Taj Mahal: the monument of love. Many of us have seen the stunning image of the Taj Mahal on numerous occasions, but everyone 05/not be aware of its original construction purpose. In fact, the Taj Mahal is a tomb built by the emperor Sha Jahan in honour of his favourite wife following her death. Considered one of the most beautiful monuments of the world, it is not a suprise that it has been elected as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Without any doubt, you will be impressed by the luxury, grandiosity and the beauty of this mausoleum built more than three hundred years ago. This temple is located in Agra, along Jumna’s river. Agra is a city 200 kilometers in the south of Delhi in India.
History
The history of the temple goes back to 1607 when a young prince of 15 years old met a 14 year old Persian woman, called Mumtaz Mahal. The young prince fell in love with Mumtaz Mahal in the market. However the strict laws of the state forbid the two from seeing each other for 5 years, until the Muslim law had changed. Thereafter, the couple married in 1612 and enjoyed 19 years of marriage. Sadly, Mumtaz Mahal died following giving birth to their 14th child. Her final wish was to have a tomb built for her. The construction of the tomb commenced in 1632 with completion in 1654. Controversy surrounds the construction of the Taj Mahal, as the Prince lost his throne during the process. In abstract, the history of love and grief has left us with one of the most beautiful monuments in the world: The Taj Mahal.
How to arrive there
The best way to arrive to this amazing monument is flying into New Delhi. Following your arrival there are a number of options you can choose from. This includes renting a car, traveling on public transport, including a bus or train.
Opening times and prices
Opening hours of the Taj Mahal are from sunrise to sunset, so it varies day by day. Also the monument is closed on Fridays. When planning your visit be sure to check the website to schedule your itinerary accordingly. InsureandGo recommend that you give yourself plenty of time to arrive at the Taj Mahal to view the sunrise, as the traffic in Agra and the queues can create delays. And you don’t want to miss the amazing views at sunrise!
Interesting Facts
According to the legend, the emperor intended to build a black temple with the same characteristics of the Taj Mahal in front of it to bury his body following his death. However as the emperor lost power, this construction did not progress. Eventually, when the Prince did die, his body was buried next to his wife. Also, amazingly 1000 elephants and 20 000 workers contributed to the physical construction of the Taj Mahal.
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