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The Taj Mahal is an exemplary architectural achievement - a white marble tomb complex - built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jehan (in between 1632 to 1648) - in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Original addressed as Prince Khurram and Arjumand Banu Begum they were soulmates throughout their 19 year marriage where the queen would accompany the emperor even on his military campaigns until her death in 1631. How to reach Taj Mahal?

Marble as material was linked originally with the tombs of saints and over time with was associated with royalty; Marble is known to absorbs light and changes it's color with every sunbeam - rendering the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal a spiritual overtone.

The mausoleum is decorated with carved floral motifs + elaborate designs of detailed parchin kari work or images created by using highly polished colored stones. + the exquisite bands of Quran inscriptions embellishing the exterior and interior of the mausoleum. Visualize this - in the 17th century there would be the melodic chanting that would reverberate throughout the tomb as regular prayers were offered  for the deceased queen’s soul.

Today anyone can visit the Taj Mahal - if you were living in the 17th century you would have to be a member of the royal family before you could access the Taj Complex. It is recorded that Shah Jahan chose to visit the tomb in a boat and would always enter the complex using water gates which are now closed.

Emperor Shah Jahan died in 1666 as a prisoner and he was buried next to his wife in the Taj Mahal - many historians believe that Shah Jahan always intended the Taj Mahal to be his tomb and his final resting place as well. How to reach Taj Mahal?

Mehtab Bagh or the Moon-lit Garden lies north of the Taj Mahal complex perfectly aligned on the opposite side of Yamuna River.

It's the last of 11 gardens built by the Mughals - Mehtab Bagh was built by Shah Jehan's ancestor Babur and is also identified as an ideal location to view the Taj Mahal. Mehtab Bagh was later owned by Raja Man Singh Kacchawa of Amber, who also owned the land around the Taj Mahal.

The Agra Fort has a crescent shape, flattened on the east with a long, nearly straight wall parallel to river Yamuna. How to reach Agra Fort?

It is enclosed with soaring double impregnable wall that has massive circular bastions at regular intervals in both inner and outer walls and the outer bastions are concentric with the inner ones.

Delhi Gate is a monumental gate and was known to be Emperor Akbar's majestic formal gate. Akbar fused Islamic geometry plus calligraphy with the Hindu carved expression using birds, animals and flowers to embellish Agra Fort.

Agra Fort is an important complex in terms Mughal architectural history and once had about 500 monuments built within the fort. Some structures were demolished by Shah Jahan to build his white marble palaces. The others were destroyed by the British troops. About 30 odd monuments have survived including the Delhi Gate, Amar Singh Gate Gate or the Akbar Darwaza.

Since the Indian military uses the northern portion of the Agra Fort, the Delhi Gate is not available for use and tourists have to enter the complex using the Amar Singh Gate.

Akbar Darwaza has been renamed as Amar Singh Gate by Shah Jahan and it is similar in design to the Delhi Gate.

The Diwan-e-aam with its arched gateways was a public court built by Shah Jahan in the 17th century. It is designed as a large hall divided in to three aisles by nine tall arches - The Mughal emperor and his successors or wazirs met general public to sort out their complaints. Emperor would be seated on a raised platform or baithak - which was ostentatiously ornamented and inlaid with precious stones.

Diwan-e-aam was built in red sandstone that was plastered in white for it to be in sync with the other white marble royal structures and its ceiling and columns in those times were painted with gold. How to reach Agra Fort?

Built within the Agra fort complex - decorated with geometrical designs and inlaid with white marble on a red sandstone background - Jahangiri Mahal is impressive especially its beautiful jharokhas or overhanging enclosed balcony. This palace was the principal palace for Akbar's Rajput wives. How to reach Agra Fort?

Noor Jahan, Mughal empress and wife of Jahangir or Akbar's heir - used this majestic palace as her residence until her death on 17 December 1645. Noor Jahan was well known for her piercing intelligence and was one of the most powerful and influential woman attending 'court' when the Mughal Empire was at the peak of its power and glory. Noor Jahan is also the only Mughal empress to have coinage in her name.

Fatehpur Sikri founded as the capital of Mughal Empire in 1571 by Emperor Akbar - and was so named as the 'City of Victory', to commemorate Akbar's victory in Gujarat in 1573. How to reach Fatehpur Sikri via Agra?

Buland Darwaza is the mammoth south wall - the main entrance to Jama Masjid in Fatehpur Sikri. Riveting note - Buland Darwaza was not a part of the original design of the Jama Masjid, it was constructed by Akbar to celebrate his conquest of Gujarat in 1573.

Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.

How to reach Taj Mahal by air? Which is the nearest airport to Taj Mahal?
The nearest airport to Taj Mahal is Agra Airport - note it has limited connectivity - predominantly flying to or from Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi, Bengaluru++
Distance between Taj Mahal and Agra Airport is about 12.3 km

The nearby Delhi International Airport is well connected with many cities of India. Distance between Taj Mahal and Delhi Airport is about 231 km. 

How to reach Taj Mahal by train? Which is the nearest railway station to Taj Mahal?
Agra Cantonment is the nearest railway station to the Taj Mahal and is well connected to many cities in India. Distance between Taj Mahal and Agra Cantonment railway station is about 6 km

The best time to visit the Taj Mahal in the city of Agra is when it is cooler, between October to March.

Agra a popular destination in India has much to offer be it historical or architectural sites. Visit the world famous Taj Mahal one of the seven wonders of the world a structural beauty with fascinating historical anecdotes. Other prominent sights located in Agra are Agra Fort, Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid, Moti Masjid, Fatehpur Sikri, or Mariam-uz-Zamani Palace.

How to reach Agra by air? Which is the nearest airport to Agra?
Agra has it own domestic Airport - note has limited connectivity - predominantly flying to or from Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi, Bengaluru++ whereas the nearby Delhi International Airport is well connected with many cities of India.

How to reach Agra by train? Which is the nearest railway station to Agra?
Agra Cantonment railway station is well connected to many cities in India.

The best time to visit the city of Agra is when it is cooler, between October to March.

Distance notes to reach important Monuments in Agra

Reach Taj Mahal
Distance between Taj Mahal and Agra Airport is about 12.3 km
Distance between Taj Mahal and Delhi Airport is about 231 km
Distance between Taj Mahal and Jaipur Airport is about 245 km
Distance between Taj Mahal and Agra Cantonment railway station is about 6 km

Reach Agra Fort
Distance between Agra Fort and Agra Airport is about 11.2 km
Distance between Agra Fort and Agra Cantonment railway station is about 4.7 km

Reach Fatehpur Sikri
Distance between Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Airport is about 38 km
Distance between Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Cantonment railway station is about 37 km