(Day 2) Extra visit to Taj Mahal

After we had lunch in Holiday Inn Agra, we proceed our journey to the "Taj Mahal" The 7 Wonders of the world and also the world heritage.

Taj Mahal is the mausoleum built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal. This building was built with the Persian and the earlier Islamic Mughal architecture and by thousands of artisan and craftmen. Mumtaz Mahal died when she gave birth to the fourteen children, Gauhara Begum.

Emperor Shah Jahan granted his wife wish to built this mausoleum. Taj mahal was built right after one year after Mumtaz Mahal passed away, that was 1631. It was completed in 1648 but used another 5 years to complete the beautiful Muhgal garden.

After the Taj Mahal built, according to local people said, many craftmen and artisan had been killed or badly hurt until handicap in order not to let them built the second Taj Mahal. All these great poeple sacrificed a lot for the love between Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife. Anyway, now it just remain as a great building to the eyes of alls.

Do not bring too many items with you to the Taj Mahal. You can bring in transparent water bottle, small video camera or camera, mobile handphone and small purse.

Taj Mahal is open from 6.00am till 7.00pm for visitors. Friday will be close for 2 hours for the prayers time. If you wan to see the fullmoon in Taj Mahal, arragement can be made.

We reached there almost in the evening already. The tour guide leaded us to go in after bought the ticket and the camera ticket. However the securities were very tied at the entrace door. Don't be surprised if your body had been touched.

After the entrance, we were very anxious to see the great building.





Well ! The great gate (Darwaza Irauza) was the gateway to Taj Mahal. This was the first time I visited the great building. In front of me, A great onion dome, 4 minarets, a Mughal garden, marble water tank. There have the beautiful walkway too, the grass neat and very nice for the view. Taj Mahal also reflected on the pool. It's awesome.





According to the tour guide the 4 cylinder domes were built a bit slanting to prevent the damage of main building which cause by the earthquake. The compound also had another 2 buildings. The Taj Mahal will closed on Friday for a few hours. Muslims will come in and have theirs' Friday prayers.



We need to wear the thin booties in order to step on the building floor. This was the protection against the valueable building in the world.



It's cool to step on the floor because the whole building made from marble. The mild wind made us feel good and fresh.



When we go into the building, well ! It became a bit warm, no wind cause every window and door were closed. In the centre we saw the Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal marble coffin.

Inside they just put small yellow bulbs, not so bright. However the wall showed the beautiful craft. Even the outside of the building the wall was beautifully crafted too.




At the back of the Taj Mahal, there was a beautiful Yamuna river....What can I said...it's a very nice view !


The view from the Taj Mahal main building also very nice.

Do not trust any people who want to safe guard your camera or video cam, better pay for the tickets and bring the belongings by your ownself. There was a case that camera lost because the wrong handling to the stranger. It's getting dark when we left the place. The shop already put on the bulb light or candle light. Looked like a ancient old city.

Then we proceeded to the famous Marble shop in Agra.