Taj Mahal, Marble mausoleum in Agra, India.
The white marble structure rises 239 feet (73 meters) high on a raised platform along the Yamuna River bank. Four slender minarets each reaching 131 feet (40 meters) frame the corners of the platform. The central dome rises above an octagonal drum, flanked by smaller cupolas. Reflecting pools stretch through formal gardens before the main entrance to the burial chamber.
Shah Jahan commissioned construction in 1632 for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died during the birth of their fourteenth child. More than twenty thousand craftsmen from Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and Europe worked on the project for two decades until completion. The emperor was later interred beside his wife after his son Aurangzeb deposed him in 1658. British colonial authorities initiated first restoration efforts during the 19th century to preserve the deteriorating structure.
As a symbol of eternal love, the structure draws artists, writers, and visitors from around the world. Calligraphic inscriptions from the Quran adorn entrances and walls, while the symmetrical garden layout following Persian tradition represents earthly paradise. The synthesis of Islamic, Persian, and Indian building traditions reflects the cosmopolitan character of the Mughal empire during its height.
Visitors should arrive early in the morning to avoid large crowds and obtain better photographs, as the complex opens at sunrise. The compound remains closed on Fridays. Tickets can be purchased online to reduce waiting times at entrance gates. The main entrance is located on the south side of the complex. Photography is permitted throughout the grounds, but tripods require special permissions. Inside the burial chamber, photography is prohibited entirely.
The marble walls contain thousands of inlaid semi-precious stones forming floral patterns with special light transmission properties that change hue depending on time of day. Lapis lazuli, jade, crystal, turquoise, and carnelian were used for this inlay work called pietra dura. Under moonlight, the facade appears in silvery white, while at dusk it glimmers pink and golden. The optical effects result from varying density and light refraction of the materials used in construction.
Location: Agra
Location: Uttar Pradesh
Inception: 1631
Founders: Shah Jahan
Architects: Ahmad Lahori
Architectural style: Islamic architecture, architecture of Iran, Mughal architecture
Height: 73 m
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Made from material: marble
Address: Dharmapuri, Forest Colony, Tajganj, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001, India 282001 Agra
Phone: +915622226431
Website: https://tajmahal.gov.in
GPS coordinates: 27.17500,78.04194
Latest update: November 27, 2025 20:20
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Mehtab Bagh
526 m
Musamman Burj
1.9 km
Humanyun Mosque
872 m
Taj Mahal view point within nature walk
608 m
Taj Mahal Museum
245 m
Taj Nature Walk ₹100
840 m
Darwaza-i-Rauza
390 m
Khas Mahal
1.9 km
Scenic viewpoint
368 m
Tower with viewpoint on the Taj Mahal
491 m
Viewpoint of Taj Mahal & Agra Fort
1.8 km
Agra Golf Course
1.2 km
Khas Mahal
1.9 km
Musammun Burj
1.9 km
M
1.2 km
No View of Taj Mahal
437 m
View Point Taj Mahl 50 INR
414 m
Akhbari Mahal
1.9 km
Taj Mahal Mughal Garden
286 m
Sawad
1.5 km
Free view point
1.1 km
Scenic viewpoint
314 m
Scenic viewpoint
520 m
Monument
994 m
Monument
1.4 km
Monument
1.6 km
Roshnara
1.9 km
City gate
837 mReviews
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