• Taj Mahal
  Agra, India

  	The luminescent white marble of the Taj Mahal glows a different hue depending on the amount of daylight in the sky.

  Photographs and travelers' accolades never quite do justice to the Taj Mahal, one of the most spectacular buildings in the world. Shah Jahan, fifth of the six great rulers of India's Mughal dynasty (1526–1707), ordered no expenses spared on this white marble tomb for his favorite wife. The monarch's supposed plans for a black mausoleum for himself across the river from the Taj Mahal never eventuated; he was overthrown and imprisoned by his son. Today the beautifully proportioned tomb with its domes and minarets has become a potent symbol of India. Rare is the visitor who leaves untouched by the Taj Mahal.

The complete story

Seeing and doing
Agra, once India's imperial seat of Mughal power, is largely an industrial city today. Visitors come primarily to see the Taj Mahal, but other sites of interest include the Agra Fort, where Shah Jahan lived out his last years, and the ghostly city of Fatehpur Sikri, 37 kilometers (23 miles) west of Agra. It is possible to see the Agra attractions on a day trip from Delhi.



• Taj Mahal:

  	Ornamented floral details on the Taj Mahal are characteristic of the Mughal style of architecture.

  The walled compound lies on the eastern edge of Agra, on the banks of the Yamuna River. There are three entrances, but only the main entrance at the south gives the classic view and approach to the tomb. Visitors must remove their shoes or don special cloth slippers before entering the tomb itself. Expect long lines to enter the Taj during major holidays, especially Christmas through early January. Open dawn to dusk. The entry fee is less between 8 AM and 4 PM. Closed Mondays; free on Fridays.
  
  
• Agra Fort: Akbar, the greatest Mughal ruler, fortified this citadel with walls measuring 20 meters (66 feet) high. Shah Jahan, Akbar's grandson, converted some of the original red sandstone structures into marble palaces and pavilions, including the fabled Pearl Mosque. From his tower of imprisonment here Shah Jahan could look out on the Taj Mahal. Open daily sunrise to sunset; small entry fee.
  
  
• Fatehpur Sikri: This entire planned city was built in the middle of the desert by Akbar in gratitude for the oracle-promised birth of a son. However, due to the lack of a permanent water source, the city was only briefly inhabited. The intricately carved sandstone buildings are perfectly preserved, and eerily abandoned. Open sunrise to sunset. Entry fee.

  Dining
  Due to Agra's large numbers of international visitors, many local restaurants feature Chinese and Continental dishes along with Indian fare. The region's specialty is mughlai cuisine, meaning "fit for royalty," and fittingly rich with butter-based sauces and even the occasional sprinkling of rose petals. Fragrant vegetable curries, charcoal grilled lamb kabobs, and tandoori (clay oven) baked chicken tempt any palate.
  
  

• Nauratna: One of the Mughal Sheraton's four restaurants, features traditional mughlai cuisine.
  
  
• Only Restaurant: Serves a variety of Indian and international cuisine in a pleasant garden setting. 45 Taj Rd.
  
  
• Zorba the Buddha: A tiny but very clean (uses only purified water) vegetarian restaurant at budget prices. E-13 Shopping Arcarde, Gopi Chand Shivare Rd.

  Suggested reading
  The following Web sites and books can help you plan your trip to see the Taj Mahal:
  
  Web sites

• Agra Online: Provides names of tour and guide services, air and rail schedules, accommodations, etc. http://www.agraonline.com/index.htm
  
  
• Discover India: Information on what to see in and around Agra, how to get there,
  where to stay.http://www.indiagov.org/tourism/metros/agra.htm