Monday, August 13, 2012

THE TAJ MAHAL- AGRA

By Mamta Balani 1:39:00 AM agra, sandstone, Taj mahal

Mumtaz Mahal was famous for beauty and charisma. She was the darling and lovable queen of Shah Jahan. She expired in 1630 in while giving birth to her child at Burhanpur where she left her her husband all alone. This left royal leader Shah Jahan completely gone in complete sorrow for month. He promised to her beautiful wife so he began to construct a monument to her that would outshine in its size and splendor to any other such memorial the globe has ever recognized. The body of beloved Mumtaz Mahal was brought and laid in the tomb where now she rests.

The most excellent craftsmen and architects from Central Asia, India, Arabia, Persia and Italy were busy to construct this superb memorial of adore. More than 20 thousand workmen were hired to build it, and they took long 17 years to complete. The complete team of the builders was leaded by a Persian master Ustad Isha who was excellent architect and designer.

The red stone doorway of the Taj Mahal is quite impressive. An Arabic message in black marble beautifys the entrance. A lengthy waterway in which the Taj Mahal is brilliantly mirrored, separates the lane into 2 leadings to the Taj mahal. This monument stands on a elevated marble platform. The flame of intense love detained in marble stands with its 4 tall white beautiful minarets. The middle chamber have the tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal with holy kuran inscriptions. The real tombs having the leftovers of this magnificent couple are just under in a vault. This tomb are opened once in a year on their anniversary day. The middle chamber is bounded by8 smaller ones. The excellent inlay effort of the Taj mahal involving precious and semi precious stones as lapis lazuli, jesper, jade, sapphire, crystal, turquoise, amethyst, coral and sparks in the light coming through the delicately made marble screens.

Taj from every angle and distance gives the feeling of an everlasting fire of love in a form of jewel of marble, so astonishing, so magnificent and so indescribable. The Taj looks different all the time. It is memorial in the light of sunrise, quite alike at noon, still awesome at sunset. In the full moon light it is completely a superb experience. It is a absolute sensation to be experienced.

The Taj is open to visitors from sunrise to 10 P.M. Every full moon night and four nights preceding and following it, the Taj remains open till midnight, children below the age of 15 are admitted free. On Fridays the admission is free for all.

A sheet of pearls valued a lakhs of rupees once covered the tombs containing the royal remains, but the pillager Husein Ali Khan carried it off in 1720. Similarly the gold sheets that formerly decorated the burial vault were also looted. Originally the raj has two silver doors as well, which were removed and looted in 1764.

How to Reach

Indian Airlines runs flights from various parts of big cities. Kheria Airport is just about 6 km far from the Agra city centre. You can easily reach by auto-rickshaws and taxis at small rates. Agra is connected by outstanding trains to Delhi like Taj Express, The Shatabdi Express , Intercity Express .Excellent Express bus services are available from many cities like Lucknow, Delhi, Gwalior ,Jaipur, , and Jhansi etc.

Accommodations {guest houses and hotels}