While in India, we went to see the Taj Mahal (abbr. ‘the Taj) in the city of Agra. The Taj is one of the seven wonders of the world, made from white marble. It is a mausoleum (a tomb) for Shah Jahan’s (an emperor of the Mughal Empire in the early 1600s) beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj is surrounded by four large, identical gates—constructed from red sandstone—and a wall.

 

There is also a pool with several fountains and two rows of trees leading up to the monument upon entering through one of the gates. Before stepping on the white marble, both to keep the structure clean and to be respectful, tourists are asked to place plastic coverings over their shoes, so they don’t track in any dirt. The marble-work is really something to see in-person. Pictures are allowed outside the mausoleum, but are prohibited inside the mausoleum. The price for a foreigner to see the Taj Mahal is around 1,100 Rupees.

 

At first, I was debating whether or not to see the Taj in India, since I’ve heard many people say that it is overrated and that “everyone goes there, and thinks they’ve seen India.” However, I believe that it was worth the visit, now having seen it. The sense of the structure was far more vast than what one could experience from any photo. It gave a feeling of extreme peace and humbleness that is unmatched. Given that I still saw other parts of India, the Taj was still worth it. After seeing the Taj, we drove home, since the trip to Agra was only intended to be a day-trip, with the purpose of seeing the Taj.

 

Click the button to visit the Taj Mahal's official website.