"Long long ago, in a land called Hindustan, reigned a dynasty of Kings as cultured as they were courageous ... It isn't that they were without fault – they could be cruel and cunning warriors – but they were also men of exceptionally good taste, and blessed with the bountiful means to express their vision, they built a splendid empire of beauty, knowledge and grace beyond any known before. Now there was one among them, known as 'King of the World,' whose heart's passion burned like fire, and who built a monument for the sake of love that would capture the imagination of the world..."

– PBS, Treasures of the World.

"Let the splendor of the diamond, pearl and ruby vanish like the magic shimmer of the rainbow. Only let this one teardrop, the Taj Mahal, glisten spotlessly bright on the cheek of time..."

– Poet Rabindranath Tagore

Agra and The Taj Mahal

Considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, the Taj Mahal is one of the new seven wonders of the world. Known as the monument to love, it was built under Mughal Emporer Shan Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Made entirely of white marble, its stunning architectural beauty is beyond adequate description, and many claim it has never been surpassed. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and was cited as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage."

Standing on the bank of the River Yamuna, the Taj Mahal is a mausoleum that houses the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. The body of Shan Jahan was added to it later by his son. To see the Taj Mahal is a spiritual experience in itself. It is best described by the English poet, Sir Edwin Arnold, as "Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor's love wrought in living stones." It is a symbol of eternal love. "Like a jewel, the Taj sparkles in the moonlight when the semi precious stones inlaid into the white marble on the main mausoleum catch the glow of the moon. The Taj is pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden when the moon shines. These changes, they say, depict the different moods of a woman." (http://www.angelfire.com/in/myindia/tajmahal.html).

Taj Mahal