Dear LG Community,
I’m excited to start another series on a topic I’m passionate about : Heritage of India. This series is based on my recent heritage tour of Agra under the guidance of popular historian Sohail Hashmi.
The Taj Mahal
The 4th Part of this series is about a monument which even many presidents of the United States don’t miss during their official visits to India. Yes, the one and only Taj Mahal. Almost everyone knows the history of the iconic Indian monument, hence I shall only cover a few lesser know facts about the Taj in this post.
- The Tajganj Gate - The Tajganj gate is one of the four entrances to the Taj Mahal, it is open only on Fridays when the Masjid inside the Taj premises is open for prayers. The Taj Mahal remains closed on Fridays. It is said that the people living around the Tajganj area are the descendants of the original artists who constructed the Taj Mahal. Even today, they sell authentic marble products with delicate carvings and jaali work
- Many famous poets like Nazeer Akbarabadi were born in Tajganj area
- The top finial of the Taj is half metre taller than the Qutub Minar
- All 4 minarets of the Taj are constructed in such a way that they are leaning outwards. This was done to ensure that, in case of an earthquake, the minarets don’t fall on top of the Taj Mahal
- Seasoned woods were used to line the inside walls of the numerous wells which were dug underground, which formed the foundation of the Taj. This way, the foundation would be stable for hundreds of years
- The Taj Mahal was not the first white marble mausoleum. Hoshang Shah’s mausoleum in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh was the first such mausoleum.
- The Adil Shahi Mausoleum and the tomb of Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan inspired the construction of the Taj Mahal
- Ahmed Shah Lahori was the chief designer of the Taj Mahal
- Mehtab Bagh has the same symmetry as that of the Taj. It was originally constructed by Babur, Shah Jahan redesigned it when Taj Mahal was being constructed.
- The Taj Mahal museum inside the Taj complex has a collection of very interesting historical artefacts related to the construction of the Taj. Its a must visit while touring the Taj complex
The Yamuna bank as viewed from Taj Mahal
Mosque adjoining the Taj Mahal
Beautiful stone carvings
Mehtab Bagh, as viewed from Taj Mahal
Group pic in front of the iconic monument
Pro Tip : Avoid visiting during weekends, preferable to visit during sunrise, less crowded and beautiful photographs can be captured.
Accessibility :
Tickets can be purchased online or through the ticket counter in the entrance
How to reach Agra :
- By Road : Agra is well-connected by road, notably via the Yamuna Expressway from Delhi, which offers a smooth and quick journey. You can travel by private car, taxi, or numerous bus services from surrounding cities.
- By Air: Agra has its own airport, Kheria Airport (AGR), which is primarily a military base but offers limited commercial flights, mainly connecting to Delhi. Many travelers opt to fly to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and then travel to Agra by road.
Recommended Stay Option :
Cover Image created using GeminiAI.
Link to my previous posts in this series :
- Step Back in Time : Your Guide to Agra’s Historical Places - Part 1
- Step Back in Time : Your Guide to Agra’s Historical Places - Part 2
- Step Back in Time : Your Guide to Agra’s Historical Places - Part 3
Next part in this series coming soon…
thank you for sharing
