If you have a choice of visiting the Taj Mahal, don’t hesitate for a minute. This unique travel destination, located near the banks of the Yamuna River in India, is the most romantic symbol of love in the world. It’s the ideal place for bringing that special someone you care about. Voted by millions as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, it’s also one of the most visited places on earth. It was once described by the famous British Painter Hodges as “something I have never experienced from any work of art.” Standing at the foot of Taj Mahal will surely leave you amazed and dazzled.

But it’s not enough to see it once. In fact, its aspect changes with every season and every hour of the day. In the first hours of the morning, the reflection of the sun will give it a muted reddish glow. And during a moon-lit night, you’ll see a different Taj Mahal.

At Taj Mahal, there’s much to see and explore. Every structure and every garden was built with a purpose and a meaning. To appreciate its beauty, you’ll have to know its history and the reason why it was built.

It’s said that construction of Taj Mahal began in 1632. It took place soon after the death of Mumtaz Mahal who was the Emperor’s wife. She died upon giving birth to their fourteenth child. The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan was inconsolable and heartbroken. Their love story was his inspiration for having the Taj Mahal built. With the efforts of more than 20,000 men, it was completed twenty-two years later.

Archaeological studies concluded that the same person who engineered the Taj Mahal is responsible for the surrounding monuments and gardens. It’s one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture. It’s a combination of styles: Persian, Indian and Islamic. Admired throughout the world, it has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The most astonishing feature is the marble dome above the Empress’ tomb. The interior is majestic and filled with light. The exterior is decorated with calligraphy of abstract shapes, vegetation and sections from the Quran. Inlaid precious and semi-precious stones decorate the bottom part of the graves of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan. They were both laid to rest in plain crypts and as Muslim tradition dictates, their heads are turned toward Mecca.

The gardens outside the Mausoleum are unique in their design and symbolism. These go all the way from the main gateway to the base of Taj Mahal. The number four which is a sacred number in Islam was used in designing the grounds. Multiples of four were also used in the equation when planning. The gardens are divided into four sections with two fountains crossing in the middle. Every section contains sixteen flowerbeds. It’s believed that every bed has 400 plants.

If you’re ready for your trip, also plan on exploring great shopping venues and dine at fine restaurants. The cooler months of October through February are the best times for visiting. This is the destination of a lifetime.

Agra district has many rural areas that are greatly influenced by the religious and sentimental attachment to the surrounding areas of Mathura and Vrindavan to Lord Krishna and Radha. Most of the fairs and festivals organized in the region are either temple festivals, religious festivals or cattle and village fairs based on Krishna's life such as Dauji ka mela, Kans lila, cattle fair Jat Devi, cattle fair Kund Mela, cattle fair Gwal Balba, Meta ki Puja Jat Devi, Holi Milap, Mata-ka-mela, Shitla Mela, Parikrama of Shivji, Kailash Mela, Janamashthmi, Dussehra, Kali-ka-mela, Ram lila, Urs Sufi Sahib and Bateshwar cattle fair. However, we have brought you the most famous of these fairs and festivals of the region.

Taj Mahotsav
Much famous and beloved cultural festival of Agra, Taj Mahotsav is organized annually for ten days during February. Shilpgram (the Crafts Village), the chosen venue for this fair is close to Taj. Here, one can find extensive display of arts, crafts and culture of India along with classical dance and song performances. 'Mushairas' and 'Ghazal' programmes by the well-known Indian artists. Children love to ride on camels and elephants in the vene while one can taste traditional Indian delicacies at the luring stalls here. The colorful celebrations welcome the Spring with a fiesta of Indian cuisine, dance and music, cultural displays and exhibition of arts and crafts.

A brainchild of Uttar Pradesh Tourism, Taj Mahotsav is an event to lure the tourists and acquaint them with the legendary skills of Indian master craftsmen and the finesse of Indian fine arts. It also showcases the rich heritage of India. It commences with a splendid Mughal-style procession highlighting bedecked elephants, richly adorned camels, drumbeaters and folk artists. Taj Mahotsav is best play to witness marble inlay work, wood carvings from Saharanpur, brass wares from Moradabad, handmade carpets of Badohi, the blue pottery of Khurja, the Chikan work of Lucknow and the silks of Banares, all at one place. The Crafts Fair and the Food Festival of Taj Mahotsav have their own charm. The folk dances such as Dundelkhand and 'Nautanki' of Uttar Pradesh, 'Sapera' dance of Rajasthan, the dance of snake charmers and Lavani of Maharashtra have always captured the attention of tourists.

Bateshwar Fair
Bateshwar is just 70 km from Agra and is names so after the presiding deity of the region, Bateshwar Mahadeo. It is an important spiritual and cultural centre boasting of 108 temples of the various gods and goddesses of Hindus. Bateshwar Fair is organized here annually during the months of October or November in the honor of Lord Shiva for a month. Thousands of devotees visit the venue to take holy dips in River Yamuna and participate in the Livestock and Cattle Fair, which is famous in the nearby areas.

Ram Barat
The special marriage procession of Sri Ram, held annually at Agra, is known as 'Rambarat' and precedes Dussehra. It is a part of 'Ramlila', the staging of life of Rama that ends with killing of Ravana, on the day of Dussehra. Its specialty lies in the beautiful 'jhankis' of the deities and the special set of the palace arranged at the chosen venue as 'Janakpuri', the palace of Raja Janak who was the father of Goddess Sita. A major fair is organized in the locality and thousands of people visit the venue to see the fair and attend the elaborate royal wedding of the divine deities. The procession starts from Lala Channomalji Ki Baradari for the Janakpuri venue and passes through different parts of the town. Special chariot covered with silver leaves is used as the mount of Ram while his brothers mount the elephants. The elaborate and heavy headgears look stunning. Teenaged boys play the female characters of the drama.

Kailash Fair
Held at Kailash temple in the honor of Lord Shiva, 12 km from Agra, Kailash fair is celebrated to commemorate the appearance of Lord Shiva in the form of a stone lingam here in the monsoon months of August and September. The major fair attracts devotees from all the nearby areas.