Taj Mahal History In English

Unsurprisingly, the popularity of the Taj Mahal means that the surrounding neighborhood has turned into a tourist trap. But don't worry: the reward is worth the effort.

Don't wait too long to go see the Taj Mahal for yourself. The reports of structural cracks and foundation problems — the Taj is constructed in a river basin — become more worrisome every year. Fact #1: Sick with grief, Shah Jahan was first inspired to build the Taj Mahal after his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died while giving birth to their 14th child. His wife was in labor for 30 hours before she died at age 40.

Fact #2: The four minarets (towers) surrounding the Taj Mahal were constructed farther away from the main structure than usual. The minarets also lean slightly outward rather than stand straight. This was done as a safety measure so that if any of them fell, they would fall away from the tomb rather than crash into the central structure. Fact #5: There is no proof to support the long-standing myth that artists and architects involved with the construction of the Taj Mahal were later put to death so that they could never 'repeat such a beautiful feat.'

Instead, historians believe that they were required to sign contracts. Fact #6: With construction beginning around 1632 and finishing in 1653, the Taj Mahal took an estimated 22 years to build. Small refinements continued thereafter. Fact #7: Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, generally regarded as the chief architect of the Taj Mahal, was not Indian; he was a Persian from Iran. Fact #8: Islamic tradition forbids the decoration of graves, so Shah Jahan and his wife are actually buried in a plain crypt beneath the main inner chamber of the Taj Mahal. Fact #9: Shah Jahan's other wives and even his favorite servant are buried in mausoleums just outside of the Taj Mahal.

Fact #10: Construction of the cost an estimated 32 million Indian rupees (the equivalent of over US $1 billion at the time). Fact #11: The structure on the western side of the Taj Mahal is thought to have been used as a guest house. Fact #12: Over 1,000 elephants were used to transport heavy materials and supplies for construction.

Fact #13: A total of 28 types of precious and semiprecious jewels are set in the marble. The turquoise came from Tibet, and jade came from China. Heavy white marble — the principal building material — was transported from Rajasthan. Fact #14: British soldiers pried precious stones from the walls of the Taj Mahal during the Sepoy Rebellion in 1857.

Fact #15: An estimated 20,000 laborers were recruited from all over Asia to contribute to the massive project. Remnants of their massive encampment, bazaar, and living quarters are now a nearby neighborhood.

Fact #16: Following the Taj Mahal's completion, Shah Jahan was put under house arrest in 1658 by his son, Aurangzeb. Shah Jahan was only able to view the Taj Mahal from his window for the last eight years of his life before being entombed there. Fact #17: False structures and scaffolding were constructed around the Taj Mahal throughout different conflicts to confuse German, Japanese, and Pakistani bomber pilots. Fact #18: The Taj Mahal's white marble is rapidly turning yellow because of terrible air pollution in Agra. Only electric vehicles are allowed near the structure, and a 4,000-square-mile environmental radius was declared around the monument to help control emissions.

Visitors must walk or take electric buses from the parking area to the Taj Mahal. Fact #19: The Taj Mahal is actually cracking at an alarming rate due to lack of groundwater beneath the structure. Wooden foundations — once submerged — are thought to be rotting.

Even the minarets are beginning to lean more. Fact #20: The Taj Mahal was declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, receiving more than 100 million votes. Voting for the Taj Mahal actually helped push the controversial internet-and-phone-based poll into the world spotlight. Fact #21: In 2008, a Bangladeshi filmmaker constructed a replica of the Taj Mahal at a cost of US $56 million dollars so that his impoverished countrymen in Bangladesh could enjoy the famous monument without traveling to India. The replication took five years to complete with modern equipment.

Fact #22: A Taj-inspired luxury hotel, event, and shopping complex is under construction in Dubai. The Taj Arabia, as the replica is called, will be four times the size of the original and will cost an estimated US $1 billion.

The 20-story glass hotel will contain 350 luxury rooms. Visiting Tip: Excluding Fridays and the, the Taj Mahal is open two nights before, during, and after the full moon every month. On a clear night, the full moon provides a soft, eerie light for enjoying the Taj Mahal.

The Indian poet called the Taj Mahal a 'teardrop on the cheek of time.' It remains a to the —and power—of an. The is a in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Shah Jahan, who ruled the (with its capital in Agra) for 30 years, had the mausoleum constructed to honor his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, after her death in 1631. The main mausoleum of the Taj Mahal took more than 15 years to complete. (The site also includes a and assembly hall (not visible in this beautiful photograph) and elaborate gardens.) The white marble dome soars 171 meters (561 feet) above a pink sandstone base.

Taj Mahal Summary

Four s frame the main mausoleum complex. The atop the dome is uniquely Indian, recognizing the region's religious diversity. The finial incorporates a moon, the symbol of (the religion of both Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal). But by placing the moon with its horns (points) pointing to the heavens in a U-shape, the moon and finial resemble a —a traditional symbol of the powerful god Shiva. Legend has it that Shah Jahan intended to have a 'Black Taj' constructed as his own mausoleum.

Conflict within the empire prevented any plans or construction of the Black Taj. Both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are buried beneath the dome of the Taj. 'The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs And the sun and moon shed tears from their eyes.' Shah Jahan. 'Did you ever build a castle in the air?

Here is one, brought down to the Earth and fixed for the wonder of the ages.' Bayard Taylor, writer. 'Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor's love wrought in living stone.'

Sir Edwin Arnold, poet. 'It appears like a perfect pearl on an azure ground.' William Hodges, painter.

'After hearing many praises ever since I had been in India, I felt that its beauty exceeded, rather than fell short of my expectations.' Reginald Herber, Bishop of Calcutta. 'Properly speaking, the Sultan's memory is more perpetuated by this building than that of his wife.' Ida Pfeiffer, explorer. 'Marble, I perceive, covers a multitude of sins.'

Aldous Huxley, writer. Term Part of Speech Definition Encyclopedic Entry architecture Noun style and design of buildings or open spaces. Crescent Noun shape of a half-circle with thin ends. Emperor Noun ruler of an empire. Finial Noun small, ornamental feature on top of a pointed spire or canopy. Grief Noun sadness, usually caused by a great loss.

Hindu Noun religion of the Indian subcontinent with many different sub-types, most based around the idea of 'daily morality.' Islam Noun religion based on the words and philosophy of the prophet Mohammed. Mausoleum Noun impressive tomb or burial site. Minaret Noun tower used to call Muslim worshippers to prayer.

Mosque Noun place of worship in the Muslim or Islamic religion. Mughal Empire Noun (15261764) territories throughout the Indian subcontinent.

Also called the Mogul Empire. Rabindranath Tagore Noun Indian writer and philosopher. Taj Mahal Noun (1632) large, white mausoleum complex in Agra, India, built by Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz. Testament Noun proof or evidence. Trident Noun three-pronged tool or weapon. For information on user permissions, please read our.

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