The Taj Mahal -an undisputed gem of India

Visiting the Taj Mahal is one of those once-in-a-lifetime travel adventures that’s on almost everyone’s bucket list.

Taj Mahal is undoubtedly a place without visit we should not leave India.

We went to Agra on an organized bus trip from Delhi, which unfortunately turned out to be a big mistake, but about that in another article.

The car and bus parking is located a few hundred meters from the main entrance of the Taj Mahal. From the parking area there are golf carts or small battery buses that take us to the west entrance where we can buy a ticket. Generally, you have to pay a fee for using this golf carts or if we have enough time, we can take 10-15 minutes to walk to the main entrance — which is located on the eastern gate — where ticket office is located. Along the way, as in India of course, we can eat local street food and buy souvenirs. Next to the ticket office, we encounter a crowd of solicitors who offer us their services as guides to the Taj Mahal or personal photographers. Tickets for foreigners are of course in a completely different amount as 1300 rupes which includes 1100 entrance fee to the complex and 200 entrance fee to the Taj Mahal itself and the tomb. The price of the entry ticket, even for Polish standards as an entrance to a tourist attraction, is quite an expensive attraction. The gap between the price for foreigners and the price for Indians is extremely huge. Indian people only pay 50 rupees. Unfortunately, due to the limited time we have during the trip to visit the Taj Mahal, we do not decide to choose an additional guide or photographer.

Undoubtedly, you should consider a local guide if you’re having a lot of time in Agra, it is worth considering the services of local guides who will spend time with us during the tour and tell a lot of interesting stories for really reasonable price, because the fees are usually from 200 to 500 rupees. Of course, the kindness of some of them, such as the possibility of using free water or shoe covers, is just another way to make business on a foreigner. After the gentleman gave us two bottles of water and plastic shoe covers Of course he started advertising his services.

In my opinion the security check was quite chaotic. There are separate queues for men and separate for women Women are also searched in special booths. If we don’t have any bag We only go through scanning but if we have a bag with us, we have to go to a special booth where we will be checked for prohibited items. If we decide to pay to local guide he will take us through a special passage where we will skip the queue and save at least 15 minutes.

If you want that iconic picture of you and the Taj without lots of people around you, then you will want to be amongst the first one in there and I suggest that You need to get there at least 1 hour before sunrise.

But now lets talk about Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum complex in Agra, western Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. The Taj Mahal is also one of the world’s most iconic monuments, visited by millions of tourists each year. We are entering the complex through east gate.

This is also a place where when we walk through we will have our first look at Taj Mahal. The southern end of the complex is graced by a wide red sandstone gateway. Entering main  south gate is also where we are getting lost in the forest of hands raised to photograph the Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal is distinguished as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a blend of Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles. Other attractions include twin mosque buildings (placed symmetrically on either side of the mausoleum), lovely gardens, and a museum. One of the most beautiful structural compositions in the world, the Taj Mahal is also one of the world’s most iconic monuments, visited by millions of tourists each year. The complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. The mausoleum made of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife There is not actually a dress code for the Taj Mahal but with everywhere else in India it is advised to dress respectfully — covering your legs and shoulders.

You have to take your shoes off to walk around the Taj and in the actual Taj Mahal.  You can’t take pictures inside the Taj Mahal main building and tomb. The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays- so don’t go then. The Taj Mahal itself looked exactly like the innumerable pictures which I have seen of it. What I should think about the most famous historical sight of India? A large majestic building made entirely of white marble is a picture that will be remembered forever. The marble is beautiful, so is the whiteness, also the full details of the pietradura technique.

What I definitely know now: I would recommend getting a guide for the Taj and stay at least for one night in Agra to have more time too fully admire places which Agra has to offer for tourists.

Also, it is worth to remember one thing — The Taj Mahal was not actually built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan himself, even though he gets the credit for it. It was built by Hindu slaves living under the Muslim ruler. Slaves which same like emperor had loves of their life and paid the highest prices to server emperor. The love story behind Taj Mahal isn’t all that sweet after all.