Travel experiences

In this blog we travel to India to take a look at the impressive Taj Mahal.

Visit the Taj Mahal

An exercise in perfect symmetry, the Taj Mahal is said to be the most beautiful building in the world, and few people would disagree.

It took 22 years for the Taj Mahal to be built, and it’s as immaculate today as it was on the day it was completed in 1653. Commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan after the death of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, materials were brought from all over the world for this ultimate labour of love. These included white marble from Rajasthan, crystal from China, sapphire from Sri Lanka and turquoise from Tibet.

The Taj Mahal’s semitranslucent white marble façade is carved with flowers and inlaid with thousands of semi-precious stones, and its four sides – complete with minarets, vaulted arches and domes - are perfectly identical.

As the sun moves through the sky the Taj Mahal seems to change colour, from pinkish hues in the early morning to gleaming white in the midday sun. It looks particularly beautiful at sunrise, as its luminous white marble and semi-precious stones catch the early morning light.

India’s most recognised monument and a symbol of love the world over, the Taj Mahal was declared a World Heritage Site in 1983.

Discover this architectural gem for yourself on our The Golden Triangle and Tiger Trail and The Great Indian Rail Journey tours.