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Taj Mahal

Taj mahal

The Taj Mahal is India's most visited and attractive place for tourism. It is an immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is the universally admired masterpiece of the world’s heritage. Its prime location on the right bank of the Yamuna River makes its beauty more attractive.

The Taj Mahal is one of the 7 Wonders! Of World is made up of white marble on the south bank of the Yamuna river in Agra by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.”

Overview

Location:- On the banks of river Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India

Year of Construction: 1631 – 1653

Built By: Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan

Spread Over: 42 acres (approx)

Significance: One of the Seven Wonders of the World

Dedicated to: Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Bano Begum), the wife of Shah Jahan

Building Type: Islamic tomb

Architecture: Mughal (Combination of Persian, Islamic and Indian architecture style)

Architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahauri

Cost of Construction: 32 crore rupees (approx)

Number of workers: 20,000 (Approx)

Timings for Visitors: Sunrise to Sunset (Friday closed)

Taj Mahal 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.

Fee: The entrance fee to the Taj Mahal varies depending on your nationality:

  • Indian citizens: Rs 45
  • Citizens of SAARC and BIMSTEC countries: Rs 535
  • Foreign nationals: Rs 1,050

There is no entry fee for children below the age of 15 for both domestic and foreign tourists.

There is an additional fee of ₹200 if you want to access the mausoleum.

Taj Mahal Architecture

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In the construction of the Taj Mahal, around 22,000 workers, including masons, stonecutters, inlayers, carvers, painters, calligraphers, dome-builders and other artisans, were called from different countries from all over central Asia and Iran. It took 22 years to build the monument with a unique blend of Persian, Islamic, and Indian architectural styles.

Interesting Facts About the Taj Mahal

Many may still need to discover numerous intriguing details about the Taj Mahal. Let's explore them together.

  • Shah Jahan fell in love with Arjumand Bano Begum and married her as the third wife.
  • Arjumand Bano Begum was christened by Shah Jahan as Mumtaz Mahal, meaning the “Chosen One Of The Palace” or “Jewel of the Palace”.
  • Mumtaj Mahal died while giving birth to her 14th child.
  • More than 1,000 elephants were employed for the transportation of the construction materials for the Taj Mahal.
  • More than 28 different varieties of semi-precious and precious stones were used to adorn the Taj with exquisite inlay work.
  • The Taj Mahal appears to be in a different colour every time. In day time, it’s different, and in night it’s differ. White marble seems to change colour depending on the sunlight or moonlight hitting its surface.
  • “Passages from the Quran” have been used as decorative elements throughout the complex.
  • 99 names of Allah were found as calligraphic inscriptions on the sides of the actual tomb of Mumtaz Mahal.
  • The Taj Mahal was built in stages, with the plinth and the tomb taking around 15 years. Building of minarets, mosques, jawab, gateway etc., took 5 years extra to complete.
  • Types of marble used in the construction of the Taj Mahal were brought over from many different regions & countries, i.e. Rajasthan, Punjab, China, Tibet, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, & Arabia.
  • Many precious stones and Lapis Lazuli (a semi-precious stone) were ripped off from its walls by the Britishers during the Indian rebellion of 1857.
  • Taj Mahal attracts 2-4 million visitors annually, with over 200,000 from overseas.

Exploring Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a popular tourist destination, with millions of visitors recorded by UNESCO over the years. It offers different entry fees for Indian citizens and foreigners. Most visitors come during cooler months, and measures are in place to prevent pollution near the site. Restoration work is ongoing, and fines were introduced in 2019 for overstaying visitors.
Nearby, the town of Taj Ganji was built to accommodate visitors and workers. The Taj Mahal is frequently featured in travel recommendations and is recognised as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Foreign leaders frequently tour the Taj Mahal during their visits to India. Among the notable personalities who have made the journey to the site are Dwight Eisenhower, Jacqueline Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, George Harrison, Vladimir Putin, Princess Diana, Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau, Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth, and Prince Philip.