Discovering the Taj Mahal from Unexpected Angles

Saurabh Tankha

Sometimes in travel — and in life — things may not seem to be going the right way. But when the experience finally unfolds, you realise everything happened exactly as it was meant to.

Something similar happened to me during one of my visits to the iconic Taj Mahal, the eternal monument of love located in Agra.

As I prepared to start photographing the magnificent marble monument, a man suddenly appeared from nowhere. Before I could even respond, he said warmly, “Arre huzoor, yahan se nahin… aaiye, main aapko sabse different angles batata hoon.”

Without waiting for my answer, he gently guided me across the complex, pointing out vantage points I would never have discovered on my own. From these unexpected spots, the Taj Mahal revealed entirely new perspectives — unique angles that captured its grandeur in ways I hadn’t imagined.

What initially felt like an interruption soon turned into an unforgettable photographic experience.

In the end, the images I captured from those “different” locations turned out to be some of the most interesting photographs from that visit.

The encounter left me with a simple but powerful lesson: while travelling, it’s best not to presume too quickly. Sometimes, the most memorable moments happen when we allow ourselves to trust the unexpected.

 
There are 99 names of Allah written on the interior and exterior of Taj Mahal with beautiful calligraphy.

Taj Mahal has four minarets, which are slightly tilted. The reason behind this is the prevention against earthquake. 

The Taj Mahal is about five feet taller than Qutub Minar. 

The Taj is pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden when the moon shines.  

Henry Saint Clair Fredericks, who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Blues musician.

Taj  has many secret passages and rooms that have been supposedly kept closed since Shah Jahan’s time.

Over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials during the construction of the Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal was globally inspired. It’s a fusion of Persian, Central Asian and Islamic architecture. 

  
>>>>>>>>>Countless beautifully printed lines of Muslim scripture line the walls of the Taj, each of which was transcribed from the Quran under the supervision of head calligrapher Abd-al Haqq, known professionally as Amanat Khan Shirazi.