Why Should You Visit The Taj Mahal?

Have you heard of the Taj Mahal and considered going to visit it? Are you wondering what it has to offer? Learn the history behind the place and see a world heritage site in India. In this article, you will discover why you should visit the famous Taj Mahal.

You should visit the Taj Mahal because of its historic significance and its stunning architecture. It is an important and sacred site and is one of the Seven Wonders Of The World. If you are in India, the Taj Mahal is a must-see attraction.

The Taj Mahal is the largest and most beautiful mausoleum you will see in India. The Taj Mahal holds so much history and meaning and still stands for tourists to enjoy today. Learn some interesting facts about the Taj Mahal and when and how to get there.

The Main 2 Reasons To Visit The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a world heritage site in India and it is said to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. The Taj Mahal means ‘The Crown Of All Palaces’ in Persian. It is a very popular tourist attraction to visit in India and people all over the world travel to India just to see it.

The Taj Mahal began being built in 1632 and was completed in 1653, around 21 years later. It was built in memory of Emperor Shah Jahan’s third wife, who died whilst giving birth to their fourteenth child.

Shah Jahan was very upset about the death of his wife, hence spent years creating the most beautiful site. In 1666, Shah Jahan died and was buried next to his wife inside the tomb of the Taj Mahal.

The two main reasons why you should visit the Taj Mahal are so that you can learn and connect with ancient history as well as go to admire the beautiful architecture. If you have already booked a trip to India, then the Taj Mahal should definitely be at the top of your list to visit.

Learn And Connect With The History Of The Taj Mahal

Visiting the Taj Mahal complex in India enables you to connect with a piece of ancient history in real life. Being there in person is a much more powerful experience compared to seeing pictures online or reading about it in a book.

You can explore the Taj Mahal on your own, although it is advised to get a guided tour which may take 2-3 hours. In that way, you will be able to dive deeper into the history behind the Taj Mahal and be immersed in its atmosphere.

The Taj Mahal continues to stand as a symbol of true and eternal love, even though it was built so many years ago for one emperor’s late wife. If you are travelling through India, the Taj Mahal is a must-see building to connect deeper to a more spiritual side of what may appear as just a famous, ancient, and popular tourist attraction.

Admire The Gorgeous Architecture Of The Taj Mahal Complex

The whole area of the Taj Mahal is gorgeous. The mausoleum is made of bricks with white Makrana marble on the surface and the guest house and mosque are made from bricks and red sandstone. The walls of the Taj Mahal are covered in mosaics using precious stones and intricate designs.

The Taj Mahal is 73 m tall and is located on a 7m plinth. The main feature of the Taj Mahal is the large, gorgeous dome which is 17.7m in diameter and 24.4m in height. It is covered by a brass finial with a crescent moon motif where the ends of the moon are horns facing upwards, pointing upwards to heaven.

Four smaller domes surround the mausoleum and four minarets are located at the four corners of the Taj Mahal complex.

The buildings and garden are constructed so it is all symmetrical. The main gateway has quotes from the Quran written in Arabic calligraphy above the doorway by etching black stone into the white marble. You will notice eleven small domes above the entrance on the gateway as well as on the other side.

The mosque is located on the western side of the complex and faces the holy city of Mecca. The mosque is used solely for prayer purposes. On the eastern side, there is the guest house, which brings balance and harmony to the whole Taj Mahal complex.

The beautiful garden is separated into four parts, which have four quadrants, therefore creating sixteen areas within the garden. Each of the four parts of the garden contains areas of water. Together, these four bodies of water are a symbol of paradise, which is represented by water, wine, milk, and honey, as mentioned in the Quran.

There are so many components to the Taj Mahal complex and they all work in harmony with each other, which amplifies the beauty of the place.

When And How To Visit The Taj Mahal

You should visit the Taj Mahal anytime you can. It is a place you want to go to at least once in your life. If you don’t want to travel during the very hot summer season, you could travel around October to March when there will be cooler temperatures.

You can buy your ticket to enter the Taj Mahal when you get there, or you can purchase it online beforehand. Your ticket is valid for three hours. If you want to stay at the Taj Mahal for longer, you will need to purchase another one.

There are two ticket options available, one to enter the mausoleum and one to enter the gardens. You can get one ticket or both, it is up to you depending on what areas you wanted to see. You need to remove your shoes before entering the mausoleum, and you are not allowed to take photos or videos while you are inside.

The Taj Mahal is closed to the public on Fridays, but every other day, it opens up around 30 minutes before sunrise and closes just before sunset. There is night viewing available five days per month that you can get tickets for as well.

Over 12,000 people visit the Taj Mahal every day. The number of tourists visiting the Taj Mahal significantly increased once it was declared one of the Seven Wonders Of The World in 2007.

However, a special time to visit the Taj Mahal is during the time around sunrise or sunset. This is because you can see the sun rise or set along with the beautiful view of the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal can appear a different colour depending on the time of day and the light. It can appear pinkish, whitish, and golden.

You can visit the Taj Mahal using a variety of modes of transport. It is not difficult to get there and admire the sacred site. You can get a plane or train to a nearby city and then get a taxi or bus to the Taj Mahal.

Other Sacred Places To Visit That Are Close To The Taj Mahal

In addition to the Taj Mahal, there are other stunning places to visit nearby. These include other tombs, gardens, and temples, such as

Akbar’s Tomb

This tomb has unique architecture and is the resting place of Emperor Akbar.

Agra Fort

This is a beautiful red sandstone fort that was built by Emperor Akbar and used to imprison Shah Jahan. Agra Fort is also acknowledged as a world heritage site.

Ram Bagh

This garden is the oldest Mughal garden in India and was built in 1528. It is only 3km away from the Taj Mahal, on the banks of the Yamuna River. It used to be known as the Garden Of Relaxation.

Mankameshwar Temple

This temple is one of four temples that are built dedicated to Lord Shiva and it is about 2.5km away from the Taj Mahal.

Vrindavan

This holy city has many temples that tell stories about Lord Krishna. There are many pilgrimages to Vrindavan.

Itmad-Ud-Daulah’s Tomb

This tomb is known to be the inspiration behind the architecture of the Taj Mahal. It has stunning arched entrances, intricate carvings, and floral patterns all around the building.

Fatehpur Sikri

This is an ancient imperial city of the Moghul Dynasty, within it contains a variety of buildings and mausoleums.

Be sure to check out these other locations during your travels around India. These places are all close by to the Taj Mahal, so you do not need to travel far if you are already visiting the famous landmark. All these places have a unique atmosphere and story to tell as well as differences in the architecture.

14 Interesting Facts About The Famous Taj Mahal

Here are a few facts about the Taj Mahal that you may not know.

Over 20,000 people came from Central Asia and India to work on the Taj Mahal.
During the 20th century, there was a restoration project on it.
The materials used to build the Taj Mahal were transported by over 1000 elephants
Emperor Shah Jahan’s wife, for who he built the Taj Mahal in her memory was named Mumtaz Mahal
There is a legend that Shah Jahan wanted to build a black marble mausoleum for himself
The four minarets that are at each corner of the Taj Mahal were built to lean slightly outwards. This was to protect the Taj Mahal if there was ever an earthquake.
Vehicles must stay at least 500m away from the Taj Mahal. Therefore, you can walk or use an electric car or vehicle to get to the main entrance.
Approximately 28 types of precious stones were used to adorn the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal would have collapsed if it wasn’t on the Yamuna River bank, which keeps it strong and sturdy
The Taj Mahal is five feet taller than the Qutub Minar
It is said that the gardens used to be abundant with roses, daffodils, and fruit trees
The Taj Mahal was not originally planned to be built in Agra. It was first intended to be built in Burhanpur, which was where Shah Jahan’s wife Mumtaz died, but he couldn’t get enough white marble there.
Shah Jahan’s previous wives, as well as his best servants, were also buried in the complex but not in the same location where he and his wife were buried.
On the inside of the Taj Mahal, there is a beautiful lamp that is made of copper and weighs approximately 60kgs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Architectural Style Of The Taj Mahal?

The mausoleum and whole area of the Taj Mahal are mainly Islamic and Mughal architecturally inspired with some Indian and Persian influence as well.

What Is Prohibited Inside The Taj Mahal?

In the Taj Mahal you are not allowed to eat food, smoke, carry a knife or gun, or have electronic goods on you (except for a phone you can have it on silent or switch off). Tourists are requested not to make loud noises or carry large bags around. It is advised that you do not touch or scratch the walls or surfaces of the structures within the Taj Mahal complex.

What Is The Maximum Limit For Night Viewing At The Taj Mahal?

400 is the maximum number of tourists allowed for visiting the Taj Mahal at night. This number of tourists is separated into groups of 50 people each. You will need to buy a ticket at least a day beforehand and the night viewing goes for 30 minutes.

Final Words

Overall, you should visit the Taj Mahal because it holds so much history and beauty. If you love visiting sacred sites and love gorgeous architecture, then the Taj Mahal is a place for you. If you are travelling around India, be sure to visit the famous Taj Mahal.