Even when I looked at the Taj with my own two eyes it appeared as if in a dream. Forget Agra’s dirty streets and the swarms of tourists buzzing around the Taj grounds, the marble mausoleum is so magnificent it’s surreal. The Taj Mahal is a powerful enduring symbol of the love between Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal, not to mention one of the seven wonders of the world.

While Agra is most famously known for this stunning structure, the Red Fort is the city’s second most popular destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (as is the Taj). Boasting a beautiful mix of Islamic and Hindu architecture, red sandstone and Indian marble, this site is also rich with historical and cultural importance.

Tags: , Hindu architecture, India, India Agra, India sightseeing, India Taj Mahal, India travel, Islamic architecture, Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, Oberoi Agra, Oberoi Agra Taj Mahal, Oberoi India, Red Fort Agra, Taj Mahal, Taj Mahal Agra, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wonders of the World