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Taj Mahal - Taj Ganj & Fore Court |
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It is seen that most tombs belonging to the Mughal era had a court preceding the actual tomb. And the Taj Mahal is no exception to this Mughal tradition. Called the Jilokhana or Chowk-i-Jilaukhana, the Fore Court (picture below) is enveloped by a red sandstone wall that consisted of 128 shops (picture below). Although the Forecourt by itself is no less magnificent and grand enough to welcome the emperor himself, Shah Jahan is said to have hardly used this entrance. He always visited the Taj from the fort via the Yamuna river on a boat.
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Tajganj and the Fore Court |
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ForeCourt of the Taj Mahal that was lined by 128 shops in the past |
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The area just outside the Fore Court is called
Tajganj (picture above). In the earlier times, this used to be a bustling bazaar with shops selling everything from jewels to clothing to artifacts and spices. It is said that Mumtaz Mahal met Shah Jahan for the first time here, in one of these shops, from where she was selling jewels.
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