What Is the Taj Mahal?
The Taj Mahal is a magnificent mausoleum to the Mughal Empress, Mumtaz Mahal and my 6th Wonder of the World!
What Makes It Wonderful?
Hailed as a monument to love, the Taj Mahal towers at 240 feet in height, built of Rajasthani marble, hauled in by 1,000 elephants, and inlaid with semi-precious gems sourced from as far away as Russia and the Mediterranean! Each entrance is inscribed with Quranic script, also onyx inlay, which skews larger the higher it goes so all the script looks the same size when seen from below! At the end of a cherbagh garden that represents Paradise, this vast monument shifts color from pink to white to yellow depending on the time of day, meant to represent the Empress’ moods!
It took 21 years to construct the Taj Mahal complex from 1632 to 1653 at a cost of close to $1 billion modern dollars! 22,000 artisans from across Central Asia contributed to its construction, some of whose descendants still do maintenance on the marble and inlay!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Volunteer with the World Heritage Volunteers!
- Donate to the World Monuments Fund!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
Dharmapuri, Forest Colony, Tajganj
Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
The Taj Mahal is open to visitors Saturday through Thursday from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunrise!
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