Taj Mahal Tour

The saga of venerable beauty, embodied by refulgent of white marbles, Taj Mahal is an authentic example of immortal love. Admired by artisans around the world, Taj Mahal is a unique example of architectural grandeur. Standing tall since centuries, it's a testimony of the celestial love of Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

One of the seven wonders of the world, it attracts two to three million visitors every year. It represents Muslim architecture along with a mix of Persian, Iranian Turkish and Indian architecture. It is definitely an epitome of true love used as citation by lovers across the world.

Since time immemorial, Taj Mahal has not only amused tourists around the world, but also a lot of dignitaries. Rabindra Nath Tagore called Taj a tear on the cheek of time. He said," Let the splendor of the diamond, pearl and ruby vanish like the magic shimmer of the rainbow. Only let this one teardrop, the Taj Mahal, glisten spotlessly bright on the cheek of time..."

ABOUT TAJ MAHAL

State: Uttar Pradesh
Location: In Agra (On the banks of river Yamuna)
Year of Construction: 1631-1653
Built By: Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan
Spread Over: 42 acres
Building Type: Islamic Tomb
Significance: One of the Seven Wonders of the World

History:
Taj Mahal not only reflects architectural excellence, but the nostalgia of king on the death of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The time goes back to 17th century, when Shah Jahan noticed Arjumand Banu, famous as Mumtaz Mahal for the first time. It was a love at first sight. They married after five years of their meeting, when Shah Jahan was 20 years old and Mumtaz Mahal was 19. More than a wife, Mumtaz Mahal was a companion, comrade and counselor of Shah Jahan. She accompanied him in mostly all his expeditions and war. It was in 1631, that Mumtaz Mahal died after giving birth to her 14th child. The last wish of the gracious Mumtaz Mahal was that Shah Jahan should construct a monument depicting his love for her.
It is said that after Mumtaz Mahal died Shah Jahan was so heart broken that within months of her death, the once handsome king became half bald with his beard becoming grey.
But he kept his wife's promise and started the construction of Taj Mahal in 1631, and it took 22 years of laborious hard work for this masterpiece to be completed.

Architecture:
Taj Mahal is undisputedly the only structure of its kind in the whole world. It was made with the labor of around 20,000 workers and 1000 elephants and completed with the cost of around 32 million rupees.
The Taj Mahal structure consists of five major parts. Those are

Taj Mahotsav:
With the first and the last rays of the sun, Taj reaches the zenith of its beauty. It seems that with each ray, the love of Shah Jahan enters our soul; questioning whether anything on Earth can be more beautiful than this monument? To rejoice the beauty of Taj, Taj Mahotsav takes place every year in February. It's a ten day long carnival celebrating love, music and art.
Ornamented elephants, camels, drum beaters, folk dancers, splendid food, the festivals fills the air with romance and colors. If in India, one should not forget becoming the part of the festivity.

Myths associated with Taj Mahal:
Inside the Taj Mahal exist some myths about which, we have always failed to get the answers. These myths have successfully instigated an air of secrecy around Taj.
The pure white marbles of Taj showcases true and unforgettable love. The king was so much passionate about this monument of love that, as according to a myth, he amputated the hands of all the artisans who created it. He did not wish any of his craftsmen to indulge in making any monument of so much beauty and charisma. There is another legend that Shah Jahan wanted to construct a black Taj Mahal, opposite the white one, which was supposed to be his tomb.
However he could not put this plan to action, due to his son, Aurangzeb, who imprisoned him. Taj Mahal is a monument symbolizing love, passion and mysteries. It is a gem of India and a moment which its beholder can never forget.