Taj, Agra

The Taj Mahal, built between 1632 and 1643 under the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (reigned 1627–1658) for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, is one of the most photographed buildings in the world. Most visitors to India today try to include it in their itineraries. This was also true in the 1800s, but in that period few people had their own cameras, so nearly all tourists had to buy professional pictures from important photographic studios in India and elsewhere. Photographer Francis Frith (British, 1822–1898) never went to India himself, but he established an important firm that offered views from all over the world—including many photographs of Indian buildings and scenery—acquired from a large number of his contemporaries.

This image shows an interesting view of the Taj Mahal. The earliest sketches and photographs were usually taken from the riverside because, as suggested by this photograph, the trees of the gardens were so tall they hid some of the structure. In order to allow for a view of the whole tomb with its four minarets, photographs were taken from high atop the gateway at the entrance to the gardens. It is far less common to find pictures from inside the garden; only an impression of the whole can be gotten from such an intimate view.