The Taj Mahal, Agra

The Taj-Mahal is a white marble historical monument, surrounded by formal gardens and the Yamuna river on three sides in the city of Agra, Uttar Pradesh. As we all have heard a thousand times, it was built by Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and he chopped off the hands of the construction workers so that nothing like that could ever be built again. A trip to India is incomplete for a foreign tourist if he or she hasn't seen the Taj Mahal. It is a quite popular symbol for Indian tourism. People might not have heard of India but surely would've heard of the Taj. Also, being a historical monument, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It is always present there if a list of recommended tourist destinations is made. It won the poll conducted on the modern Seven Wonders of The World. It is a jewel of Muslim art in India and a masterpiece admired universally.

Being an Indian, you must have visited the Taj already. It is one of the most obvious places to go to for a vacation, especially in the North, as being an Indian, you ought to see the Taj Mahal. Well, I haven't yet received the chance. It does feel odd when people say 'You have seen the Taj Mahal? Oh my God.’ It shows the popularity of the monument in the country and how shocking it is for people to know that an Indian hasn't seen the most popular monument of his or her own country.

I would really like to visit it, not only for the sake of being able to say that I have seen the Taj Mahal but also for its actual beauty and the historical significance. I'm sure it would be a wonderful feeling, as such monuments ought to make you feel connected to history. The Mughals have had quite a huge space in my life, thanks to the huge chapters dedicated to them in the history books. That makes me really want to see their culture being depicted in the monument and to connect to it.

Being located at the banks of the Yamuna river, it has a beautiful view. The gardens act as a cherry on the cake and enhance the beauty of the place. I would definitely like to add my name to the list of the people getting a picture clicked in the front of the Taj Mahal, with both the monument and the gardens being in the frame, and making sure to upload it on social media. It would be great to visit it with family, as it does not feel like a place that can be visited with friends, to be honest. It is more like a family trip destination.

One thing is there, though. I just hope I get to visit it before it turns completely yellow. Pollution is killing people, and it is killing history. The future generations might as well have to get it painted. Nothing can be done about that, really.

Overall, I'd say it is the perfect spot for a one to two-day vacation with family. Monuments, gardens and rivers, it is tourism done right!