The
Moonlight Garden Area
25 acre Built
in 1631 to 1635
Mahtab Bagh is situated on the sandy bank of
Yamuna River just opposite the Taj Mahal mausoleum.
The place is an ideal spot for it provides picturesque
view of Taj Mahal. The name Mehtab Bagh means
'Moon Lit Garden' and the same was testified
by the beautiful reflection of Taj Mahal in
the pool at night in Mahtab Bagh. The place
has a history of its own. It is believed that
the great emperor Shah Jahan who built Taj Mahal
for his queen wanted an identical one for himself
at Mehtab Bagh. However the archaeological findings
have proved the existence of garden complex.
Whatever the popular beliefs be, the place is
worth a visit as it provides bewitching image
of Taj Mahal.
The important attraction of Mehtab Bagh is
Taj Mahal itself. The garden has been renovated
by the Archaeological Survey according to the
original plan. The place has been enriched with
vegetation and at present more than 40 species
of plants bloom in the garden. The garden has
been built in a typical Charbagh fashion.
The growing attention to Agra Mehtab Bagh can
be credited to the escalating concern for the
Taj and its grounds, which are in danger by
urban sprawl, too many tourists, and air pollution
that eats away into the shrine's marble exterior.
The lush gardens that once lined the riverbanks
on either side of the Taj may flourish again
in a scheme to protect it from further damages.
Conservationists uphold that a buffer zone of
greenery would keep development at bay and help
remedy local air, noise, and water pollution.
Much of the land for the greenbelt had already
been acquired through a previous proposal to
establish a 340-acre national park around the
Taj. While yours to Agra a visit to this opulent
garden will mark you treat your eyes far away
from the hustle bustle of the busy town.
The
Moonlight Garden