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For
centuries, the Taj Mahal has inspired poets, painters
and musicians to try and capture its elusive magic in
word, colour and song. It is one of the most flawless
architectural creations of the world. since the 17th
century, travellers have crossed continents to come
and see this ultimate memorial to love, and few have
been unmoved by its incomparable beauty.
Taj Mahal stands in the city of Agra, in the northern
Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, on the banks of the
Yamuna River. It was built in the memory of the
beautiful Arjumand Bano Begum, who won the heart of a
Mughal prince. She was married at 21 to Emperor
Jahangir's third son Prince Khurram and stayed loyally
by his side through good times and bad; in the
luxurious royal palaces of Agra as well as the
transient tents of war camps.
History Of Taj Mahal
 In AD 1628, Khurram became king after a bloody battle
of succession: he took the name Shahjahan or King of
the World and Showered his beloved begum with the
highest titles. She became Mumtaz Mahal, the exalted
of the palace and Mumtaz-ul-Zamani, the exalted of the
Age. But Mumtaz Mahal was not destined to be queen for
long. In 1631, Shahjahan went on an expedition to the
south and, as always, Mumtaz Mahal accompanied him.
But she died in childbirth at Burhanpur. She had borne
Shahjahan fourteen children, of whom four sons and
three daughters survived. When Mumtaz Mahal died, she
was just 39 years old. Shahjahan was inconsolable and
contemporary chronicles tell of the royal court
mourning for two years. there was no music, no
feasting, and no celebration of any kind.
Building A Wonder
Shahjahan, who was a passionate builder, now decided
to erect a memorial to his queen in pristine marble
that the world would never forget. The site selected
for the tomb was a garden by the Yamuna river,
unshadowed by any other structure. The garden had been
laid by Raja Man Singh of Amber and now belonged to
his grandson, Raja Jai Singh. By a royal Firman,
Shahjahan gave Jai Singh four Havelis in exchange for
the garden. The site was also chosen because it was
located on a bend in the river, and so could be seen
from Shahjahan's personal palace in Agra Fort, further
upstream.
Work on the mausoleum began in 1633 and 20,000 workers
laboured for 17 years to build it. The most skilled
architects, inlay craftsmen, calligraphers,
stone-carvers and masons came from all across Indian
and lands as distant as Persia and Turkey. The master
mason was from Baghdad, an expert in building the
double dome from Persia, and an inlay specialist from
Delhi.
Yemen sent agates, the corals came from Arabia, the
garnets from Bundelkhand, onyx and amethyst from
Persia. Mumtaz Mahal's final resting-place was
ornamented like a queen's jewel-box.
A Day at Taj Mahal in Agra
Taj Mahal in the Morning
 The
glory of the monument is strangely undiminished by the
crowds of tourists who visit each day, as small and
insignificant as ants in the face of this immense and
captivating monument. That said, the Taj is at its
most alluring in the relative quiet of early morning,
shrouded in mists and bathed with a soft red glow. As
its vast marble surfaces fall into shadow or reflect
the sun, its colour changes, from soft grey and yellow
to pearly cream and dazzling white; it's well worth
visiting at different times. This play of light is an
important decorative device, symbolically implying the
presence of Allah, who is never represented in
anthropomorphic form.
Beauty of Taj Mahal during Day
The Taj Mahal shows a different aspect of beauty at
different times of the day. The sight of the Taj awash
with the subtle pinks of dawn is an unforgettable
sight. Sunsets stain the Taj an exotic shade of
orange. But nothing beats the poignant beauty of the
Taj seen when the cool white marble is bathed in the
soft silver light of the moon. Even in the bright
light of the day, this wonder of the world shines with
an awe-inspiring loveliness.
There's no time limit on visits to the Taj, and some
people spend most of the day here, sitting, reading,
dozing or picnicking in the beautifully kept gardens.
Hawkers and salesmen are not allowed in, and official
guides are not available on site, but can usually be
provided by hotels, and always accompany organized
tours. The ticket office, just outside the western
gate, is rarely blocked by long queues, except between
4 and 5 pm before the admission fee increases; bring
the right amount of money as the ticket booth
attendants rarely have change and tend to pocket the
difference.
Many Faces Of Taj
Taj Mahal changes its moods with the seasons and the
different times of the day. At dawn, the marble has a
delicate bloom in shell pink, by noon it glitters
majestically white, turning to a soft pearl grey at
dusk. On full-moon nights, the silver light makes it
float away against the star-spangled sky. Monsoon
clouds give it a moody blue tint and it appears and
disappears like a mirage in the drifting mists of
winter. It can be solid and earthbound, fragile and
ethereal, white, amber, grey and gold. The many faces
of Taj Mahal display the seductive power of
architecture at its best.
Taj Mahotsav - Celebrating The Glory
Of Taj Mahal
With the arrival of Springtime in February comes the
most colourful and festive time at Agra - the Taj
Mahotsav. A 10-day long celebrations of Uttar
Pardesh's multicultural heritage that becomes major
display platform of the arts, crafts, culture,
cuisine, folk and classical dance and music of India.
Taj Mahotsav is a special event organised by the U.P.
Tourism department, keeping the focus as Taj Mahal and
held as an annual event at Shilpgram, the neighbouring
site of Taj Mahal. This artistic event is a dedication
to the legendary skills of mastercraftsmen and other
exponents of art, music and cuisine. Its an
opportunity for tourists visiting Taj Mahal to get a
glimpse inside the rich heritage and extraordinary
legacies of Uttar Pradesh's historic past.
Shopping
in Agra
The magnificent city of Agra not only offers
architectural delights but is also reputed as a
shopper's paradise. The city has a number of markets
and shopping malls that offers the best of handcrafted
item specially the replicas of Taj Mahal that match in
every detail of the real building.
Agra also offers a variety of leather items including
footwear, purses, bags, and decorative items. You can
also shop for sandal and rose wood items, brass and
stone decorative, embroidered rugs, stone inlay work
and floor carvings in the local Handicraft Emporium.
Shopping
Areas
There are many shopping area across the city but the
major areas include Taj Mahal complex, Kinari Bazaar,
Raja Mandi, Sadar Bazaar.
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