• Digital Nomad Resources
  • Train Travel
  • Urban Rail Transit
  • Where To Stay

Nomadic Notes

Travel blog and weekly travel newsletter

  • Blog
  • Travel Newsletter

In Pictures: The Taj Mahal – India

April 20, 2011 By James Clark 5 Comments

If there is one building that carries a load of expectation on its shoulders (roof? dome?), that would be the Taj Mahal. Only good is ever spoken of this Wonder of the World, so I naturally wondered if it would live up to its expectations.

First glimpse of the Taj Mahal - Agra
[First glimpse of the Taj Mahal]

Walking through the gate and glancing upon the building for the first time I was more struck with its familiarity than its beauty. I had a similar sensation when seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time. It was like I have seen it every other day of my life. It didn’t take long though to appreciate what a remarkable beauty this building is.

The Taj Mahal
[The classic view of Taj Mahal]

Up close the detail of the carvings in the marble is revealed as well as an appreciation for how big this mausoleum is. And to think it was built in only 20 years, having been completed around 1653.

Taj Mahal
[Taj Mahal up close]

Other Places To View The Taj Mahal

I was surprised how built up the area is around the Taj Mahal. I had envisioned the area to be surrounded by parks and boulevards, instead it is surrounded by a busy old town area. What is even more surprising is this area is dominated by budget guesthouses. If this was in China the area would have been demolished years ago, and 5 star hotels would flank the perimeter. But this is India, so for now budget travellers can stay within a 5 minute walk of the Taj for less than $10 a night. Yay! Many of the guesthouses have roof top cafes which boast views of the Taj. I went up to the Shanti Lodge guesthouse cafe, and this was the view I had while having breakfast.

Taj Mahal - Shanti Lodge view
[Roof top view of the Taj Mahal]

away from the Taj area there is a good view from Agra Fort, which has a clear view along the river.

Taj Mahal from Agra Fort
[Taj Mahal from Agra Fort]

Also from the other side of the river there is a park that mirrors the park of the Taj Mahal.

Postcard Shot

At the leaning tower of Pisa the classic shot is of trying to push over the tower. Here the favourite shot is to pinch the roof with your fingers as if you are gently lifting it up. I opted for the classic postcard shot.

James at the Taj Mahal

Travel Photos: Taj Mahal Photo Gallery

Filed Under: Travel Blog Tagged With: agra, buildings, india, james clark, taj mahal

Comments

  1. bijuterii argint says

    May 16, 2011 at 6:34 pm

    I think every famous building can give the impression you’ve already seen it. Also a famous city’s skyline.

    Reply
  2. Zablon Mukuba says

    June 11, 2011 at 10:08 am

    these are great photos of Taj mahal

    Reply
    • James Clark says

      June 25, 2011 at 3:14 pm

      Thanks Zablon 🙂

      Reply
  3. sharon says

    July 1, 2013 at 1:47 pm

    You are so helpful…… i got tips now and know where to go and stay when i visit places!

    Your the best!

    Reply
  4. Milena Yordanova says

    July 16, 2014 at 10:52 am

    Great photos! Taj Mahal is a stunning building. It’s so nice that there are a lot of budget guest houses in the area. You won’t have to pay much for such awesome views.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Weekly Travel Newsletter

Sign up for the weekly travel newsletter for the latest posts, and a roundup of best travel reads from around the web.
Subscribe For Free Here [No spam, unsubscribe anytime.]

About Nomadic Notes

James Clark from Nomadic Notes

Hi, I’m James Clark, and I've been travelling the world since 2003 while running a location independent travel business. Nomadic Notes is a travel blog featuring travel guides and notes from my travels.

More about me and Nomadic Notes.

Follow Nomadic Notes

Recent Posts

  • Don Muang Airport Train: Getting the train from DMK to Central Bangkok
  • Bangkok to Pattaya by train
  • Notes on Udon Thani
  • Where to stay in Singapore: The best areas and notable hotels (2023)
  • Ornamental street signs of Thailand
  • Where to stay in Georgetown, Penang – The best area to stay and the pick of the hotels (2023)
  • Notes on Nakhon Phanom: Down by the river, and hanging out at Uncle Ho’s House
  • Where to stay in Da Nang – the best areas and most notable hotels (2023)
  • Where to stay in Hanoi: The best areas for first-time visitors
  • Where to stay in Dubai: The best areas and most iconic hotels

European Rail Travel

Eurail Pass Travel Guide

Europe Rail News – The new newsletter for train travel in Europe

Southeast Asia Rail Travel

Southeast Asia current and proposed railways

A complete guide to train travel in Southeast Asia

Featured Posts

Top 200 Travel Books
How to find cheap flights
Best new banks for travellers, expats, and nomads

About Nomadic Notes

About
Advertise
Contact
Contribute
Press/Media Mentions
Where I've Been

Search Nomadic Notes

Travel Notes

Travel Notes

Travel Resources

Long-term Travel
Travel Blog Directory
Travel Gear
Travel Insurance
Travel Sites

Where To Stay In…

Bangkok
Chiang Mai
Da Nang
Ho Chi Minh City
Hong Kong
Jakarta
Kuala Lumpur
Macau
Penang
Singapore

Travel Newsletter

Sign up for the weekly travel newsletter for the latest posts and a roundup of best travel reads from around the web.

Copyright © 2023 Nomadic Notes · Site Map | Privacy · Log in