The Taj Mahal in Agra India, is widely thought to be one of the most beautiful buildings ever created. Made of marble, it was built by King Shah Jahan, who took control of the Mughal Empire in 1628. The mausoleum is dedicated to the King’s enduring love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth in 1631.
According to the legend, Mumtaz Mahal, while on her deathbed, persuaded the king to build for her the most beautiful mausoleum the world had ever seen. The king promised to do so and hired over 20,000 artisans to construct the Taj Mahal. To day it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Taj Mahal is truly a wonder to behold. The sheer scope of the site has to be seen to be believed. Photos simply do not do it justice. Any photos.
We visited the site, which is a complex that contains two mosques as well as the mausoleum, both early in the morning and in late afternoon. We were lucky with the weather and the relative lack of crowds—probably due at least partially to the times we visited.
A few photos from the visit are included, but to repeat, photos don’t do the site justice. It has to be seen in person. Luckily, we were able to do that.
JFB