Discover India's Taj Mahal

What Makes the Taj Mahal So Special?

The Taj Mahal is widely regarded as the finest example of Mughal architecture and one of the most beautiful buildings ever created. Commissioned in 1632 by Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died during the birth of their 14th child, the monument took approximately 22 years to complete. According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), over 20,000 artisans worked on the project, with materials sourced from across Asia — white marble from Makrana in Rajasthan, jade and crystal from China, turquoise from Tibet, and lapis lazuli from Afghanistan.

UNESCO designated the Taj Mahal as a World Heritage Site in 1983, describing it as a masterpiece of the world’s heritage. It receives an estimated 7-8 million visitors annually (source: ASI annual reports), making it India’s most visited monument.

What Will You See Inside the Taj Mahal Complex?

The Taj Mahal sits within a 17-hectare complex enclosed by red sandstone walls. Upon entering through the Great Gate (Darwaza-i-Rauza), visitors are greeted by the Charbagh — a Mughal-style garden divided into four quadrants by water channels, symbolizing the four rivers of paradise described in the Quran.

The mausoleum itself rises on a raised marble platform. The central dome stands 73 meters (240 feet) from the base to the tip of the finial. Four minarets, each 40 meters tall, frame the main structure at a slight outward angle — an engineering decision made so that in the event of an earthquake, they would fall away from the mausoleum rather than onto it.

Inside the octagonal chamber, the cenotaphs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal are surrounded by an intricate marble lattice screen (jali). The actual burial site is in a lower vault directly beneath, accessible only to maintenance staff.

How Should You Plan Your Visit?

We recommend arriving at the ticket counter at least 30 minutes before the gates open. During peak season (November to February), the Taj Mahal receives upwards of 20,000-30,000 visitors per day, so early arrival is critical.

Three gates provide access: the East Gate (Shilpgram), West Gate, and South Gate. Our guides typically use the East Gate, which has the shortest queues and offers the most dramatic first view as you step through the Great Gate.

Our same-day Agra tour from Delhi is timed so that you reach the Taj Mahal shortly after sunrise, giving you the best light and the thinnest crowds. For those with more time, our Golden Triangle 3-day tour pairs the Taj Mahal with Agra Fort and the highlights of Delhi and Jaipur.

What Is the History Behind the Taj Mahal?

Construction began in 1632 and the main mausoleum was completed by 1643, though the surrounding complex, gardens, and ancillary buildings took until approximately 1653 to finish. The lead architect is widely believed to be Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, though historical records mention a team of architects from across the Mughal Empire.

The total cost of construction has been estimated at approximately 32 million rupees in the currency of that era, which scholars estimate would translate to roughly 1 billion USD in today’s terms (source: Ebba Koch, “The Complete Taj Mahal,” Thames & Hudson).

Shah Jahan was eventually deposed by his son Aurangzeb in 1658 and spent his final eight years imprisoned in Agra Fort, where he could gaze at the Taj Mahal from his quarters in the Musamman Burj. Upon his death in 1666, he was buried beside Mumtaz Mahal, the only asymmetrical element in the otherwise perfectly symmetrical complex.