TAJ MAHAL
Tuesday, 16th October, 2007
Shahjahan’s most celebrated building is the Taj Mahal on the left bank of the Jamuna in Agra. Built as a tomb for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal (d. 1631), it marks the culmination of the evolving garden tombs. The three-storeyed gate of the Taj, opening to the south, has a massive archway. The upper lines in the ornamental inscriptions decorating the archway, which one would expect to appear smaller, seem just the same size as the lower ones.
The tomb itself, set in a lovely garden and clad in glistening white marble from Makran in Jodhpur, is reflected in a long narrow pool of water in front. On the other side it overlooks the flowing river Jamuna. To the west rises a contrasting red sandstone mosque, and opposite stands its duplicate, a hall known as jawab (answer). Framing the tomb are four graceful minarets crowned with eight-windowed cupolas, their white marble revetment picked out with black stone in imitation of mortar.
The dome, bulging gently before dipping towards its gilded bronze finial and rising from a plain broad band fringed with conventional petals, dominates the tomb. The square tomb has chamfered corners, framed by two broad arches.
The Taj’s magnificent recessed central arch leads into a smaller arch containing an entrance door and filled with marble screens. This opens into the dark octagonal tomb chamber, lit only by the light filtering through the screens and the high glazed windows. Another elegant marble screen encloses the finely cut marble cenotaphs of the Emperor and Empress. The chamber’s hemispherical ceiling is the low face of the second dome enclosed within the outer shell. The conventional foliage on the outer walls of the cenotaph and their surrounding screen is depicted in the finest pietra dura work and bas-relief. The impression of richness, surpassing that of I’timadu’d-Dawla’s tomb, derives from the increased use of semi-precious stones such as lapis lazuli and cornelian, although the work is in fact not so ornate.
This is the most famous building in India and is known throughout the world, now one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Its glory springs from a perfection of balance and proportion such as few other buildings anywhere possess. On passing through the gateway the first sight of this great white tomb, reflected in the pool and surrounded by a beautiful garden, produces an intense aesthetic thrill that no other building can give. This is not the ordinary world; rather, it reflects the heaven of the Islamic mystic, a perfection and security beyond space and time. Most other tombs are earthbound by comparison.
How to reach Agra?
AIR: Agra airport is 7 km from the city center and 3 km from Idgah bus stand. Indian airlines operate daily tourist shuttle flights to Agra, Khajuraho, Varanasi and back. It only takes 40 minutes from Delhi to Agra.
ROAD: Idgah bus stand is the main bus stand of Agra, from where one can catch buses for Delhi, Jaipur, Mathura, Fatehpur-Sikri, etc. Buses for Mathura also leave from Agra Fort bus stand.
RAIL: Agra is well connected by railroad. The main railway station is the Agra Cantonment station. Agra is well connected by rail to Delhi, Varanasi and cities of Rajasthan. Trains like Palace on Wheel, Shatabdi, Rajdhani, and Taj Express are the best choices if you want to reach Agra from Delhi.
Local Transport in Agra
You can travel to different parts of the city using different modes of transport like Taxi, tempo, auto-rickshaw and cycle rickshaw from Taj area. Prepaid taxis and autos from the railway station are available. Prepaid transport is also available for excursions in and around the city limits. Bicycles can be hired on hourly basis from different parts of the city. It is to be remembered that no diesel or petrol vehicle are allowed to ply in the Taj area. There are Battery-Operated buses, horse-driven Tongas, rickshaws, and other pollution- free vehicles are allowed to conserve the beauty of this great monument.
What would be more exciting and scintillating then planning your Taj Mahal tour in Agra during the mesmerizing Taj Festival? A ten-day event, the Taj festival - called Taj Mahotsav - at Agra is a cultural introduction of India. With the wondrous Taj Mahal serving as the backdrop for the annual festival, the Taj Mahotsav is usually held in the month of February. Agra travel & Taj Mahal travel is feasible throughout the year, but one must avoid the extreme hot summers (April-June) and rainy season (July-Sept). The most suitable time to tour Agra is in winters.
