The Taj Mahal & Beyond: India’s Architectural Masterpieces
On April 16 from 12:00–1:00 p.m. ET, virtually journey to India to explore three of Agra’s most iconic Mughal-era sites: the Taj Mahal–a 17th-century masterpiece commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan in tribute to his wife–along with the monuments that shaped its creation through an Indo-Islamic architectural evolution: Agra Fort and Itmad-ud-Daula (“Baby Taj”).
Guided by expert historian Siddiq Wahid, you’ll visit the Taj Mahal, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO Site, celebrated for its precise symmetry, white marble, pietra dura inlay and finely carved calligraphy. You’ll also see Itmad-ud-Daula, an earlier mausoleum that introduced white marble and stone inlay techniques later perfected at the Taj, and Agra Fort, aUNESCO Site and former Mughal capital whose red sandstone walls fuse Islamic and Hindu design traditions. Together, these sites reveal how artistic ambition, engineering breakthroughs and imperial vision shaped one of India’s most enduring cultural legacies.
Highlights Include:
Detailed look at the Taj Mahal’s architecture including its grand dome, harmonious proportions, marble inlays and symbolic gardens.
Conversation with a master artisan descended from the family of craftsmen who created the Taj’s original stone inlay and continue the tradition today.
Private access inside Agra Fort, highlighting the Mughal Empire’s political power and architectural feats of successive emperors.
Up-close look at Itmad-ud-Daula, the “jewel box” tomb that influenced the Taj.
Live Q&A with Siddiq Wahid, one of South Asia’s most respected scholars, on the Mughal era and the global legacy of these monuments.
Please note: Filming is prohibited inside the mausoleums at the Taj Mahal and Itmad-ud-Daula; the experience will focus on exterior architecture and grounds.
