This magnificent garden complex sprawls over an area of 25 acres of land. The name Mehtab Bagh means ‘Moonlight garden’. This garden is exactly aligned with the Taj Mahal with identical width and lies opposite to the Taj Mahal. This marvelous garden was built between 1631- 1635. Visitors throng here to watch the sunrise and sunset. This is also the ultimate place to view the majestic Taj Mahal from a distance. It is a photographer’s paradise to click excellent captures of the reflection of the Taj in the Yamuna river or the alluring sunrise and sunset next to it. There is a mythical story of a black Taj Mahal built by Shahjahan as his rest place which his son Aurangzeb resisted and destroyed before it was completed. There is also another story which says Shahjahan himself destroyed the black monument because Aurangzeb wanted no other memorial monument other than his mother. These mythical stories were fueled by the debris found here. But it has been confirmed during excavation that there was no other monument here. So the next time you plan to visit Taj Mahal, make it a point to visit this lovely garden. Visitors are permitted entry from sunrise to sunset with an entry fee of just 15 rupees. Tripods unfortunately are not allowed inside and this is a hindrance to capture the picture of the magnificent Taj during sunrise and sunset.
