One of the 7 Wonders to See Before You Die – India’s Taj Mahal, with its pool reflection resembling a teardrop

Reported and photographed by Reporter You Ru / India

It is said that the first ray of sunlight hitting the Taj Mahal is the most beautiful moment of the day. Listed as one of the world's 7 Wonders, the Taj Mahal is a must-visit attraction for travelers coming to India. The beauty of the Taj Mahal lies in its poignant delicacy—its moving charm is hard to put into words without seeing it in person.

▲ The reflection of the Taj Mahal in water is its most iconic image.


▲%cheek? The playfully carved spire on the side has a single dome, representing the 22 years it took to build the Taj Mahal. Looking through the main gate entrance, the domed structure fits perfectly within the archway.


The Taj Mahal originated from a romantic love story. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his queen were married for 19 years and deeply in love, but the queen died in 1630 during her 14th childbirth. On her deathbed, she asked Shah Jahan never to remarry and to build a beautiful mausoleum in her honor.

Thus, in 1631, the year after the queen’s passing, construction of the Taj Mahal began, taking 22 years and 20,000 workers to complete. Shah Jahan kept his word and never remarried, passing away in 1666. As a result, the Taj Mahal has become one of the most romantic legends in the eyes of the world.

Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore described the Taj Mahal as “a teardrop on the cheek of eternity,” using poetry to convey its purity and timeless beauty.A reporter visited the Taj Mahal in early autumn; its reflection rippled gently on the water in the courtyard. When the wind blew, the image swayed slightly—truly like a trembling teardrop.

The Taj Mahal complex, consisting of the main gate, forecourt, Mughal garden, mausoleum, and two mosques, spans a vast area. Visitors must first go to the ticket office to purchase tickets, collect drinking water and shoe covers, then take a shuttle bus to reach the site. Local guides specifically advise not bringing luggage, as the site sees too many visitors daily—the security check alone can take over half an hour.

After battling through the crowds and taking the shuttle bus to arrive at the Taj Mahal, the main gate features 11 domes on either side, representing the 22 years of construction. Through the gateway, the domed structure aligns perfectly within the frame of the arch, and each step closer brings you nearer to the heart of the Taj Mahal.


▲ Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore described the Taj Mahal as “a teardrop on the cheek of eternity.”

Passing through the main gate, the Taj Mahal comes into full view. This entirely marble-built monument is surrounded by four 40-meter-high minarets. Rida, a guide from specialized Indian tour agency Shiqun Travel, pointed out that the minarets are tilted 12 degrees outward so they would fall away from the main structure in an earthquake—showcasing the extraordinary care taken in its design.

At the center of the forecourt garden is a marble pool, flanked by rows of cypress trees symbolizing life and death. Walking slowly toward the main mausoleum from the gate, visitors must put on shoe covers before entering to protect the marble. Many Indians leave their shoes in the garden lockers and walk barefoot into the tomb.


▲ Shoe removal is mandatory before entering the Taj Mahal mausoleum.


▲ From every angle, one can feel its breathtaking beauty.


▲ The Taj Mahal at sunset.

Photography is prohibited inside the mausoleum, which is octagonal in shape. Marble screens cover the surroundings, and with no internal lighting, light filters in only through lattice windows, creating a kaleidoscope of shimmering shadows. Currently, only cenotaphs are present—two empty stone sarcophagi, one large and one small, for Shah Jahan and his queen, allowing future generations to pay tribute and admire.

The beauty of the Taj Mahal is most strongly felt through its pool reflection and upon entering the mausoleum. The reflection remains still, while the interior, bustling with visitors, creates a constant flow of light and shadow. Noise from crowds and guards’ whistles fills the space.The lively chaos of India, paired with the magnificent mausoleum, feels like a poem untouched by time—joyful yet lonely.

%A worker was injured during the long construction period, and locals remember it this way./strong>


Full text of Tagore’s poem:
Shah Jahan, you would let imperial power vanish, yet wished for a single teardrop of love to endure forever.
Time is ruthless—it shows no mercy to the human heart, mocking its futile struggle against forgetfulness.
Shah Jahan, you used beauty to enchant it, to captivate and imprison it, placing an ever-blooming crown upon the formless specter of death.
In the silence of the night, the whispered secrets you shared by your lover’s ear are now engraved on eternal, silent white stone.
Though empires have turned to dust and history faded into obscurity, the white marble still sighs to the starry sky: “I remember!”
Yet life forgets—for life must answer the call of eternity: lightly she departs, leaving all memories behind in the lonely beauty of solitude.

The World’s 7 Wonders of the World:
The Egyptian Pyramids
The Acropolis of Athens
China's Great Wall
Borobudur Temple in Indonesia
Cappadocia's Unique Rock Formations in Turkey
Angkor Wat in Cambodia
Taj Mahal in India

Taj Mahal
Address: Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001, India
Ticket: $20 USD
Transportation Info: China Airlines flies to India three times a week, with a flight time of about 6 hours. Alternatively, you can contact Shiqun Travel Agency, which specializes in India.