Taj Mahal & Agra Fort – 1 day in Agra, India

I was able to spend one day in Agra, India visiting the main two sites – the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort. Visiting the Taj Mahal left my jaw dropped and my heart full of wonder! The Taj Mahal, a monument known around the world, is India’s most famous site and tourist attraction. It is one of the New Wonders of the World and a UNESCO heritage site. It is a must see when visiting India! While you’re in Agra, take a trip to the Agra Fort. It is not as spectacular as the mighty Taj Mahal, but it is filled with stories and history.

Taj Mahal

“The Taj Mahal rises above the banks of the river like a solitary tear suspended on the cheek of time.” – Rabindranath Tagore

About/History

There has been no declaration of love more apparent than building a marble masterpiece for one’s favourite wife! Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan started building the Taj Mahal in 1630. This Mahal, which means palace, was built to enshrine the mortal remains of one of his four beloved wives, Mumtaz Mahal.   They were married for 19 years and had 14 children. When she died in childbirth, Shah Jahan was so grief stricken that he wanted to build the most impressive mausoleum ever created. The Taj Mahal was built in her honour and has since been one of the most remarkable and visited buildings in the world.

Architecture

The construction of the Taj Mahal started in 1630 and took over 20 years to complete. Over 20,000 workers were needed to make this beautiful Mahal become a reality.   The Taj Mahal is made of marble that was brought from hundreds of kilometers away.   As many as 28 different types of precious stones were set into the white marble creating amazing floral decorations. These materials came from all over India and other parts of Asia. Passages from the Qur’an are also used as decorative elements. It doesn’t take long to understand that the utmost attention was paid to even the smallest details during construction. The combination of Persian, Islamic, and Asian architecture is one of the main attractions of the Taj Mahal.   I was lucky enough to visit shortly after the scaffolding was taken down!

Before Visiting

There are a few things I feel are worth knowing before visiting the Taj Mahal. First, prepare to be surrounded by hundreds of tourists. Though you can avoid the larger crowds by going at certain times of the day (see next section), the Taj Mahal is one of the most visited buildings in the world and therefore will almost always be flooded with tourists. Also, be prepared for numerous local families asking to take a photo with you – especially if you are a blonde, female Westerner. Beware that once you say yes, a line will likely form. Only bring what you need. I recommend a small bag with just your camera, phone, water, and money (plus sunscreen for me!). Lockers are available at the different gates if you don’t want to carry all of your things with you. Lastly, be sure to dress respectfully and appropriately. Though there is no strict dress code, I would recommend keeping your knees and shoulders covered.

When to Go & Prices

The Taj Mahal is open every day except Fridays (I’m not sure about holidays) from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset (around 6:00am to 7:30pm). There are three different gates that tickets can be purchased at. Tickets cost 1100 rupees for foreigners. Foreigners are given a bottle of water and shoe covers to wear inside the Taj Mahal (included in their ticket).

Most visitors recommend visiting from October to March to avoid the downpour of monsoon season and unbearable summer heat.   But this also means peak tourist season. You have to decide between more comfortable weather and smaller crowds.

I’d recommend visiting the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Arrive about 30 minutes before sunrise in order to enjoy the beautiful sunrise and the smaller crowd. Some people also enjoy going closer to sunset to enjoy the cooler weather and the light shining off the Taj Mahal but there will still be a crowd.

When You Finally See It…

 At last, I stepped through the main gate and into the Taj Mahal’s premises. This 42-acre complex was absolutely breathtaking. It looked to me like a backdrop in a movie! I finally understood why everyone talks so highly of this jaw dropping building. One glimpse of the Taj Mahal was enough to bring me to tears and understand why this place is so incredible. It was hard to believe it was real until I touched the beautiful marble!

Surrounding the Taj Mahal are beautifully maintained gardens. Though there were many tourists, the large area made it feel not as overcrowded as I had expected. A water channel with fountains stretches from the main gate all the way to the Taj Mahal itself. Tree-lined paths on either side of the fountain lead all the way to the mausoleum. My appreciation of the beauty of the Taj Mahal only deepened as I got closer to it. I had forever thought the Taj Mahal was completely white, but it is covered in amazing designs and beautiful gems. Seeing the Taj Mahal makes the heat, crowd, and hassle to get there all worth it!

Inside the Taj Mahal/Mausoleum

The inside of the Taj Mahal is a mausoleum that houses the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. After walking around the platform and observing the Yamuna River flowing behind the Taj Mahal, visitors have the option to go inside. The line is not as long as you think. The local line may be long but there is a foreigner line (which I found sort of strange) right near the front. Just walk up the main steps and a security guard will wave you in the right direction. Before going onto the platform, you must put on the booties or shoe covers you were given to protect it from damage.

Going inside the Taj Mahal during the busy part of the day made me feel like cattle being herded! It was very crowded, hot, sweaty, and a bit anticlimactic. It is difficult to take in the beauty of the detail while being pushed around the circle. There is an octagonal-shaped marble screen surrounding the tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. However, these tombs are just replicas of their actual tombs which are on a level below the part accessible to the public. Though the outside of the Taj Mahal is what blows people away, how can you go to the Taj Mahal and not go in? Just be prepared for the crowd and try to go earlier than I did!

Mosque & Mihman Khana

On either side of the Taj Mahal sit two almost identical red-stone buildings. The mosque sits on the west side (left) and the Mihman Khana sits on the east side (right) of the Taj Mahal. These buildings are often overlooked but are still an important part of the Taj Mahal.

The mosque is used for prayer purposes. It faces the direction of the holy city of Mecca. The Mehman Khana, meaning guesthouse or assembly hall, was built to balance the bilateral symmetry of the composition. Some say it was originally used to accommodate visitors who came to celebrate Mumtaz ‘s life.

Agra Fort

It is very common for the Agra Fort to be overshadowed by the Taj Mahal. I was glad we visited the Agra Fort first to have a better appreciation for it.   Construction of this UNESCO World Heritage site began in 1565 by Emperor Akbar. It took over 8 years for 4000 workers to build this fort out of red sandstone.   This fort was the main residence of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638. Agra Fort is over 380,000 square meters and has been described as a walled city.   It contains a maze of buildings with underground sections and large courtyards. The fort was originally built as a military structure and part of it is still off limits to the public due to military training.

Shah Jahan, the grandson of Emperor Akbar, made further additions to the fort once he took reign. He used white marble, which is the same material he used to build the Taj Mahal for his wife. It is said that once Shah Jahan’s son, Aurangzeb, seized power in 1685, he restrained his own father as a prisoner in the fort he was responsible for building. Shah Jahan was a prisoner in the fort for 8 years with a window looking out at the Taj Mahal – to the place his beloved wife was buried.

My favourite part of the Agra Fort was looking out one of the windows and getting my first glimpse of the amazing Taj Mahal! It looked so magical even from far away! Entrance tickets to the Agra Fort can be bought at the Amar Singh Gate. Tickets cost 650 rupees for a foreigner. The fort is open everyday from sunrise to sunset. Have fun exploring all the different chambers and courtyards!

More Photos of Agra!

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