TAJMAHAL

The Taj Mahal is a royal tomb located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built this magnificent monument in memory of his wife Arjumand Banu Begum, also known as Mumtaz Mahal. Construction of the monument began in 1832 and was completed in about 1853. While there has been much debate over who designed the monument, it is clear that the monument was built by a group of skilled designers and artisans who were with Ustad Ahmed Lahuri, who is leading the race to become the main designer of the Taj Mahal.The Taj Mahal (sometimes just called the Taj) is considered to be one of the most striking examples of Mughal architecture, a combination of Persian, Turkish, Indian and Islamic architecture. Although the white marble dome-shaped royal tomb is the most revered, the Taj Mahal is actually a complex intact architecture as a whole. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. The Taj Mahal is one of the seventh wonders of the world. It was then called ‘the universally acclaimed masterpiece of world heritage.

LOCATION:

City: Agra, on the banks of river Yamuna
State: Uttar Pradesh
Distance from Delhi: 204 Km (approx)

How to Reach Taj Mahal 

The Taj Mahal, an embodiment of love and romance, is located in the city of Agra that lies approximately 204 km to the south of Delhi. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the monument attracts hordes of domestic and international tourists from all over the world, all year round. Such is the magnetic appeal and charismatic essence of the monument that visitors can never have enough of it ever and would want to visit it time and again. In case you have made up your mind to be enthralled by the excellence of this architectural brilliance, and are planning a trip to explore the beauty of this splendid monument, then the very first question that would come to your mind in how to reach the Taj Mahal. We have devoted this section on discussing various ways of traveling to the Taj Mahal in India.

By Air

The fastest way of reaching Taj Mahal, Agra is by air. The city of Taj, Agra, has its own airport that is around 7 km from the city center. Indian Airlines operates flights to Agra on a daily basis.

By Rail

There is a good network of trains connecting Agra with the rest of the country. Apart from the main railway station of Agra Cantonment, there are other two stations also, that of Raja-ki-Mandi and Agra Fort. The main trains connecting Agra with Delhi are Palace on Wheels, Shatabdi, Rajdhani, and Taj Express.

By Road

There are regular bus services from Agra to a number of important cities. The main bus stand of Idgah has a number of buses running for Delhi, Jaipur, Mathura, Fatehpur-Sikri, etc.

Local Transportation

After reaching the city also, you need some sort of local transport to reach Taj Mahal. You can easily get taxi, tempo, auto-rickshaw and cycle rickshaw in the city that will take you to your destination. Prepaid taxis are also available if you want to visit the various places near the city. For the adventurous kind, there are bicycles that can be hired on hourly basis from different parts of the city. Since diesel and petrol vehicle are not permitted in the vicinity of Taj Mahal area, you can find battery-operated buses, horse-driven tongas, rickshaws and other pollution-free vehicles there.

           

Best Time to Visit Taj Mahal
Best Time to Visit: October to March

Just as there's no such thing as "a bad time to live", there's no such thing as "bad time to visit" one of the most scintillating and marvelous wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. Whatever be the time of the year, the Taj Mahal will not stop with its mission to spread its charm and glory and will continue to be as luminescent as ever. But as a visit in the months of summers requires a high threshold to bear the heat, the period between the comparatively cooler months i.e. October to March is generally considered a best time to visit the Taj Mahal. Having said that, know that the radiance of the Taj Mahal is simply dazzling, and changes with every passing hour, reflecting a different aura in different seasons. Also, the visual beauty of the Taj Mahal is at its peak during sunrise, sunset, and under the full moon night.

Taj Mahal at Sunrise

Watching the sun rise up from under the sea of sky is a sight to behold, and what better way to experience it than to watch it take its place up there while you stand on the premises of one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It's a moment of delight when the beauty of the sunrise and the Taj Mahal culminate together to make for some awe-inspiring images of the Taj, being transformed from soft grey and pink to a soft red glow.

Taj Mahal at Sunset

After shining its glory all through the day, when the sun climbs down the stairway of heavens and gets ready to say adios to the world, it plays its final trick in the book by lending Taj Mahal a different appearance with the shades of fiery yellow being transformed into soft exotic orange and finally to pearl white again, until the full moon prepares itself to accompany the Taj all through the night while dazzling the world with its quiet heavenly elegance.

Taj Mahal under Full Moon Night

By the night when the full moon is high up in the sky, the beauty that Taj Mahal breathes out is beyond the scope of words. A silver glow that takes over Taj Mahal is so mesmerizing that most of the things you'll see after that will feel ordinary at best. This fabulous interplay of colors all through the day, and then night, symbolically implies the presence of God, who is never represented in the anthropomorphic form.

The best time to arrive would be just before the sunrise or sunset. Night viewing is allowed on the full moon night, two days before it and two days after it. Tickets for the same need to be booked one day in advance.

When visiting India browse through this beautiful list of places to see in India to make your trip a memorable one.

Attractions Near Taj Mahal

The city of Agra, being the capital of Mughal Empire for a long time, had witnessed construction of numerous buildings on an elaborate scale. In fact, apart from the Taj Mahal, Agra boasts of a number of monuments and places to visit that are quite magnificent in their own right and are worth visiting. So, if you are planning to visit Agra the next time you are holidaying, don't forget to spare a couple of days, for the city has a lot more to offer than the splendid Taj. Include these places in your itinerary and immerse yourself completely in the epical Mughal era gone by. Given below is further information on the popular attractions near Taj Mahal at Agra.

Tourist Places Near Taj Mahal

Agra Fort

One of the famous tourist places near Taj Mahal, India, is the Agra Fort. Situated near Taj Mahal, it was constructed by the Emperor Akbar in the year 1565. However, numerous additions were carried on in this fort, till the time of Shah Jahan. A beautiful example of Mughal architecture made up of entirely of red sandstone, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra

The tomb of Akbar, situated at Sikandra, is the last resting place of the Mughal Emperor, Akbar the Great and is only 13 km from the Agra Fort. The architectural style of this tomb is quite different from almost all the other tombs of the Mughals. This pyramidal tomb was completed by Akbar's son Jahangir in the year 1613 and has the 99 names of Allah inscribed on it.

Fatehpur Sikri

The deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri is situated near Agra. Constructed by Mughal Emperor Akbar, it was completed in the year 1584. Located 35 Km from Agra, it is one-of-its-kind city and is counted amongst the most majestic cities of the Mughal Empire. It's also one of three UNESCO World Heritage Sites situated in Agra, other two being Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.

Itmad-ud-Daulah Tomb

Noor Jahan, the wife of Jahangir, got the Itmad-ud-Daulah's tomb constructed in between 1622 and 1628 AD. It was constructed in the memory of her father Ghiyas-ud-Din Beg. Located on the left bank of river Yamuna, the tomb is an opulent structure and is considered to be an antecedent of the Taj Mahal because of its intricate carvings and inlay work.

Mankameshwar Temple

About 2.5 km from Taj Mahal and less than 1 km away from Agra Fort is located one of the four ancient temples dedicated to Lord Shiva that stand on each corner of the Agra city. It is surrounded by the markets of the Mughal era gone by.

Ram Bagh

Build by Babur in 1528, Ram Bagh is the oldest Mughal garden in India. Located on the banks of river Yamuna, less than 3 km away from Taj Mahal, it was designed so that the wind from the river coupled with greenery would help maintain cool during the peak summer days. The original name of this garden was Aram Bagh or the Garden of Relaxation.

Swami Bagh Samadhi

Swami Bagh Samadhi, the construction of which started more than a century ago in 1904, continues till date. It is often touted as the next Taj Mahal, as a colorful combination of marbles and carvings in stone that are believed to be not seen anywhere in India. The monument holds the ashes of Huzur Swamiji Maharaj or Sri Shiv Dayal Singh Seth.

Vrindavan

The holy city of Vrindavan, situated near Agra, is one of the most revered pilgrimages in India of the Hindus. The city is very closely associated with Lord Krishna and is said to house as many as 4,000 temples, dedicated to Him.

Other Attractions

Other popular nearby attractions include Jama Masjid, built for Shah Jahan's daughter; Guru ka Tal, a holy place of worship for Sikhs; Chini Ka Rauza, dedicated to Prime Minister of Shah Jahan; Mariam's Tomb, wife of Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great; Mehtab Bagh, a moonlit garden; and Keetham Lake.