One of the world’s greatest sights has made the Indian city of Agra a major destination. The Taj Mahal was commissioned in 1632 by Shah Jahan as a tribute to his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

            The Taj was constructed on 17 hectares of land which also houses a mosque and a guest house. Emporer Shah Jahan had the mausoleum built as a tribute to his favourite wife who died in childbirth.

            What makes the Taj Mahal a spectacular feat of architecture is the attention to detail. When you walk closer to the main building, you realise the four minarets that surround the main building are leaning.

            The reason for this is because Agra lies on a tectonic plate and if there were to be an earthquake, the minarets would fall away from the main building instead of crushing it.

            Another thing that is interesting about the entire complex is its linearity with the exception of one thing.

            Everything about the Taj Mahal is meant to represent a linear theme. The main structure is the in the centre of the complex The gardens are meant to be the same dimensions on either side of the courtyard and Mumtaz Mahal’s body lies in the exact centre of the complex.

            However, the imperfection is that Shah Jahan’s body lies next to hers, throwing off the symmetry of the Taj Mahal.

            The reason or this is that Shah Jahan had commissioned a second Taj, the Black Taj, to be constructed on the opposite bank of the Yamuna River.

            In 1657, as Shah Jahan fell ill, his four sons waged a war to decide the successor which was Aurangzab who promptly imprisoned his father in Agra Fort where he remained in prison until his death in 1666. Shah Jahan requested that his jailers place mirrors in strategic positions to allow him to see the Taj Mahal from his prison cell.

Where to stay:

            We stayed at the Taj Gateway Agra which is about a 15-minute drive from the Taj Mahal. This large hotel has great gardens with Rajasthani musicians performing concerts in the evening. Some rooms have a view of the Taj Mahal, but conditions must be ideal to see it which they rarely are because of the air pollution and smog.

            If you ever wanted to splurge on a hotel, try the Oberoi Amarvilas which is about 100 yards from the Taj Mahal and every room has an excellent view of the Taj Mahal. Prices can range from £400 per night in the low to season to £800 per night in the high season. But if you look at hotel resellers sometimes you can find a deal. I saw one for a July stay that was £250 per night which is a downright bargaining considering the normal price.

Getting there:

            Agra is one of the points of India’s Golden Triangle with Delhi and Jaipur which means excellent options for transportation. Oddly, there isn’t an airport at Agra. There is a military air base but not an airport for commercial travel. However, there are early developments to build an airport due to the popularity of the city.

            The two most likely ways you will arrive in Agra will either be by road or rail. The drive takes about three to four hours and the train slightly shorter, but both are popular means of getting to Agra from Delhi. We got there on the Shatabdi Express from Bhopal to Delhi by joining the train at Jhansi.

Safety:

            For all intents and purposes, Agra is quite safe. But you still must be alert to pickpockets and petty criminals. You will be harassed by touts, beggars, and people trying to sell you souvenirs. Always make sure you that you do not leave any valuables in some hotel rooms. Ensure that you never pay for anything upfront such as taxis. Some merchants play a bait and switch game when it comes to buying larger souvenirs. What they sell you isn’t necessarily what you will get when you get home if you choose for them to post it to you. It is best to take your souvenirs with you.