Taj Mahal in Agra

Everybody knows the story of the Taj Mahal. One of the great Moghul Emperors of India, Shah Jehan, built it when his beloved wife died. He ruled over almost all of India from 1628 to 1658 AD. His love for his wife is a romantic story that is like a fairy tale.

Babur, a great Mongol king, conquered India in 1526 and established the Moghul Dynasty (Moghul refers to the Mongol conquerors of India). The first four emperors developed their power and set up a system of Government that included all Indians, Hindus and Muslims. Among them was Akbar, one of the truly great monarchs of all time. By the time Shah Jehan became emperor he could turn his mind more fully to cultural activities too.

Emperor Shah Jehan was a handsome man. He looked every inch a Prince. His wife, Mumtaz Mahal, was half Persian and was one of the loveliest women at the Moghul Court. ‘She had long black hair, delicate eyebrows and skin like a lily.’ wrote one poet. But more than her beauty, Mumtaz Mahal was a very good woman. She was an excellent wife and mother. She was kind and helped hundreds of women in distress. She was loved by all and most of all by her husband.

Shah Jehan used to travel round his Empire a great deal. Mumtaz Mahal always went with him, taking her three daughters and four sons with her. In fact each of her four sons was born while she was on a military campaign with the Emperor.

When Mumtaz Mahal died, Emperor Shah Jehan wept for two months. He was inconsolable. For two months he did not come out of his room. When he did come out he was a very sad man. He decided to built a Mausoleum, that is a tomb, in her memory. He was going to place the body of Mumtaz Mahal inside this tomb, which he wanted the whole world to admire.

He began work on the Taj Mahal. The architects of this building of great beauty are unknown. Some people think they may have been Italians. Others think Shah Jehan got Persians to design this beautiful building.

The Taj Mahal took about 20 years to build. It is made of the finest white marble and the whole structure is richly decorated. Precious stones were put into the outside walls, but these were eventually stolen away. When the lamps were lit at night the gems would gleam in the darkness. It was said to be the most beautiful sight in the world.

Shah Jahan spent too much money on the Taj Mahal. He spent money that could have been better used to benefit the people of his empire. When the Taj Mahal was finished he laid the body of his wife inside and planned to build another tomb out of black marble for himself. This was the height of folly. His son Aurangzeb imprisoned him and stopped any further expense. When Shah Jahan was put into prison he was kept in a room in the Agra Fort which overlooked the Taj Mahal. From his prison room he could gaze upon the lovely building he had created. He died a few years after his imprisonment, and was buried in the Taj Mahal, near his beloved wife.

The Taj Mahal has been called ‘a poem in marble’. Without any doubt, it is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Expensive though it was, Mumtaz Mahal, his good and loyal queen, deserved her monument. And today the building is one of India’s greatest tourist attractions, providing a wonderful sight each year to thousands of Indians and foreigners. It is especially beautiful by moonlight, and you are lucky if you can see it under a full moon. It is one of the most stunning sights on earth.

Mehtab Bagh

The Mehtab Bagh, a 25 acre garden plot constructed during 1631 to 1635 AD, is the moonlight garden located along the western side of bank of the river Yamuna. It is laid just across the Yamuna, aligned with the world famous Taj in a symmetrical style.

This is the ideal location from where one can view the perfect beauty of Taj Mahal under the romantic glossy moon light. This garden is one of the most attractive gardens in Agra and it replenish the grandeur era of Mughal dynasty in the minds of the traveller.

This picturesque area is now converted into the epic centre of the eco-friendly environment developing around Taj Mahal. The soft cool breeze from Yamuna and the fragrance of the colored flowers in the garden are sure to attract all visitors to this romantic place.