Visiting the Taj Mahal Worth it?

Background of the Taj Mahal

What is visiting the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, really like? Is it worth it? To answer these questions we first have to start at the beginning of the Taj Mahal’s story.

The story of the palace begins inside the Mughal Empire of India around the year 1600. The ruler of the Empire the time was Shah Jahan. The 1600s was a period in India where love marriages were unheard of, but the Shah and his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, began to fall deeply in love. Sadly this rare romantic love story came to a screeching halt in 1631 when Mumtaz suddenly passed away. Mumtaz’s death shattered the Shah and he wondered how he could live without his beloved wife.

Saddened and in love, the Shah decided to commit almost all of the Mughal Empire’s resources to build the world’s greatest Mausoleum for his wife. Fast forward 15-years later and a true masterpiece had been created at the expense of much of the empire’s well-being.

If you hadn’t guessed it, yes, that structure is the Taj Mahal, one of the seven Wonders of the World. The iconic palace still stands today in Agra, India, and has become one of the world’s most symbolic structures of love and devotion.

My First Reactions To the Taj Mahal

When I first visited the Taj Mahal, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew it was a Wonder of the World, but it’s Google Images never seemed to excite me. Even so, I knew to see the Taj was a once in a lifetime experience and it was important to do it right. Many say the sunrise or sunset is the best time to see the structure, and so I decided to come during sunrise.

I arrived at the Taj Mahal ticket booth around 5:30 am. I tried to see if I could get a free glance at the palace before entering, but it was still too dark. On top of that, a tall wall hid the palace behind it, obstructing any opportunity to see it from afar.

After getting through a chaotic ticket line, I walked towards the front of the complex. I saw a large arch-shaped entrance and my mind began swimming with anticipation. This was going to be my first sight of the famous Taj Mahal! The sun was beginning to creep up from the horizon as the dark sky turned light pink. It was time.

I walked in, turned my head, and saw a long reflecting pool reflecting a rippled image of a white structure. My eyes followed the stream of water and then looked up. There, I saw the sun hitting the pure white marble of one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen. I murmured “wow” as I was at a loss for words. This was not what I was expecting.

As I looked around, I noticed how The whole compound felt like a completed puzzle. The pure white marble, the backdrop, the water, the fountains, and the sunrise created an artistic masterpiece. I understood now why Google Images did not do the Taj justice. In-person, I could see the love and passion put into this Mausoleum. It was pure bliss.

The Surface and Interior

After much marveling, I made my way forward towards the surface of the structure. As I got closer to the mausoleum, I noticed some of the designs finer details. What seemed like a simple structure from afar, was anything but. It was easy to see why the construction of this complex took over 15 years.

Near the front entrance, there was a line forming to see the interior of the building (where pictures aren’t allowed), After a few minutes of waiting, I got my first glimpse of the Taj’s inner beauty. The inside room was full of intricately carved walls and a pure white tomb in the center. It didn’t matter whether I looked up, down, left, or right, I could not escape beauty over here. The ceilings, walls, and floors were all designed extremely carefully and complemented one another perfectly.

Surrounding Complex

As I walked around the complex, I realized that the Taj, like the Mona Lisa, was stunning from every angle. Seeing the structure from the side is almost as spectacular as seeing it from the front. Somehow, none of the pictures I took seemed to fully capture the beauty of this masterpiece!

Tip: Along one side of the compound, there is also a red mosque that contrasts the Taj really well. The mosque is beautiful and its red color looks nice standing next to the pure white marble of the mausoleum. If the sun is out, you can have a little fun and take some really cool silhouette pictures with the Taj in the background. Here is a great one I got!

I ended my exploration of the complex by roaming around to the back of the palace. As I peered over the ledge a river and an empty lot of land lay in the distance. I soon learned that this land was kept for historical purposes as it was originally the Shah Jahan’s plan to build a mirroring black colored Taj across the river. I was stunned that the masterpiece I had just seen was only half of the intended project. I couldn’t imagine what the finished product would have looked like. It makes the imagination run wild and wonder what could have been!

Personal Reaction-Visiting Taj Mahal

If you read any part of this post, you probably already know my answer to the initial question. Is visiting the Taj Mahal worth it? Absolutely! I had lots of initial doubts before visiting, however, upon arriving I instantly knew I was wrong. I had probably taken over five hundred pictures in just about an hour, but none of them seemed to portray the masterpiece I was looking at.

The Taj Mahal is not just one amazing building but in fact, several complementing parts. As you look at every well thought out detail, you begin to understand the love that the Shah had for his wife. The compound is more than just architectural genius, it’s a well thought out message. A message to every visitor of this country expressing the Shah’s love for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Over 350 years later, I can confirm that the Shah’s message still stands strong.

If you’re in India don’t leave without experiencing this love story and marveling and one of the world’s most magnificent masterpieces!

Taj Mahal Experience Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5