Dawning at Agra’s Mehtab Baag

Agra is famous for Taj Mahal. And this post is about the same magnificent structure only, but not about visiting it. It’s about a garden that offers a splendid view of the Taj Mahal – and the best time to visit this place is early in the morning when the first lights fall on the marbles of the Taj.

Mehtab Bagh (bagh means garden) sits just opposite of the Taj Mahal across the river Yamuna. The open garden is perhaps the best place from which to view the great mausoleum. It was built by Emperor Babur, long before Taj Mahal was conceived by Shah Jahan. Later Shah Jahan himself identified it as the ideal site from which to admire the mausoleum. The beautiful Persian style symmetrical garden was abandoned and forgotten owing to repeated flooding. It existed for many years as a sand-submerged mound till it was excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India in 1993 and was subjected to meticulous architectural and horticultural restoration. It is also the site of a local mythology – of being the fabled site of fabled “Black Taj Mahal”.

The view of the Taj from this garden on a full moon night would be amazing – but unfortunately, the place closes down during sunset. But the experience you will get while visiting the garden early in the morning is also unparallel. Try to get in as early as possible to see the gentle, warm, loving first lights kiss the marbles of the Taj. I visited the place during winter and the morning fog added some extra drama to the scene.

Mehtab Bagh remains Agra’s little secret and one should definitely take out time to visit the garden while in Agra. Though the garden sits just opposite the Taj, since you need to cross the river, and for that, you have to take a ride of 6km and reach the other side by Ambedkar bridge.