"agra" Agra by randychiara

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Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal - Agra
Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal in Agra India, is magnificent indeed. When walking towards it I was approached by a man who pointed me the best spots for taking photographs (for a fee of course, that is), but of course i was there with my Indian friends, so NO FEE ihihih.
Sjah Jahan was struck with grieve when his wife Mumtaz Mahal died in 1631. So he had the Taj Mahal built as a memorial grave for his diseased wife. It took 20.000 laborers 22 years to complete Taj Mahal. Their son Aurangzeb had his father put next to Mumtaz when Sjah Jahan died himself. Not that his son was a kind man: he locked up his father in the red Fortress of Agra, leaving Shah Jahan to watch the grave of his beloved wife from a distance, till his death before he showed this kindness.

History of Taj Mahal India
History of Taj Mahal India - Agra

The origin of the name the "Taj Mahal" is not clear. Court histories from Shah Jehan's reign only call it the rauza (tomb) of Mumtaz Mahal. It is generally believed that "Taj Mahal" (usually translated as either "Crown Palace" or "Crown of the Palace") is an abbreviated version of her name, Mumtaz Mahal (Exalted One of the Palace).

The Taj Mahal is a deserving resting palace for an Emperor's Empress. It stands on the banks of the river Yamuna, which otherwise serves as a wide moat defending the Great Red Fort of Agra, the center of the Mughal emperors until they moved their capital to Delhi in 1637. It was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in 1631 in memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a Muslim Persian princess. She died while accompanying her husband in Burhanpur in a campaign to crush a rebellion after giving birth to their 14th child.

TAJ MAHAL - Wonder of the World
TAJ MAHAL - Wonder of the World - Agra

To people the world over, the Taj Mahal, mausoleum of Mughal Emperor shah Jana's chief wife, Mumtaz Mahal, is synonymous with India. Its curving, gently swelling dome and the square base upon which its rests so lightly is a familiar image from hundreds of brochures and travel books. The Taj is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular buildings of the world. Renowned for its architectural magnificence and aesthetic beauty, it counts among man's proudest creations and is invariably included in the list of the world's foremost wonders. As a tomb, it has no match upon earth, for mortal remains have never been housed in greater grandeur.

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:beautiful architecture
  • Cons:if u don't have indian friend, be ready to pay 10-15 times more than Indians usually do.. cos u r a foreigner!
  • In a nutshell:very turistic, but a must see anyway!
  • Last visit to Agra: Jan 2001
  • Intro Updated Oct 31, 2003
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Comments (5)

  • Reply
    harjeev's Profile Photo
    Aug 17, 2006 at 11:30 AM

    In ref to your tip on Agra page SIKH. I would like to correct you that the person in the picture is not a sikh but a person from Rajasthan. If you would like pics of sikh gentelmen please contact me at harjeev.chadha@gmail.com I will send them to u.

  • Reply
    j-san's Profile Photo
    Jan 3, 2004 at 3:33 AM

    Actually the pollution is much MUCH less in Delhi now. I was there in 2002 and couldn't breathe either, but since the new laws regarding deisel etc. . Was there again this year, its really a HUGE improvement!

  • Reply
    aadil's Profile Photo
    Jan 2, 2004 at 2:36 AM

    Fantastic t'log you've written here and the pictures are superb too!!! Glad you enjoyed the Taj from an architectural viewpoint!!! Sorry about the pollution and hope you find it less on your next visit to India!!!

  • Reply
    Luchonda's Profile Photo
    Nov 10, 2003 at 7:33 AM

    Beautiful photo's of the people and buildings !!! A colorful land to visit and revisit

  • Reply
    d_d's Profile Photo
    Nov 7, 2003 at 7:56 AM

    Che belle foto! dev'essere un posto magnifico! :-)

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