetry. They were designed as working minarets – a traditional element of mosques, which were used by the muezzin to call the Islamic faithful to prayer. Each tower is effectively divided into three equal parts by two working balconies with tower rings. At the top of the tower is a final balcony, carved by decorative spiers, which reflect the design of those at the mausoleum.

Opening/Closing Time

Taj Mahal opens a half-hour before sunrise and closes half an hour before sunset during normal operating days.

Best Time to Visit

• Before the sunrise so that you can see the beautiful view of the sun rising.
• Before the sun sets so that you can see the beautiful view of sun drowning in the earth.

Entrance Fee

• Entry is free for children under 15 years.
• Its entry fee for Indian Travelers is INR 50.
• For visitors from BIMSTEC and SAARC nations, the Taj Mahal’s entry ticket price is INR 540 each.
• While for International Visitors its ticket is INR 1100.
• Additional INR 200 will be charged if someone wants to visit the main mausoleum.

How to Reach

• The nearest airports to reach the Taj Mahal are in Agra and New Delhi.
• The trains like Taj Express and Shatabdi offer the best rail connections to Agra.
• You can also drive through taxi, car, or travel by bus (243 km from Delhi). If you take the Taj Express Highway then the trip will take about 3 hours 45 minutes.
• Ask anyone about the Taj Mahal in Agra, and you’ll be given directions easily.
• The parking area is near the Western Gate, from where you can find different modes of transport including tongas, camels, and e-rickshaws at nominal rates to ferry you to and from the complex.
• You can also choose to walk if the weather is good, considering the parking lot is about a 5 to 7-minute walk from the main Western Gate.

Location Map for Taj Mahal

Additional Information

• You can see the evening view of the Taj Mahal only five days a month, on the complete moon night, and two nights before and two nights after the complete moon.
• Tickets are available a day before the night scene, you can get it from the office of the Archaeological Survey of India between 10 am to 6 pm.
• Every Friday the Taj Mahal remains closed for general viewing.

What’s Worth Seeing Near Taj Mahal

• Taj Museum
• Taj Mahal Garden
• Char Bagh
• Mehtab Bagh
• Taj Yamuna View Point

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