No. XVIII.
THE PRINCIPAL GATE LEADING TO THE TAJE MAH'L, AT AGRA.
This Gate is of red stone and white marble, elegantly ornamented. The spandals over the arches are decorated with foliage of various coloured stones inlaid. The Taje Mah'l is a Mausoleum of white marble, built by the Emperor Shah Jehan, in the year 1631, for his favourite Queen; and is considered by the natives as the most beautiful work of the kind in Hindoostan. The Emperor also lies interred here.
The space between the gate and the tomb is converted into a garden, with avenues of trees, fountains, beds of flowers, &c. The river Jumna washes the lofty walls of the terrace on which this celebrated building stands.
Agra is distant from Delhi southward about one hundred and thirty-seven miles.