History
of Taj Mahal India
The
origin of the name the "Taj Mahal" is
not clear. Court histories from Shah Jehan's reign
only call it the rauza (tomb) of Mumtaz Mahal.
It is generally believed that "Taj Mahal"
(usually translated as either "Crown Palace"
or "Crown of the Palace") is an abbreviated
version of her name, Mumtaz Mahal (Exalted One
of the Palace). The Taj Mahal is a deserving resting
palace for an Emperor's Empress. It stands on
the banks of the river Yamuna, which otherwise
serves as a wide moat defending the Great Red
Fort of Agra, the center of the Mughal emperors
until they moved their capital to Delhi in 1637.
It was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah
Jahan in 1631 in memory of his second wife, Mumtaz
Mahal, a Muslim Persian princess. She died while
accompanying her husband in Burhanpur in a campaign
to crush a rebellion after giving birth to their
14th child.
Agra,
The Chosen City for Taj Mahal
Agra
was the chosen city of the Mughal emperors during
the early years. It was here that the founder of
the dynasty, Babur, laid out the first formal Persian
garden on the banks of the River Yamuna. Here, Akbar,
his grandson, raised the towering ramparts of the
great Red Fort. Within its walls, Jehangir built
rose-red palaces, courts and gardens. Shahjahan
embellished it with marbled mosques, palaces and
pavillions of gem-inlaid white marble. Agra is globally
renown as the city of the Taj Mahal, a monument
of love and imagination, that represents India to
the world.
TajMahal
- Wonder of the World
To
people the world over, the Taj Mahal, mausoleum
of Mughal Emperor shah Jana's chief wife, Mumtaz
Mahal, is synonymous with India. Its curving, gently
swelling dome and the square base upon which its
rests so lightly is a familiar image from hundreds
of brochures and travel books. The Taj is undoubtedly
one of the most spectacular buildings of the world.
Renowned for its architectural magnificence and
aesthetic beauty, it counts among man's proudest
creations and is invariably included in the list
of the world's foremost wonders. As a tomb, it has
no match upon earth, for mortal remains have never
been housed in greater grandeur.
When to Visit Taj Mahal
To
truly appreciate the Taj Mahal and encapsulate its
various moods, we suggest that you spend at least
one full day in Agra and view this dream in marble
at different times of the day - for the Taj transforms
its character with the changing light. The precision
and care which went into Taj Mahal's design and
construction is just as impressive whether you view
it from across the river or from arm's length.
Best time of the day
Dawn
is a magical time when it's virtually deserted and
the first rays of the sun light up the Taj. In the
afternoon, the Taj is a dazzling spectacle in white,
and in the evening the Taj dons the orange glow
of the setting sun. Of course, there's nothing more
romantic than beholding the Taj on a full-moon night.
