Agra: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accompanied by his wife Jeanette Rubio, visited the Taj Mahal on a sweltering Monday morning during his ongoing official trip to India, describing the iconic monument as “one of the love treasures of the world.”
Rubio, who is on a four-day visit to the country, arrived in Agra via a special aircraft at Kheria airport around 10 am. From there, he was taken under tight security arrangements to a hotel near the eastern gate of the Taj Mahal before proceeding to the monument complex in a golf cart.
During his visit, the top US diplomat spent nearly an hour at the 17th-century marble mausoleum, which is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. He was also accompanied by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, who joined him for photographs inside the premises.
In the visitor’s book, Rubio expressed gratitude for the experience, noting his appreciation for being allowed to visit what he described as one of the world’s great symbols of love.
Security around the Taj Mahal was significantly heightened ahead of the high-profile visit. Tourists already present inside the complex were temporarily moved out by security personnel as part of standard safety protocols during the official tour.
Following the Agra visit, Rubio is scheduled to travel to Jaipur as part of his India itinerary. He is expected to return to New Delhi on Tuesday morning to participate in a meeting of Quad foreign ministers.
The visit comes at a time when Agra is experiencing intense summer heat. According to the India Meteorological Department, the city recorded one of its highest temperatures of the season recently, with mercury levels crossing 45 degrees Celsius. Despite the harsh weather conditions, the visit proceeded as planned under strict arrangements.
Rubio’s stop at the Taj Mahal is seen as a key cultural moment in his India tour, highlighting diplomatic engagement alongside heritage appreciation.
