Talk about India and the very first name that ever striked to everyone's mind is Taj Mahal . One of the 9 wonder of the world, it is now our nation's identity. India has many impeccable palaces, Himalayas, beaches, and picturesque desert etc... but somehow, the Taj Mahal still remains the top spot to visit and see in India. No matter how many images we have seen of this monument, this state of the art white marble structure takes your breath away with just how stunning it is in real life. It is a complete masterpiece in itself.
The Taj Mahal remains an interesting enigma and symbol of India’s colorful and storied history. Taj Mahal is considered to be the epitome of love and one of the most beautiful mausoleums in India. It is an apparent token of love by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. It took 21 years, built between 1631 and 1650 to come up with this epitome of true love and passion. To get more history on Taj Mahal learn here
Taj Mahal was declared as UNESCO world heritage site in 1983 and has been a winner of several laurels ever since. As I was going through my albums, I found myself tangled again in its memory. It was designed and the work of Ustad Ahmad Lahori, a master architect of that era.
The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, approx. 226km from Delhi. The most convenient way to travel to Agra from Delhi is by train or in case one is interested on road trip then taking on the the Yamuna Express Highway is better option. It will take 4-5 hrs to make it to the place.
The best time to travel to Taj Mahal, is from October to December and from February to March. The winter season during this time of the years in India makes it the most pleasant time for an exclusive experince. The vehicle parking place is quite a far away from the main building. However to give a differrnt tour experonce you can take a camel cart ride to the place. It is available on sharing basis.
The entrance gate will give you hhe glimpse of what lies ahead. It is a pure architect in itself.
Taj Mahal is every photographer’s dream. The besuty of mughal architect lies once you cross the gran entrance gate. Don’t stop for pictures just after entering Taj Mahal as there will be tons of other visitor for photographs. Keep walking ahead to get a better view of the Taj Mahal and also to walk past the crowds for a solo picture or selfie with the white beauty.
Take time to view the Taj from every angle, once inside. You can never have too many pictures of it. Taj Mahal consists of an ornamented gateway, a stunningly designed garden, a beautiful water system, and a mosque. It has been said that the colour of the white marble varies with the sun light. The queen’s tomb is complemented by the four minarets. The whole view of the Taj Mahal complex is impressively beautiful. White marble adds to its ethereal beauty, as do the floral decorations, bands of black marble Arabic calligraphy, and carved marble screens.
It has been said, that thsse white marbles werr brought on elephant from Makrana 300 km approx 188 miles away in Rajasthan. The design and architect has Persian influences like the Dome’s design and inclusion of ‘arched entrances’. Be sure to get up close and admire the detailed flourishes in the stonework. The process of thinly carving semi.precious stones in geometric florals to gently inlay that into the carefully carved white marble is what makes the building stand different from others.
The more you walk aroumd, the more you fall in love. The reason it is considered to be epitome of love is worth looking at from different angles. But make sure you are physically fit enough to spend the time. As the walk is too lengthy and go unnoticed.
Peace!
Namaste @steemflow
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