As the sacred Yamuna gently flows down the erstwhile bastion of the mighty Mughal Empire, Agra, the sun seems to strike a harmonious cord as its rays caresses the land. It is said that even the moon shines the brightest in Agra. Because, in Agra, there's a 'heavenly body' that shines with the eternal essence of love - the mesmerising TAJ MAHAL.

Counted among man's proudest creations and referred to as one of the wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal in Agra is the epitome of tourism in India. What would vacations in India be with without experiencing the tours to Taj Mahal? A memorable image from hundreds of brochures and travel books, the Taj Mahal in Agra is a dedication of love by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in memory to his beloved wife Empress Mumtaz Mahal. This labour of love

involved 22 long years of effort by 20,000 odd people. The construction of the tomb began in 1631, when Mumtaz Mahal passed away while giving birth to Shahjahan's 14th child and was finally completed in 1653.

A magnificent structure in white marble, the Taj Mahal is celebrated for its architectural magnificence and aesthetic beauty. A local Muslim architect, Ustad Ahmad Lahori, designed this supreme temple of love set amongst the serene ambience of a well laid out garden. Conceptualised to mirror the gardens of Paradise to which the faithful ascend, the entire Taj Mahal complex is adorned with gardens, gateway structures and mosque. The mausoleum stands at one end of the garden graced by fountains and marble pavements. The garden contains four water channels to echo the four rivers of the Islamic Paradise.