No word can
justify the beauty of the Taj Mahal. A wonder of the world, the Taj
Mahal in Agra is a monument which no other in the world can match its
beauty and grandeur. Called the most beautiful temple in the world, the
white marbled mausoleum at Agra has become the epitome of a man's love
for a woman.

Synonymous
with India, the Taj Mahal is undoubtedly the epitome of India tourism.
India travel is incomplete without experiencing the Taj Mahal. This
supreme temple of love, standing gracefully by the sacred Yamuna at
Agra, is set amongst the serene ambience of a well laid out garden. The
massive white marble structure was built in the 17th century by the
Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
Shah Jahan was so disheartened by her death that the royal court went in
mourning for two years and there was no music, no dancing, no
celebrations and no feasting for two years. After such a long period
when he recovered his consciousness Shah Jahan decided immortalize their
love in the form of the Taj Mahal. He had selected the place for the
Mahal Taj in Agra so that he could see it from his personal palace at
Agra Fort.
Designed by the local Muslim architect Ustad Ahmad
Lahori, the Taj Mahal is a reflection of the gardens of Paradise to
which the faithful ascend. The entire complex, with gardens, gateway
structures, and mosque, was completed in 1643. The mausoleum stands at
one end of the garden adorned with fountains and marble pavements. The
garden contains four water channels to echo the four rivers of the
Islamic Paradise.
It is more than 350 years since Taj Mahal was
built in Agra, but it has not lost its romantic aura, which attracts
millions of visitors to India to experience it. It is because of this
everlasting charm that the Taj Mahal in Agra can boast of being one of
the most popular world heritage monuments on earth.