Taj Mahal

Mar 22, 2023

Taj Mahal is the epitome of grandeur and splendor, you cannot fathom the beauty of this white-marbled monument unless you stand in front of it. As you approach the Taj Mahal, it gradually becomes known to you that this is no ordinary monument, but a vision come to life! Moved by its beauty and the deep affection of Shah Jahan for Mumtaz, the Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore called it "a teardrop on the face of eternity". A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is located on the bank of the Yamuna River and is counted among the most popular heritage monuments in India.

Built between 1631 and 1648 AD, the Taj Mahal stands as the finest example of Indo-Islamic architecture and is one of the seven wonders of the world. The timeless beauty of the Taj is a reflection of the profound pain and longing that Shah Jahan was overcome after the death of Mumtaz Mahal. Today, visitors celebrate, reflect, and admire the splendor of the Taj. Inside, both Shah Jahan and Mumtaz lie buried in their graves, divided in life, but united in death.

There is nothing ordinary about the Taj. From its minarets which are always bent curiously outwards to its inlay work, calligraphy, gateways, panels, and arches, every nook and corner is a manifestation of divine grace that its builder seems to have been blessed with. Every intricate detail that catches your eye is worthy of being described in thousands of ways for its exquisite beauty. Unsurprisingly, the Taj Mahal always occupies the first place in the heritage tourism attractions in Uttar Pradesh.

History of Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal was built as a mausoleum by Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died while giving birth to their 14th child in 1631. Her death left the emperor completely heartbroken, and his hair is said to have turned grey overnight. The construction of the Taj began in 1632. The main building was completed in eight years, but the whole complex was not completed until 1653. Soon after the construction was completed, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb and imprisoned in the Agra Fort. For the rest of his life, he could only gaze at his wondrous creation through a window. Shah Jahan died in 1666, after which his mortal remains were buried here alongside Mumtaz.
Over 20,000 people from all over India and Central Asia worked on this striking building. Specialists were brought from as far away as Europe who produced the beautiful marble screens and marble inlay (pietra dura) which is made of thousands of semi-precious stones. Taj Mahal was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983. It looks as pristine today as it was first constructed. The monument underwent a massive restoration project in the early 20th century.

Architecture of Architecture

The Taj Mahal can be accessed through the east, west, and south gates. Inside the grounds, the ornamental gardens are set on the classic Mughal charbagh lines (formal Persian garden). The monument stands on a raised marble platform at the northern end of the garden, facing its back to the Yamuna River. Its raised position is a masterstroke design as it leaves only the sky as its backdrop. Each corner of the platform is graced with 40m high white minarets. Taj itself is made of semi-translucent white marble, inlaid with thousands of semi-precious stones and carved with flowers. The four indistinguishable faces of the Taj are in perfect symmetry, featuring impressive vaulted arches containing pietra dura scrollwork and the quotations from the Quran. The whole structure is topped off by four small domes.
The cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal lies directly below the main dome. It is an elaborate false tomb that is surrounded by an elegant marble screen inlaid with various types of semi-precious stones, offsetting the symmetry of the Taj. The light enters the central chamber through finely cut marble screens. These tombs are false tombs as the real tombs of Mumtaz Mahal, and Shah Jahan lies in a locked room below the main chamber.
The complex houses a red sandstone mosque to the west which is a significant gathering place for the Muslims residing in Agra. There is an identical building to the east, the Jawab, which was built to maintain symmetry. Within the Taj lies the small Taj Museum which houses many original Mughal miniature paintings. Its primary attraction is a pair of 17th-century ivory portraits of the emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. It also has some Caledon plates which are said to split into pieces or change color if the food served on them contains poison.

17 Interesting Facts About Taj Mahal:

1. Taj Mahal is named after Shah Jahan's favorite wife - Mumtaz Mahal

Arjumand Banu Begum was rechristened Mumtaz Mahal by Shah Jahan after their marriage. Mumtaz Mahal in Persian means the "Jewel of the Palace". Though Shah Jahan had seven wives, Mumtaz Mahal was his favorite, and she accompanied him everywhere. She died while giving birth to their 14th child due to some complications in the year 1631.

2. The Construction of the Taj Mahal Involved the Help of an Army of Pachyderms

The construction materials for building the Taj Mahal, like marbles, precious gemstones, and others were transported with the help of more than 1,000 elephants.

3. Precious Stones Were Imported from Outside India for the construction of the Taj Mahal

Inlay work precious and semi-precious stones were used which ranged a variety of around 28 different types. These stones were sourced from Sri Lanka, Tibet, China, and even several places in India.

4. The Taj Mahal Appears in Varying Shades Throughout the Day

Taj Mahal appears to be of a different color at different times of the day. It is pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening, and golden when the moon shines.

5. 'Allah' is Inscribed Many times onto the Tomb of Mumtaz

Ninety-nine names of Allah can be seen as calligraphic inscriptions on the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal.

6. Annual Number of Visitors to the Taj Mahal Is Equivalent to a City's Population

The Taj attracts around 2 to 4 million visitors annually from around the globe including 200,000 from overseas.

7. Taj Mahal is Hidden by a Bamboo Cover During Wars

Taj Mahal was covered with a stockpile of bamboo to save it from the bombers in the 20th century. During the Indo - Pak war of 1971, it was camouflaged with green cloth to protect it.

8. An Amputee Was the Architect of the Taj Mahal

The foundation of the Red Fort was laid by Ustad Ahmed Lahauri who was the head architect for the Taj project too. It becomes quite absurd that an amputated architect would be entrusted by Shah Jahan who believed in perfect craftsmanship.

9. Safety Measures Were Considered During Taj Mahal's Construction

If you happen to look at the minarets of the Taj closely you would find them tilting outwards. This was done to protect the dome in the event of a natural disaster like an earthquake. It was done to protect the tomb from being destroyed hence ensuring its safety.

10. The Taj's Foundation Is Quite Surprising

Taj's foundation, which many will be bewildered to know, is made of timber whose longevity and durability are quite less. The foundation should have crumpled till now due to rotting if not for the Yamuna River. The river keeps the wood moist and strong hence helping to maintain a strong foundation.

11. Making Taj Mahal Today Would Cost over a Billion USD

Between 1632-and 1653, INR 32 million was spent by Shah Jahan for its construction. If the first thought that crosses your mind is how much would it amount to today, then the amount would be close to around 1,062,834,098 USD.

12. There Was Almost the "Black Mahal' as Well

Taj Mahal is among the Seven Wonders of the World and is known worldwide. However, the fact that Shah Jahan wanted to build a black Taj Mahal for himself would surely astonish you. He began to build his tomb on the other side of the river but was unable to complete it as he was taken captive by his son Aurangzeb.

13. The Interiors of Taj Mahal Are Adorned with Holy Calligraphy

Emphasis has been laid to stylize the interiors (especially walls) of the Taj Mahal; calligraphic inscriptions from the holy book, 'Quran' can be seen. Verses from it can also be located on the tombs of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan.

14. The British Left an Influence on the Taj Mahal

According to records, the initial landscaping of the Taj Mahal included an abundance of daffodils, roses, and fruits. However, by the onset of the 20th century when the British took control over large parts of India, a change in the landscaping of the forecourts of the Taj Mahal was observed. It was done to assert their authority over the people of India via imposing their architectural style.

15. The Taj Mahal Was to Be Built Elsewhere Initially

Agra was NOT the actual site for the Taj Mahal. To commemorate his beloved wife, Shah Jahan had conceptualized the structure to be built in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh- the town in which Mumtaz died. Since enough white marble could not be procured from the site, the structure had to be shifted to the city of Agra, which has now become a heritage city.

16. The Rooms with the Tombs Are Not Adorned or Decorated

Islamic scriptures forbid any inscriptions and decorations on the tomb. That is why despite the exuberant exteriors of the Taj Mahal, the actual room in which the tombs of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan now rest is devoid of any stucco work on the walls.