{"id":28073,"date":"2018-07-12T01:00:41","date_gmt":"2018-07-11T15:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?p=28073"},"modified":"2026-07-09T23:38:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T13:38:26","slug":"taj-mahal-firsthand-account","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/taj-mahal-firsthand-account\/","title":{"rendered":"What it’s really like visiting the Taj Mahal (and why it’s worth the hype)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After seeing the Taj Mahal, Chris Mitchell explains why it’s worth every ounce of praise and something you need to see in your lifetime.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have a confession: in the past, I\u2019ve visited a site <\/span>said to be one of ‘the world\u2019s greatest’ and arrived only to be, I dare say, a touch disappointed. It\u2019s not that the site itself wasn\u2019t magnificent. It\u2019s that I\u2019d constructed such an unreal (and perhaps unattainable) image of what the site <\/span>might be.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I mix my overactive imagination with a healthy dose of the oversaturated Instagram images I\u2019ve viewed over the years, sometimes that\u2019s a recipe for an underwhelming moment. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I embarked on my Delhi to Kathmandu<\/a> trip with Intrepid, <\/strong>I was worried this would be the case with the Taj Mahal. That its reputation was impossibly large and I\u2019d be that unappreciative tourist who didn\u2019t quite understand why everyone else was gushing. <\/span>Well, let me say, it wasn\u2019t everything I hoped it would be; it was actually more than what I ever could have imagined \u2013 here’s why.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"The
Admirers flock to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The story of the Taj Mahal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The history and conception of the Taj Mahal is like something out of a fairytale. It would be a best-selling<\/span> romance novel if it wasn\u2019t certifiable historical fact.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Taj Mahal is essentially a physical manifestation of a Mughal emperor\u2019s undying love. Shah Jahan, one of the most famous emperors of the Mughal empire, built the Taj Mahal as a mausoleum for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. In a sense, Shah Jahan accomplished his goal in spades, as it\u2019s safe to say that history will have a hard time ever forgetting about Mumtaz Mahal and their love.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I appreciated most in learning about the Taj Mahal is that it cost roughly 30 million rupees to complete during its 20 or so years of construction (1632-1653), which would be just under a billion US dollars in today\u2019s world. Just think about that for a second: a ruler spent about<\/span> <\/span><\/i>a billion dollars<\/em> on one building to house the tomb of a woman whom he loved. That fact<\/span> is just astonishing to me.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also worth noting that the emperor employed artisans from across the nation to build this marvellous structure. Numbers vary, but historical records suggest that tens of thousands of individuals worked on this masterpiece, whether they were masons, calligraphers, architects and anything in between. As far as Indo-Islamic architecture is concerned, there\u2019s little that compares to the Taj Mahal.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more: Intrepid’s local leaders on how to ace a first-time India trip<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Exploring the grounds of the Taj Mahal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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How to get the most out of your experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve got to be honest here, just being on the grounds is enough in some regard, but you do probably want to ensure you have a bit of a plan in terms of how to approach it. Thankfully, this part of your Intrepid trip is quite flexible in providing a few hours to take it all in. <\/span>Your local leader<\/a> will guide you around \u2013 and they understand more than most that the Taj Mahal is a highlight<\/span>, providing plenty of breathing space to ensure you leave feeling you\u2019ve gotten all the photos and memories you want.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our leader, Chime, was an incredible source of knowledge in terms of contextualising the site. So, don\u2019t hesitate to ask questions. I can distinctly recall asking questions leading up the Taj Mahal, during our visit and after. Far from being annoyed, Chime seemed genuinely enthused to answer all my questions (and, as you can imagine, there were no shortage of them)<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entering as a non-resident<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll likely be entering from the East or West Gate, which is where foreign nationals enter. Naturally, if you’re with a company like Intrepid, your admission will be taken care of ahead of time, so you can walk right in. You\u2019ll go through security, then towards the <\/span>forecourt and main gate. This is where <\/span>you get your first view of the Taj Mahal in all its glory. Take a second here. In this modern era of instant gratification, I urge you just to enjoy the <\/span>moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve visited nearly 80 countries and I can\u2019t pinpoint a time where I\u2019ve been more in awe of a structure. It\u2019s not just symmetrical, it\u2019s <\/em><\/span>perfection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more: <\/strong>The best places to go in India based on your travel vibe<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"A
Pause to capture your moment at the iconic wonder<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Exploring the grounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Walking through the main gate <\/span>past the gardens and waterbeds, with the Taj Mahal in the distance, is something special. I\u2019d strongly recommend putting your phone and camera away for a moment. Sometimes, as travellers, it\u2019s worth <\/span>just being present instead of thinking about <\/span>the photo opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the main gate, directly facing the Taj Mahal is where you\u2019ll get that quintessential photo once you\u2019re ready and your jaw<\/span>‘s back to its normal position. From here, I\u2019d start to slowly walk towards the building. The closer you get, the more entrancing it becomes.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are thousands of angles from which to appreciate the Taj Mahal<\/span> and the structure looks like it was meant to be admired from any which way. <\/span>Given that it was so carefully and painstakingly devised, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if that was the case.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll notice that the Taj is accompanied by a building on each side \u2013 on the left you\u2019ll find the mosque and on the right you\u2019ll find the mehmaan khana (or drawing room). You\u2019ll be able to enter the mausoleum with the stairs on your left, which is where it\u2019s worth appreciating the Taj Mahal <\/span>is one of history\u2019s great acts of love and commemoration.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes the Taj Mahal so special? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While we can\u2019t all identify with having a swift billion dollars to shell out to show our deepest affections, certainly many of us can identify with wanting to show your love for someone \u2013 or something \u2013 <\/span>in the way that can be appreciated for a long time after.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is nothing else like the Taj Mahal and there won\u2019t ever be anything else like it for the rest of time. It’s a sight that’s truly worth visiting<\/a>, a sight that you couldn\u2019t possibly imagine unless you’re standing right there, seeing it with your own eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When travelling to places like the Taj Mahal, we create moments which stay with us for a lifetime. I can barely remember what I had for breakfast today, but I\u2019ll never forget the pearl-white facade of India’s fabled mausoleum and my stroll through its lavish grounds.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit the Taj Mahal on one of Intrepid’s small-group adventures in India<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More heritage experiences<\/h2>
Rajasthan Experience<\/a><\/div>
15 days<\/span><\/div>
View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Premium India in Depth<\/a><\/div>
14 days<\/span><\/div>
View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Delhi to Kathmandu<\/a><\/div>
15 days<\/span><\/div>
View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After seeing the Taj Mahal, Chris Mitchell explains why it’s worth every ounce of praise and something you need to 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