Hiren Pandit: Suddenly, on a Delhi trip, there was an invitation from the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union. Invitation to participate in the Annual Meeting and Masterclass Gender Mainstreaming in Media Policy and Planning Workshop. Submission of visa along with required nomination and documents required by the office. Later on, due to the special initiative of the organizer and the office, getting the visa in a very short time without any problem and traveling on the specified day.
In a week’s program, let there be only sessions and sessions. The organizers thought that one day, 360 delegates from 85 countries would show everyone the Tajmahal, a colossal event. Tajmahal of Agra will show everyone. Depart at 6 am on the first day of December in Delhi 13, degree temperature 9 large-size buses arrived on tour with a local guide in each vehicle. The distance from Delhi to Agra is 253 km. After reaching Agra in about 4 hours, the bus proceeded along the Jamuna Express Highway, had lunch at Hotel Taj, and went to work at Tajmahal in a small car of the Agra city authority through the protocol officer. Due to the presence of 360 foreign delegates, the Delhi Police provided security with proper security and protocol and police cars back and forth.
If you want to enter the Taj Mahal, you must pay 550 rupees for the citizens of SAARC, another 240 rupees to visit the graves of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan, and about 1500 rupees for tourists from outside SAARC countries. Representatives from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism always explained the history and description of each work to the delegates present to brief us. However, as delegates of the Government of India, it was a matter of honor to visit the Taj Mahal without charge.
This magnificent monument was built in the seventeenth century on the banks of the Jamuna River in Agra. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal to commemorate his deceased wife, Mumtaz. Made of brick, red stone, and white marble, the fine craftsmanship and art throughout this monument have impressed people worldwide. Emperor Shahjahan often came to the Tajmahal by boat through the Jamuna River. He used to enter the Tajmahal by going down a ghat.
The underground rooms under the Tajmahal were built as part of the Tahkhana. The Mughals built underground chambers to keep their bodies cool during the hot months. It is certain that when the emperor visited this palace, these spacious, beautiful, and cool rooms were the resting places of his associates and his wives.
Indian archaeologists entered an underground part of the Tajmahal 20 years ago. There, they found a corridor lined with exquisite craftsmanship. You have to go through that corridor to a wide square. It is clear from this that the emperor used to enter this corridor. Delhi-based historian Rana Safavi, who grew up in Agra, said tourists could visit the Tajmahal underground until a flood in 1978. Once the floodwaters entered the Tajmahal, a layer of silt fell on the floors of the underground rooms after the water receded. There were cracks in the walls and floors. Only then did the authorities stop the public from entering the houses. There is nothing in them.
Like many old monuments, the Taj Mahal is surrounded by many stories and legends. For example, it is said that Shah Jahan wanted to build a “black Taj Mahal” directly opposite the original Taj Mahal. It is believed that the Taj Mahal’s architect was a European. Many Western scholars have at times said that the low status of women in Muslim society makes it impossible for Shah Jahan to have built the Taj Mahal to honor the memory of his dead wife.
There is no end to the public’s curiosity about the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is considered a symbol of true love. This magnificent monument was built in the seventeenth century on the banks of the river Jamuna. The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal to commemorate his deceased wife, Mumtaz. In 1982, the Taj Mahal was declared a part of the world heritage by UNESCO. The Taj Mahal is one of the major tourist attractions not only in India but also in the whole world.
The Taj Mahal is a combination of Indian, French, and Islamic styles of architecture. The architect of Tajmahal is Ahmed Lahouri. About 20,000 workers were engaged in the construction of the Taj Mahal. They all worked tirelessly for 22 years to build this monument. The construction cost of the Tajmahal is about 320 million rupees. The marble used in the Tajmahal was imported from Rajasthan, Tibet, Afghanistan, and China. The Tajmahal can be seen in different colors at different times of the day. Many believe that these changing colors depict the changing moods of women. The Taj Mahal is one of the great wonders of the world. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is a mosque in the Tajmahal premises. Although the Tajmahal is closed on Fridays, people going for prayers are allowed inside the Tajmahal. British troops defaced the Taj Mahal in the late 19th century. Precious stones were quarried from the walls of the monument. The four minarets of the Tajmahal are built slightly outside. So that even if the minarets fall, the main structure will not be damaged.
Many measures have been taken to protect the Taj Mahal from pollution. You have to wear special shoes made of cloth over the boots. Taking pictures inside is forbidden. Mumtaz Begum and Shahjahan’s tombs must be visited in a row. Mumtaz Begum’s grave is slightly bigger than Shah Jahan’s grave. But the security system is excellent. However, the symbol of Emperor Shah Jahan’s love is still visible to people all over the world, and the Taj Mahal stands as one of the Seventh Wonders of the World.