The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank
of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in
1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, to house the tomb of his
favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
The Taj Mahal attracts a large number of tourists. UNESCO documented more than 2 million visitors in 2001,which had increased to about 7–8 million in 2014.A two-tier pricing system is in place, with a significantly lower
entrance fee for Indian citizens and a more expensive one for
foreigners. Most tourists visit in the cooler months of October,
November and February. Polluting traffic is not allowed near the complex
and tourists must either walk from parking lots or catch an electric
bus. The Khawasspuras (northern courtyards) are currently being restored
for use as a new visitor centre.
The small town to the south of the Taj, known as Taj Ganji or Mumtazabad, was originally constructed with caravanserais, bazaars and markets to serve the needs of visitors and workmen. Lists of recommended travel destinations often feature the Taj Mahal, which also appears in several listings of seven wonders of the modern world, including the recently announced New Seven Wonders of the World, a recent poll with 100 million votes.
The grounds are open from 06:00 to 19:00 weekdays, except for Friday
when the complex is open for prayers at the mosque between 12:00 and
14:00. The complex is open for night viewing on the day of the full moon
and two days before and after,excluding Fridays and the month of Ramadan. For security reasons
only five items—water in transparent bottles, small video cameras,
still cameras, mobile phones and small ladies' purses—are allowed inside
the Taj Mahal.
