Taj Mahal

Location: On the banks of river Yamuna in Agra
Year of Construction: 1631-1653
Built By: Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan
Spread Over: 42 acres
Significance: One of the Seven Wonders of the World

Taj Mahal of India - "the epitome of love", "a monument of immeasurable beauty". The beauty of this magnificent monument is such that it is beyond the scope of words. The thoughts that come into the mind while watching the Taj Mahal of Agra is not just its phenomenal beauty, but the immense love which was the reason behind its construction. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan got this monument constructed in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, with whom he fell in love at the first sight. The very first sight of the Taj Mahal, the epitome of love and romance leaves one mesmerized.

Standing majestically on the banks of River Yamuna, the Taj Mahal is synonymous with love and romance. It is believed that the name "Taj Mahal" was derived from the name of Shah Jahan wife Mumtaz Mahal and means "Crown Palace". The purity of the white marble, the exquisite ornamentation, precious gemstones used and its picturesque location, all make Taj Mahal travel gain a place amongst the most popular ones. However, unless and until, one knows the love story behind the Tajmahal of India, it will come up as just a beautiful building. But, the love behind this outstanding monument is what has given a life to this monument.

How to Reach :

The Taj Mahal, an embodiment of love and romance, is located in the city of Agra that lies approximately 204 km to the south of Delhi. If you are planning a trip to explore the beauty of this splendid monument then the very first question that comes in your mind is- how to reach the Taj Mahal. We have devoted this section on discussing various ways of traveling to the Taj Mahal in India.

By Air
The fastest way of reaching Taj Mahal, Agra is by air. The city of Taj, Agra, has its own airport that is around 7 km from the city center. Indian Airlines operates flights to Agra on a daily basis.

By Rail
There is a good network of trains connecting Agra with the rest of the country. Apart from the main railway station of Agra Cantonment, there are other two stations also, that of Raja-ki-Mundi and Agra Fort. The main trains connecting Agra with Delhi are Palace on Wheels, Shatabdi, Rajdhani, and Taj Express.

By Road
There are regular bus services from Agra to a number of important cities. The main bus stand of Idgah has a number of buses running for Delhi, Jaipur, Mathura, Fatehpur-Sikri, etc.

Local Transportation
After reaching the city also, you need some sort of local transport to reach Taj Mahal. You can easily get taxi, tempo, auto-rickshaw and cycle rickshaw in the city that will take you to your destination. Prepaid taxis are also available if you want to visit the various places near the city. For the adventurous kind, there are bicycles that can be hired on hourly basis from different parts of the city. Since, diesel and petrol vehicle are not permitted in the Taj Mahal area, you can find battery-operated buses, horse-driven tongas, rickshaws and other pollution-free vehicles there.

Best Time to Visit: October to March (Winters)

The best time to visit Taj Mahal revolves around the weather of Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal. As per the climate of Agra, the peak season for Taj Mahal visit is the winter season

Taj Mahotsav Agra

 Location: Shilpgram, Near Taj Mahal, Agra
Time: February
Duration: 10 days
Organized by: Uttar Pradesh Tourism
Significance: Celebrated to promote rich arts, crafts, culture, cuisine, dance and music of the state
Highlights: A procession taken out in the typical Mughal era style, food festival, performances by folk musicians and dancers, etc

Taj Mahotsav is celebrated at Agra in the month of February for ten days. Organized by the Uttar Pradesh Tourism, the Taj Mahotsav is mainly dedicated to the promotion of Uttar Pradesh's rich arts, crafts, culture, cuisine, dance and music. Infact, it serves as an acknowledgment to the craftsmen as well as the exponents of art, music and cuisine. The venue of the festival of Taj Mahostav is Shilpgram, which is stone's throw away from Taj Mahal. The festival starts with a procession including bejeweled elephants and camels, drum beaters, folk artists and master craftsmen.

This procession is an effort to reconstruct the ones that were taken out during the time of the Mughals. The crafts that are showcased in the festival have immense variety and include:

• Woodcarvings of Saharanpur
• Brass and other metal ware of Moradabad
• Handmade carpets of Badohi
• Blue pottery of Khurja
• Chikan work of Lucknow
• Silk of Banares, etc

One of the major attractions of the Taj Mahal Utsav of Agra is the Food Festival, where you can get some of the oldest and the most typical delicacies from the interiors of Uttar Pradesh. Folk music and folk dances of Bundelkhand, 'Nautanki' (Drama), 'Sapera' dance of Rajasthan will further entertain you in this amazing festival.
 NearBy Attractions

The city of Agra, being the capital of Mughal Empire for a long time, was witness to construction of numerous buildings on an elaborate scale. Infact, apart from the Taj Mahal, Agra boasts of a number of monuments that are quite magnificent. Taj Mahal attractions include famous places near the monument that are worth visiting. Given below is further information on the popular attractions near Taj Mahal at Agra.

Agra Fort
One of the famous tourist places near Taj Mahal, India, is the Agra Fort. Situated near Taj Mahal, it was constructed by the Emperor Akbar in the year 1565. However, numerous additions were carried on in this fort, till the time of Shah Jahan. A beautiful example of Mughal architecture, Agra Fort is made up entirely of red sandstone and a number of magnificent buildings inside its complex.

Akbar's Tomb
The tomb of Akbar is situated at Sikandra, four km to the northeast of Agra. The architectural style of this tomb is quite different from almost all the other tombs of the Mughals. Infact, it is a kind of fusion of numerous different styles of architecture.

Fatehpur Sikri
The deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri is situated near Agra. Constructed by Mughal emperor Akbar, it was completed in the year 1584. A one of its kind city, it counted amongst the most majestic cities of the Mughal Empire. It is difficult to explain more about this architectural marvel. You will have to explore Fatehpur Sikri yourself to appreciate it truly.

Itmad-ud-Daulah Tomb
Noor Jahan, the wife of Jehangir, got the Itmad-ud-Daulah's tomb constructed in between 1622 and 1628 AD. It was constructed in the memory of her father Ghiyas-ud-Din Beg. The tomb, an opulent structure, is considered to be an antecedent of the Taj Mahal because of its intricate carvings and inlay work.

Vrindavan
The holy city of Vrindavan, situated near Agra, is one of the most revered pilgrimages in India. The city is very closely associated with Lord Krishna and is said to house as many as 4,000 temples, dedicated to him.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal