The Taj Mahal, a symbol of an eternal love story, one of the Seven Wonders of the Contemporary World and recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1983, is the place many people wish to once set foot in.
It is a beautiful temple by architecture and materials and the eternal love story that has made the eternal value of a unique tomb in the world.
To this day, after nearly 400 years, the Taj Mahal is still a virgin white jewel, shimmering with nothing to overshadow its magnificent beauty.
From a promise of faithfulness …
The actual Taj Mahal love story is about the beautiful love of the 5th king of the Mughal empire, King Shah Jahan, who ruled India for 30 years (1628-1658), and his beloved wife, Queen Mahal Mumtaz. Although she had been engaged since she was 14 years old, it was not until five years later that the two of them became married.
Mahal Mumtaz is not Shah Jahan’s only wife. He also had two other wives, both for political reasons, and Mahal Mumtaz was Shah Jahan’s, only love.
During 19 years of husband and wife friendship, Mahal Mumtalz has always stood with her husband and fought politically, even when pregnant.
Fourteen children are the result of their love, but unfortunately, the last birth of a daughter is also when Mahal Mumtaz died forever at the age of 39.
Before her death, Queen Mahal Mumtalz made four petitions to King Shah Jahan: marry again, take care of and love you, build a temple worthy of your love and visit her grave every year on the day she died.
The Taj Mahal promises Shah Jahan made to prove his faithful love for his beloved wife.
… to the work of eternal love – Taj Mahal love story
Perhaps under the golden stream, Mahal Mumtalz could not imagine Shah Jahan fulfilled her wish with such a magnificent Taj Mahal.
Located on the banks of the Yamuna River, on an area of about 12,000 square meters south of the ancient city of Agra, the Taj Mahal is the finest model of Mughal Architecture, a fusion of architectural elements. Architecture in Persia, Turkey, India, and Islam.
The entire Taj Mahal includes five zones: Darwaza (main gate), Bageecha (garden space), Masjid (mosque), Naqqar Khana (guest house), and Rauza (the Taj Mahal).
All of them reach the most accurate level of symmetry that no works can surpass.
Shah Jahan took 22 years (1631 – 1653), recruiting about 20,000 workers to fulfill his wife’s wishes. Temple construction materials are only white marble imported from all parts of India and neighboring countries. On that pure marble background, 28 kinds of precious stones and semi-precious stones are also inlaid to adorn the project.
Four hundred years ago, when no machines and tools were still rudimentary, the mosaic details were drawn and attached by artisans with the same precision.
When the temple was built, King Shah Jahan only designed the resting place for his wife, not for a second person, including himself. But after his death, Shah Jahan was also taken to the Taj Mahal and rested next to his beloved wife.
Now, the Taj Mahal is still splendid, shimmering according to the times of the day and more magical under the full moon. The Taj Mahal is excellently beautiful, so incredible that it is beyond the expressive ability of the descriptive words.
If you visit the Taj Mahal
Transport
Taj Mahal temple belongs to the ancient capital of Agra in Uttar Pradesh state, north of India, 200 km south of Delhi.
There are many ways to get to Agra from all over India.
But most tourists fly to the capital, Delhi, and then try to reach Agra. From Delhi, there are many vehicles and vehicles to Agra. If you are from the airport, you can rent a taxi right at the airport.
There are prepaid taxi service offices available, and prices vary widely. Taxi service inside the airport is more expensive, with a 4-seater car for both departure and return is 13,000 rupees (about 200 USD).
If you go out of the arrival hall of the airport, there is also another prepaid taxi counter, much cheaper, only 8,000 rupees (110 USD), 4-seater car with air conditioning.
Said to pay in advance, but you only pay half, as a deposit, the next day you pay the rest to the driver. The price of 8,000 rupees includes all taxes and fees. You can also read New Tourist Places in India | Places to Visit in India (Updated 2021)
Time
There are many tours to Agra. There are 1-day tours, 2-day tours. The return tour during the day will be tough because the time in the car takes 10 hours, both going and going back will not have enough time to explore Agra.
Because in addition to the Taj Mahal, there is also the Red Fort, also known as the Agra Fort, the palace of the Mughal empire.
This fortress is built of red sandstone, on a large campus and overlooks the Taj Mahal. Exploring the Red Fort also takes about 2 hours.
So it is best to travel two days a night (24 hours) to have more time to explore Agra, which will be very comfortable. The Taj Mahal is closed every Friday, so be careful when planning.
Staying
Anyone who comes to Agra goes to the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort.
So the most convenient is to book a room near the Taj Mahal.
Taj Mahal Temple has three entrances in 3 directions: West – South – North, East is bordered by Yamuna River.
I rented the Daawat Palace hotel on Purani Mandi Fatehabad, 500 meters from the West Gate. Basic air-conditioned room with a terrace view overlooking the Taj Mahal. The price for a double room is 1,200 rupees (20 USD). You can also read How to Plan a Budget Trip of Popular Attractions of India.
Note when entering the Taj Mahal
When entering the Taj Mahal, you can only bring small bags with cameras and phones. No food, no cosmetics.
You will be given a 500 ml water bottle and a shoe wrap to bring into the temple when buying tickets. For foreigners, tickets to the Taj Mahal are 1,000 rupees (15$) and they can only stay on the temple grounds for 3 hours.
The time is specified on the ticket. If you stay over the time limit, you will have to pay extra. The temple opens from 6 am to 6 pm. But in fact, around 5 am, the temple was opened because many people liked to enter the temple to watch the sunrise. If it’s 5 am, staying at the temple is also calculated from 6 am to 9 am, meaning you will have more time in the temple.
Come once to the Taj Mahal to listen to stories and admire this historic work’s unique architecture. Hope the above travel experiences will be of great help to you.
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