The Taj Mahal ( TAHJ mə-HAHL, TAHZH -; Hindustani: [t̪ɑːd͡ʒ ˈmɛɦl]; lit. 'Crown of the Palace') is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was commissioned in 1631 by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, to house the tomb of his late wife, Mumtaz Mahal; it also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself. The tomb is the centrepiece of a 17-hectare complex, which includes a mosque and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a crenellated wall.Source: Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Visiting tips
- Closed on Fridays; go at sunrise and view it again from Mehtab Bagh at sunset.
- Best season in India: October to March.
- Carry water, sun protection and clothing suitable for religious sites where relevant.
Location map
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Open in Google Maps · Coordinates via Wikipedia.
Where to stay nearby
The most convenient base is Agra. Recommended areas: Taj Ganj (steps from the Taj for sunrise); Fatehabad Road (larger hotels with Taj views); Sadar Bazaar (shopping and restaurants).
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