Where Is the Taj Mahal Located?

Wondering where is the Taj Mahal located? The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful among the great structures that have withstood time. The Taj Mahal was built in the 17th century as a monument to an emperor’s wife. The Taj Mahal is so famous and well known that just seeing a picture of it allows people from across the globe to identify it. In fact, it has even been named as one of the seven wonders of the modern world. So, where is the Taj Mahal located. Where do you have to go to see it in person?

The inspiration of the Taj Mahal is said to be the love story of Mumtaz and Jahan. Mumtaz was Jahan’s third wife and she died during childbirth. She bore their fourteenth child before dying. The grief was so great within Jahan that he commanded the monument be built a year after her death. Soon after the tomb’s completion, Jahan was overthrow by his son, Aurangzeb. Jahan was held under house arrest in Agra Fort. Following his death, his son had him buried next to his wife in the crypt in the Taj Mahal.

The main chamber contains the false sarcophagi of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. The actual graves are somewhere below this level in a rather plain crypt below the inner chamber. Mumtaz and Jahan both face Mecca in the crypt. Mumtaz occupies the center of the crypt with Jahan being placed off to the west side of his wife. His grave placement is the only unsymmetrical feature of the entire complex.

The Taj Mahal, despite the sad story associated with its creation, is a magnificent testimony to the abilities of the artisans that worked on the monument. Recruits were gathered from across the northern part of India, and estimates suggest it took a total of twenty thousand men to work on the structure.

The creative unit on the construction team had 37 members that included stonecutters, sculptors, inlayers, calligraphers, turret builders and a specialist that only carved marble flowers. A chief calligrapher from Iran chose the passages of scripture that appear all over the mausoleum. Talented sculptors created the screens that surround the public portion of the tomb. Each screen was carved from a single piece of marble and then encrusted with precious and semi-precious stones.

The gardens, too, are magnificent. They are lush and a masterpiece of architectural design. They cover over 300 square meters. Each garden is facing one of the cardinal directions and has raised pathways in white marble. The raised pathways divide the four quadrants of the gardens into 16 sunken beds. The beds are populated with lush vegetation and flowers. There are avenues of trees and fountains. The reflecting pool situated between the main gate and the mausoleum perfectly reflects the image of the Taj Mahal.

From the time of its construction until the late 19th century, parts of the monument were badly in need of repair. The Indian rebellion in 1857 had resulted in desecration by the British soldiers and theft of many of the precious stones that had been inlaid into the walls. The British Viceroy implemented a complete restoration project in 1908. During this restoration project, the gardens were remodeled to include British style lawns. The lawns are still in use today.

Where is the Taj Mahal Located?

The Taj Mahal is located in India about 60 miles southeast of the capital city of New Delhi. The city of Agra is the home to the monument. Millions of visitors from around the world visit this structure every year. Approximately 200,000 of the 3 million visitors come from abroad.

The visitors must either walk to the grounds from remote parking lots or can take an electric bus. The government has outlawed the use of pollution generating machines, including cars near the monument. This is presumably due to the potential for damage to the marble constructing the monument.

Visiting the Taj Mahal can be accomplished by either flying to New Delhi and travelling by car or by flying directly to Agra. Trains and busses are also available from other parts of the country. The best time of the year to visit is October, November and February, due mainly to the cooler weather.