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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Tajmahal : One of the seven wonders of the world

The Taj Mahal more often from parsian and arabic called "crown of palaces", pronounced also "the Taj" is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttarpradesh, India. It was built by Mughal Emperror ''Shahjahan'' in memory of his wife, ''Mumtaz''. The Tajmahal is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage"


The Taj Mahal attracts a large number of tourists. UNESCO documented more than 2 million visitors in 2001, including more than 200,000 from overseas.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 center.


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.