A VISIT TO A PLACE OF HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE
India is studded with many places of historical importance which tell us the past history of our country. Among them, Agra occupies an important position. The famous Taj Mahal has immortalized Agra. It was my long cherish dream to visit the Taj Mahal and it was fulfilled last year when the school organized an excursion to Agra.
The Taj Mahal is the queen of all buildings in the world and it is one of the wonders of the world. This great piece of art and architecture was built in the 17th century by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. This historical monument is a symbol of love between Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. It is situated on the bank of the river Jamuna.
All of us were very anxious to have a look at the Taj Mahal and when we reached it we were spell- bounded by its beauty. It is a wonderful monument and it looks like a creation from the dream world. It is a dream in marble, a poem in marble and a symphony in stone. The Taj in its picturesque surroundings presented a wonderful sight. We went into beautiful and peaceful garden.
On the either side of the main pathway, there are cypress tree which are evergreen. There are beautiful garden and flower-bearing around this great building. In the middle of the pathway there are rows of fountains.
The Taj stands on raised platform. There are four lofty minars on all the four corners of this platform. In the centre stands the mausoleum. It is built of snow- white marble. We saw two graves there. One is in the centre and the other is just near it. The grave in the centre contains the mortal remains of Mumtaz Mahal and the other, those of Shah Jahan. Verses from the Holy Quran are written on them. Precious stones of different colours have been fixed on the walls. The beauty of this portion cannot be described by words. At the back of the Taj Mahal runs the river Jamuna. The reflection of the white Taj Mahal is still water of the Jamuna on a moon-lit proves a wonder sight. We visited each and every part of this superb piece of art and were deeply impressed by it as a work of profound skill and art. It is said that thousands of artists and workers worked for many years to build this monument at a cost of several crores of rupees.
The gleaming white marble, the black shadows, the dim light, the silence and the sweet-scented gardens on the moon-lit night made the Taj a sight never to be forgotten. The Taj Mahal has withstood of severities of time and weather through several centuries. It has still preserved its ancient and glory and splendor. Poets have praised it. Common people adore it. Lovers of art from all over the world visit it. It is a sign of undying love. It is a symbol of culture and the pride of the architects. The visit of a foreign dignitary is not complete till he visits Agra to see the Taj Mahal. No tourists can afford to miss this beauty spot on earth. The Taj is a thing of beauty which words fail to describe. It was indeed my luck to visit this beautiful place. The memory of this visit will always remain fresh in my mind.