Taj Mahal – The White Legend of Love

Tajmahal on the bank of river Yamuna

“Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones”
-- Sir Edwin Arnold

Applauded as the zenith of medieval architectures, the Taj Mahal nestling on the shifting sands of the shimmering Yamuna, is most alluring in the relative quietness of early morning, shrouded mists as the colour changes from soft yellow to pearly cream and then the most dazzling white.

The Taj Mahal is generally considered as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements of Persian, Indian and Islamic craftsmenship.

Built by emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal has become a epitome of love because of the romance of its inspiration. This enduring icon of India, which even today captures the imagination of billions across the world, is indeed a fascination to experience on your next visit to India.

The Creation of the 7th Wonders

Taj Mahal

Legend has it that the emperor loved his wife so much that, after her death, he went into seclusion for two years and reappeared wearing glasses and hair completely grey.

The picturesque Taj Mahal does not adequately convey the legend, but made many eminent writers including nobel laurate Rabindranath Tagore to say the mausoleum 'a teardrop on the cheek of time'.

Taj Mahal means 'Crown Palace' and is in fact the most well preserved and architecturally beautiful tomb in the world. Walk amidst the lush green manicured gardens and see the marble magic standing stately as a symbol of eternal love; affording an ambrosial green and white matrix of colours. The tomb is set against the shimmering sands of river Yamuna and it is believed that it is this background that works for its magic of colours that, through their reflection, change the view of the Taj.

The colours change at different hours of the day and during different seasons; portraying different moods of a woman. The Taj is pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden when the moon shines before its marble head.

Walk on the marble floor that caress a fascinating calligraphy and mosaicwork adorned with precious stones. Once inside, you will be overwhelmed to see elaborate marble designs embossed cheek-by-jowl with semi-precious stones such as jade, crystal, turquoise and coral. Ask your guide and he might help you to see exquisite magical charms of the mausoleum; optical effects that eventually create an illusion.

Walk on the sun-kissed marble ramparts and chuck a gaze at Yamuna, the emerald waters flowing silently in the shadow of history. Stay some more time until dusk breaks. Believe us, seeing the sheer white magic by moonlight is a lifetime experience.

How to Reach

Indian Airlines/Alliance Air connects Agra to Delhi, Khajuraho and Varanasi with a thrice a week flight. The airport in Kheria is about 6 km from downtown and tourists can get multiple plying options to reach their desired destination.

Agra being an important centre of the Central Railway, is well connected to all parts of the country. The two fastest connections from Delhi are the super-fast Shatabdi Express (journey time 2 hours) and Taj Express (2.5 hours).

Both the trains return to Delhi in the evening, making even a day-long excursion to Agra possible. Driving on NH 2 from Delhi is a pleasure because of its four-lane double carriageway with very good and smooth surface. The 200 km distance from Delhi can easily be covered in less than four hours.