In Agra, the name Galla Mandi refers to a traditional marketplace for grain. While the term is used across the city to describe various historic trading centers specializing in specific commodities—like Loha Mandi for iron or Namak ki…
Walking the Taj Mahal Complex
This walk follows the planned 17th-century spatial sequence of the Taj Mahal complex, starting at its historic bazaar before visiting the forecourt tombs and passing through the monumental Great Gate into the inner gardens and assembly hall.
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1. galla mandi
2. Tomb of Fatehpuri Begum
The tomb of Fatehpuri Begum sits within the jilaukhana, or forecourt, of the Taj Mahal complex. It is identified by an octagonal shape, a red sandstone exterior, and a white marble onion-shaped dome. The structure stands on a raised oblong…
3. Saheli Burj
The Saheli Burj are two octagonal, single-story tomb complexes located to the east and west of the Taj Mahal forecourt. You can identify them by their red sandstone structures, each topped with a distinctive white marble dome that rises…
4. Great Gate
The Great Gate, known as the Darwaza-i-Rauza, is a massive red sandstone structure that serves as the formal entrance to the Taj Mahal complex. Rising to a height of nearly one hundred feet, its facade is defined by a large central arch,…
5. Mughal Garden, Agra
The Mughal Garden in the Tajganj neighborhood defines itself through the strict symmetry of the charbagh, a four-part garden layout that was a signature of imperial Mughal design. These spaces were modeled after the Islamic vision of…
6. Mehmaan khana
The Mehmaan Khana stands on the eastern edge of the Taj Mahal’s main plinth, a red sandstone building that mirrors the mosque located on the western side. This structure creates a precise architectural balance, providing a symmetrical…