THE MESMERIZING BEAUTY OF TAJ

Is there any mausoleum more beautiful than Taj?

At the very least, there’s no mausoleum more grand, no declaration of love more apparent than building a beautiful marble masterpiece for one’s favorite wife…Shah Jahan built it in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.The construction started in 1632 and ended in 1643 while those surrounding buildings and garden were finished 5 years later.

That old saying ‘patience is a virtue’ really comes into its own when discussing the Taj Mahal.

Be prepared to be surrounded by hundreds (if not thousands) of people. These include Indian men, women and children.The entrance queue can be pretty long during peak season but as long as you’re mentally prepared, you’ll be fine. What’s to come is more than worth the wait…

What to bring to the Taj Mahal

Always leave your valuables in the hotel. There are lockers available at the Taj but it’s best to have minimal belongings on you so you don’t spend too much time checking in.

You really only need to bring the following in one small bag:

• Passport

• Money

• Water

• Medicine

• Camera

• Phone

What to wear to the Taj Mahal

There is no dress code but you should still be respectful. If you want to enter the mosque, you will need to cover your head, shoulders and knees.It gets hot in Agra and there is very little shade, so wear light clothing and make sure you wear sunscreen. Then again, Agra also gets very cold in winter (Nov-Feb) so layers are your friend too.If you visit with Intrepid, you’ll be taken there earlier in the day or later in the afternoon to avoid the worst of the heat.

Other things you need to know

No food is allowed inside.

Cigarettes and lighters are also not allowed.

Tripods and additional lighting equipment need prior permission to be brought with. Photography inside the mausoleum is prohibited. Most electronics (except cameras and small video cameras) are not allowed.

The beautiful detailed work

  If you are  visiting Taj for the first time let me tell you one thing just be prepare for walking and second thing don't forget to take the glimpse of those beautiful details which will just mesmerize you.

Every wall is full of some unique designs and small and minute carvings.These are some of its exterior designs the walls and jails.

Not only the walls but its interiors are also very beautiful and breathtaking.

The flooring and the minute details and sculpted walls and jails are something you can never get enough of looking at. Besides this,

  The room where both cenotaph is placed is very quite. And it is not just a grave or something but we can say that it's a symbol of pure love that both have for one another.

Shah Jhan's cenotaph is besides Mumtaz's to the west side and is only visible element in the entire complex.His cenotaph is bigger than his wife's but reflects the same elements.

On the lid of the casket there is a traditional structure of pen box 

Tips for taking photos at the Taj Mahal

Everyone wants that iconic shot of themselves at the Taj Mahal. You know the one – where you sit on the bench and the grandeur of the marble mausoleum forms the backdrop.

But if you’re feeling creative and want to mix things up, there are tons of different angles worth seeking out.

• Shot from the arch of the main doorway
• Capture the reflection of the fountains that line the route towards the Taj Mahal’s main platform
• Shot of Taj Mahal from the riverside with the reflection on the river
• Shot from the other side of the river, ‘Mehtab Bagh’, where you get a glimpse of Taj
• You can also get great photos from the many rooftops of restaurants close to the Taj Mahal. 

If you walk around the right side of Taj , you can get amazing view of the riverbank. (Always go in groups and get a rickshaw to take you there and back cheaply.And simply focus on taking in all the magic. And the sunset looks just amazing from there.

A final note about the Taj Mahal’s mud therapy

As you have heard or read, Taj Mahal has recently been undergoing a thorough cleaning.

 Yep, to be precise, a mud mask as of April 2018.

Why? Air pollution from factories in Agra had been slowly turning the Taj Mahal’s ivory-white surfaces yellow – and this was one way of restoring them to their former glory. The work – applying a clay traditionally used to clean marble to the entire structure of the Taj – was carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India. And this work was part of a series of restorative projects carried out on the historic site.