Taj Mahal

Overview

The Taj Mahal is India's most famous building, called a teardrop on the cheek of eternity. This white marble mausoleum was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife.

History

The Taj Mahal was begun in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their fourteenth child. Construction took 22 years and employed 20,000 craftsmen along with artists from Persia, the Ottoman Empire and Europe, finishing in 1648. Legend holds that the emperor ordered the craftsmen's hands cut off so they could never build its equal, though this is likely myth. It became a World Heritage Site in 1983 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.

Highlights

• •Marble changing colour in the rose-gold light of sunrise
• •The central water channel mirroring the whole mausoleum
• •Four minarets tilted slightly outward to survive earthquakes
• •The simple inner chamber where emperor and empress lie side by side
• •Marble shifting through white, orange, pink and silver with the hours

Practical tips

• •Go at sunrise for the finest light
• •Closed on Fridays

Practical information

Best time

October to March

Tickets

About INR 1,100 for foreign visitors, roughly USD 13; online booking required

Opening hours

Sunrise to sunset; the mosque is closed on Fridays

Local food

Mughlai grilled meat, curry and sweets

Getting around

The Taj Mahal is reached by cycle rickshaw or taxi; note that it is closed on Fridays

Visa

An e-Visa is required and the tourist application can be submitted online; apply at least a week ahead.

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