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The Taj Mahal, looking south across the Yamuna River. |
The Taj Mahal
Before planning your visit to the Taj Mahal, be aware that it is open only six days a week. The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays for worship services at the mosque. The regular hours of operation are 6 am - 7 pm on the other six days of the week. Security is very tight at the entrance, but you will be allowed to bring your camera into the grounds. It is best to get to the Taj Mahal as early as you can in the morning to avoid the heat of the day and the larger crowds. If you are taking a day trip and have some extra time later in the day after visiting the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, it is worth returning to the Taj Mahal to see the mausoleum again with the different sun angles near sunset. The Taj Mahal is also open during the night around the time of a full moon and will shine an amazing blue/green color. |
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Other buildings around the Taj Mahal
There are three entrance gates into the Taj Mahal: the south, east, and west entrance that double as the security checkpoints and lead into a small courtyard. From this courtyard, you will see the very impressive main entrance gate that leads into the main part of the complex where the Taj Mahal and mosque are located. After passing through a small door to the right of the main entrance gate, you will see the beautiful gardens and reflecting pool leading to the breathtaking white marble Taj Mahal on the opposite end of the complex. The Taj Mahal is flanked to the east and west by two identical red sandstone buildings. The building on the west side is the mosque and the building on the east side was built purely to add symmetry to the site and had to real purpose. |
The mosque located directly west of the Taj Mahal. |
Inside the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal was built on an elevated 20 foot high square marble platform. On top of this platform is the mausoleum along with the 4 standings minarets located at the corners of the marble platform. You will notice that the four minarets lean slightly outwards so in the event that they collapse, they don't strike the mausoleum. As you approach the Taj Mahal, you will notice the intricate stonework and gems that are embedded into the structure. The high level of craftsmanship in the inlaid stonework is some of the best in the world. Once inside the Taj Mahal, you will see the cenotaphs of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. They were not buried in the cenotaphs, but actually below them. The attention to detail and the high level of craftmanship on the interior of the Taj Mahal is as equally impressive as the exterior. |
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