The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is the most brilliant and the most triumphant achievement among the funeral monuments all around the world. It marks the culmination in the evolution of the tomb. The Indian builders achieved the most beautiful expression through this creation under the Mughals. The Taj Mahal was built by a Mongul emperor named Shah Jahan, for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Only three years later his beloved wife died shortly after childbirth. In 1632 Shah Jahan began the project of building a mausoleum, or tomb for his wife, and it was also part of her last wish to have a beautiful tomb.  The Taj Mahal was built in Agra in Northern India in 1632-1648. Also the building is built in an Islamic style of architecture.  The Taj Mahal took nearly 22 years, from 1632 to 1653. However, its two outlying buildings (one is a mosque) were completed in 1643, and the main mausoleum was finished in 1648. The Taj Mahal cost around 32 million India rupees and it is still standing.

In the construction of the Taj Mahal three types of stones have been used.  Semi-precious stones: these were mainly used for inlaying work. Rare and scarce stones and other materials which were used for the construction of Taj Mahal included different kinds of bricks, Gaj-i-Shirin (sweet limestone) and there are many. The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia. In addition, over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials during the construction. Master craftsmen from all over India and Asia were brought to Agra to carry out his design. Ustad Ahmed, the most famous Persian architect of the day, designed the complex. However, the Emperor did not want any of those workers to recreate the same design anywhere in the world. So he cut their hands off with the hope that theTaj Mahal stays as one unique building in the world. In the end there were no problems encountered while building the Taj Mahal.

 

Finally, anyone attempting to say something in the praise of the Taj Mahal suddenly feels at loss of words the moment he/she steps in the historical magnificence. An apostle of love, Taj Mahal is now at the top of the list of Seven Wonders of the World. And  It is one of the most recognizable structures in the world and one of the most beautiful. It was built by Mugal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife.
Because of it's wonderful decor and landscape, it has been named a wonder of the world. It attracts between 2 million and 4 million visitors annually.

First of all, before his accession to the throne, Shah Jahan was popularly known as Prince Khurram. Also, Shah Jahan fell in love with the beautiful Arjumand Bano Begum and married her, making her his third wife. In addition, Arjumand Bano Begum was christened by Shah Jahan as Mumtaz Mahal, meaning the “Chosen One Of The Palace” or “Jewel of the Palace”.

On the other hand, Shah Jahan lost Mumtaz Mahal, when she died giving birth to their 14h child. However, for the transportation of the construction materials, more than 1,000 elephants were employed. As many as 28 different varieties of semi-precious and precious stones were used to adorn the Taj with exquisite inlay work.

Also, depending on what time of the day it is and whether or not there’s moon at night, the Taj Mahal appears to be of different colors every time. Some even believe that this changing pattern of colors depicts the different moods of a woman.

And passages from Quran have been used as decorative elements throughout the complex. On the sides of the actual tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, 99 names of Allah can be found as calligraphic inscriptions.

Taj Mahal was built in stages, with the plinth and the tomb taking up roughly 15 years. Building of minarets, mosque, jawab, and gateway took an additional 5 years to be completed. And there are different types of marbles used in the construction of the Taj Mahal and they were brought over from many different regions & countries: Rajasthan, Punjab, China, Tibet, Afghanistan, Srilanka, & Arabia.

Many precious stones and lapis lazuli (a semi-precious stone) were ripped off from its walls by the Britishers during the Indian rebellion of 1857. And the Taj Mahal attracts 2-4 million visitors annually with over 200,000 from overseas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

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v  Treasures of the World | Taj Mahal. (n.d.). PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved April 30, 2013, from http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/a_nav/taj

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v  History Of Taj Mahal, Tajmahal History, Taj Mahal Info, Taj Mahal Story, Taj Mahal Building. (n.d.). Taj Mahal India, Taj Mahal India Tours, Taj Mahal Agra Tour, Agra Taj Mahal Tours, India Tajmahal Information, Agra Taj Mahal Tour India. Retrieved April 30, 2013, from http://www.tajmahalindia.net/history-of-taj-mahal.html

v  Taj Mahal Story - Story of the Taj Mahal - Taj Mahal India Story - Taj Mahal True Story. (n.d.). Agra India - Agra Tourism - Agra City - Travel to Agra - Travel Agra - Tourism in Agra. Retrieved April 30, 2013, from http://www.agraindia.org.uk/taj-mahal/taj-mahal-story.html