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 Regarded as one of the
most famous landmarks in the world, India’s Taj Mahal (Crown of
the Palace) is actually one large memorial built by a Mughal shah in
memory and as witness to the love he shared with his wife.
Built from the year 1631 to 1648 in the City of Agra, the white marble
edifice was commissioned by the Mughal Empire’s Shah Jehan as a
tomb for his beloved wife, Arjuman Banu Begum, more popularly
known as Mumtaz Mahal.
The story goes back in 1607, when the then prince of the royal Mughal
household strolled down the Meena Bazaar, accompanied by a string of
fawning courtiers, he caught a glimpse of a girl (Arjuman) hawking silk
and glass beads. Five years later the 20-yr-old Jehan went on to wed the
then 19 year old Arjuman.
It was a fairy tale union from the start, one that withstood court
intrigues, battles for succession and finally, the grand coronation. And
when she died on the 19th year of their marriage, he etched her story in
stone. The Taj Mahal is the living symbol of the monumental love between
them and an inspiration for those who still believed in romance and true
love.
The Taj Mahal today
 Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world, and some
Western historians have noted that its architectural beauty has never
been surpassed.
The mausoleum is recognized for its refined elegance, which provides a
contrast to both the Hindu architecture of pre-Islamic India. Its thick
walls, corbeled arches, and heavy lintels, and to the Indo-Islamic
styles, in which Hindu elements are combined with an eclectic assortment
of motifs from Persian and Turkish influences have melded together to
produce an effect that is magnificent yet very romantic.
The Taj stands in a formally laid-out walled garden entered through a
pavilion found in the front. The tomb, raised on a terrace and first
seen reflected in the central canal, is entirely sheathed in marble. The
mosque and counter-mosque on the back however are built in red
sandstone.
The four minarets, set symmetrically around the tomb, were intentionally
scaled down to heighten the effect of the dominant dome in the center.
The mosques, built only to balance the view are set sufficiently far
away to do no more than frame the mausoleum. In essence, the whole
riverside platform was designed and used as a mosque courtyard with the
tomb as its centerpiece.
 The great entrance gate with its domed central chamber, set at the end
of the long watercourse, is a breathtaking view for many. For the most
dramatic photo opportunities, visitors are advised to visit during dawn
or at sunset.
Dawn is a magical time when the place is virtually deserted and the
first rays of the sun light up the Taj. In the afternoon, the Taj is a
dazzling spectacle in white, and in the evening the Taj dons the orange
glow of the setting sun. Of course, there's nothing more romantic than
beholding the Taj on a full-moon night especially when the experience is
shared between lovers.
Try arriving just as it opens or when it is about to close. A few
minutes alone in the perpetually echoing inner sanctum will reward you
far more than several hours spent on a guided tour.
Things to check out in Taj Mahal
 The Tomb
Visitor’s should try to see up close the actual tomb which stands on its
own marble plinth that rests on a red sandstone platform that serves to
level the land as it slopes to the river. The 4 tall minarets rise up
from the corners of the white marble plinth. They taper to a height of
138 ft. and are crowned with eight windowed cupolas.
The Taj Gardens
 The front garden runs from the main gateway to the foot of the Taj. It
is a “formal” type of garden based on Persian gardens, which are based
on geometric arrangements of nature without any attempt at a "natural"
look.
Since in Islam, four is the holiest of all numbers, most arrangements in
the Taj Mahal and the grounds are based on that number or its multiples
- and the gardens were thus laid out in the quadrant plan. Two marble
canals studded with fountains and lined with cypress trees (symbolizing
death) cross in the center of the garden dividing it into four equal
squares.
 The Mosque
On the West Side of the Taj is a Mosque made of red sandstone. It faces
towards Mecca and is actively used for prayer. This is also where the
remains of Mumtaz Mahal were initially deposited when first brought to
Agra.
The Rest House
 On the East Side of the Taj stands the twin of the Mosque, a parallel
structure also made of red sandstone, referred to as the jawab, or
"answer". Because it faced away from the Mecca, it was never used for
prayer. The jawab is similar to the Mosque. However, it does not contain
the accessories, which go with a mosque, and, instead of inscriptions
from the Koran, there are beautiful flower designs and other decorations
done in white marble on the red sandstone background.
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