Shahjahan, the fifth Mughal emperor was a great lover of art and culture. He had a passion for marble and used it extensively whenever he constructed a building. Mughal architecture reached its zenith when Shahjahan built the Taj Mahal. The story of Taj Mahal retreats to June 17, 1631 when Mumtaz Mahal breathed her last after delivering her 14th child. Shocked by her sudden demise, Shahjahan resolved to immortalize their love in some form. Before the construction of Taj Mahal, Mumtaz Mahal was given a temporary burial in the Zainabadi garden in Burhanpur before the body was brought to Taj Mahal Agra for the final burial.
Monuments within the Taj Complex
The monuments within the Taj Complex are entirely made of red sandstone. Out of the two mosques, the one towards the west (left side of the Taj) is used for offering prayers, as it not only sanctifies the Taj but also faces Mecca. The replica on the other side is known as the Jawab (answer).
Taj Mahotsav
Taj Mahal serves as a backdrop for the annual Taj Mahotsav (Taj festival) held in the month of February. The Taj Mahotsav celebrates the traditional Indian art forms and crafts. The main events of this festival include classical dance performances by leading dance exponents and musical recitals by maestros, apart from the display of various craft products and cultural shows.
How to Reach Taj Mahal
Agra is well connected by air, road and railways with most parts of India. It takes only half an hour to reach Agra from New Delhi. A highway journey takes about 5 hours. As Agra is the main junction between Delhi and Varanasi, a number of trains pass through the city. The best options are of course Shatabdi Express and Taj Express
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