A Wonder in Marble: The Epitome of Love
Two words: Taj Mahal.
Located on the outskirts of Agra near Delhi, it is built on the banks od the Yamuna River.
As the epitome of love, this magnificent white marbled mausoleum has its own story to tell. Listed as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, it is a radiant jewel in the crown of Empress of India.
Built in 1648 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, the Taj Mahal was created as a memorial and tomb for his wife, Arjuman Banu, also known as Mumtaz Mahal.
On June 17, 1631, Mumtaz Mahal died while giving birth to their 14th child. At the time inconsolable, the Emperor envisaged a memorial that would befit his love to his late wife.
Mumtaz Mahal was the daughter of a Persian nobleman and niece of Empress Nur Jehan. At the age of 14, she was engaged to marry Prince Khurram, also known as Shah Jahan. They married in 1612 and later had 14 children together. She traveled with Shah Jehan and accompanied him on many of his military campaigns. The love and trust were so deep that he gave her his Imperial Seat - the Muhr Uzah.
At the time of her death, her body was buried in a walled garden in Burhanpur on the banks of the Tapti. Devastated by her death, Shah Jehan went into mourning that lasted a year. He returned with white hair and a ravaged face full of grief and sadness. He had her body exhumed and taken back to Agra in a golden coffin, escorted by their son Shah Shuja. Here, the body was buried in a small building on the banks of the Yamuna. During this time, the Emperor began planning a royal mausoleum for his wife.
Construction began in 1632 and was completed in 1648. Known today as the Taj Mahal, this tomb is made of marble and is a showpiece of Mughal architecture. It represents the Emperor’s vision of Mumtaz Mahal’s home in paradise. The architecture combines elements of Islamic, Indian, Persian, Ottoman and Turkish styles of art. The principal architect, Ahmed Shah Lahauri, along with more than 20,000 artisans and craftsmen were employed to construct this monument.
Material from all over India and Asia were used to construct the Taj Mahal and over 1,000 elephants were used to carry building material. The white marble was sourced from Makrana in Rajasthan, turquoise from Tibet, lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, jade and crystal from China and sapphire from Sri Lanka and Arabia.
The Taj Mahal has a charm of its own. It is believed to have been constructed in such a way that the white marble reflects the sky. The monument changes its colors during the day. Early morning the Taj appears pinkish, milky white at noon, a sparkling golden at sunset and shimmering silver in the moonlight. On a full moon night the beauty of the Taj Mahal is enhanced a hundred times more. The tall, four shiny minarets on the sides of the tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal are also breathtakingly beautiful.
The Taj Mahal is a radiant jewel in the crown of the empress of India. One of the greatest works of art, tourists come from all over the world for the satisfaction of coming face to face with this grand edifice!
The Taj Mahal is a monument symbolic of the profound love between an emperor and his wife. Even after three centuries the beauty of the Taj Mahal has not faded even a little. It has stood the test of time and survival from the ravages of sunshine, storms and heavy rains. Shah Jehan has left for posterity a monument of eternity.
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