Many people have attempted to describe the Taj Mahal's beauty. The architect, Shah Jahan, stated that "it made the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes." Rudyard Kipling described it as "the embodiment of all that is pure," and Rabindranath Tagore described it as a "teardrop on the cheek of eternity."

Although it may appear that I am exaggerating, if you were to ask me what is the most beautiful building I have ever seen, there is no contest; the Taj Mahal reigns supreme. I'm not alone in this. I'm certain that the over 4 million tourists who pass through the complex's massive red sandstone gates each year to see India's most popular tourist destination would agree with me.

Most visitors are already familiar with the Taj Mahal and its history; built by Shah Jahan in 1631 as a memorial for his third wife, who died in childbirth, the main mausoleum took only 8 years to complete, but the complex as a whole wasn't finished until 1653. As a result, it is frequently referred to as the world's greatest love monument. Most people don't realise that you don't have to enter the complex to get a good view of the building's gleaming white onion dome.

If you want to see the Taj Mahal from a different perspective, here are my favourite alternative locations to visit.

Suggested tour: Taj Mahal Sunrise Tour, Same Day Agra Tour, Agra Sightseeing Tour, Agra Tour from Delhi

Complete Blog: What Other Attractions in Agra Are the Best for Tourists

Must Read: What Other Attractions in Agra Are the Best for Tourists