The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is one of the most fascinating and beautiful monuments in the world. About 20,000 workers were employed in its construction, and it took up to 20 years to complete construction. So perfect are the proportions of the Taj and so exquisite its workmanship that this is really one of the world's most marvelous buildings.The Taj Mahal was conceived and built by Shah Jahan, the most creative of the Mughal Emperors, as the final resting place for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Despite the huge numbers of visitors, there are spaces filled with calm and serenity. The building changes colour at different times of the day. Admire its delicate pietra dura work, using precious and semi-precious stones. The main archway of the Taj is adorned by calligraphy, increasing in size along with the height of the building.
Agra Fort
Built in the form of a half moon on the west bank of the Yamuna river, the Agra Fort is a masterpiece of design and construction. The fort's colossal walls rise over 20m in height and measure 2.5 km in circumference. They are encircled by a moat and contain a maze of buildings, some extremely exquisite, that form a small city within a city.The creator of the Taj Mahal, Emperor Shah Jehan spent the last years of his life imprisoned by his own son, Aurangzeb. The small room where he was incarcerated and finally died had views across the Yamuna river towards his beloved Taj.
The story of the Taj is almost as beautiful as the Taj itself.
