The Taj Mahal is often referred to as the “Greatest Monument of Love” and one the the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a white marble mausoleum commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Mumtaz Mahal (the Exalted of the Palace) was 21 when she married Shah Jahan. She bore 14 children and died in 1630 having her 14th child. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and was completed 21 years later. It took 20,000 laborers to build and was finished on the exact anniversary of Mumtaz Mahal’s death.
Emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal, was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb in Agra Fort. He died there, but while imprisoned, he had a beautiful view of the Taj Mahal. Aurangzeb killed his older brothers so he could become the new Emperor. (Not what you would call a loving son).
This is the Trident Hotel where we stayed in Agra. It had electricity, water, and wifi. YEA!!!
This is the line to get in the Taj Mahal. We arrived at sunrise so the lines were not as bad as later in the day.
This is the first image you see of the Taj Mahal. Unbelievable!!!!
Agra Fort
You will notice in the two pictures below that I am talking to the wall in one picture and Mary is talking to her wall in the other picture. We are on opposite walls about 40 feet from each other and we are talking relatively softly, and we can hear and speak to each other as if we were close to each other. It was explained to us but it was lost in the translation – really fascinating.
Tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daulah (Known as the Baby Taj) was built before the Taj Mahal, and is known as the first Marble Mausoleum.
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