Known as one of the seven wonders of the modern world, the Taj Mahal is arguably India’s most renowned and well-known attraction. The famous mausoleum is located in Agra, India and was built under the command of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Every year, millions of visitors from all over the world make the trek to see experience the wonder of the Taj Mahal.
Built over the course of 21 years, construction began on the Taj Mahal in 1632 and was finally completed in 1653. While the white domed mausoleum (which houses the tomb) is the most well-known component and the central focus of the Taj Mahal, the monument is actually made up of several smaller outlying buildings. These buildings are smaller tombs (or mausoleums) which housed the emperor’s other wives and even his favorite servant. When the emperor Shah Jahan passed away, he was laid to rest in the main mausoleum next to his wife. The other buildings comprise a mosque and a jawab which is believed to have been used as a guesthouse.
Today the monument attracts between two and four million visitors annually; most visit during October, November and February, when the weather is much cooler. Since polluting traffic is not allowed near the Taj Mahal, visitors must park and walk from nearby parking lots or take an electric bus which shuttles them back and forth.
If you’re planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip to India, the Taj Mahal should be on your short life of must-do India travel ideas. Its stunning architecture and aesthetic beauty make it unrivaled and one of the world’s most revered architectural masterpieces.