TAJ MAHAL

For centuries, the Taj Mahal has moved poet, painter and musicians to seek and capture its mysterious wonderful in word, colour and song. It is one of the most perfect architectural creation of the world. Since the 17th century, travellers have crossed continents to come and see this vital memorial to love, and few have been unmoved by its incomparable beauty.

Taj Mahal stands in the capital of Agra, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, on the bank of the Yamuna River. It was built in the recall of the beautiful Arjumand Bano Begum, who won the feeling of a Mughal prince. She was married at 21 to Emperor Jahangir’s third son Prince Khurram and stayed loyally by his side through good times and bad: in the comfortable royal palaces of Agra as well as the transient tents of war camps.

In AD 1628, Khurram became king after a bleeding battle of succession: he took the name Shahjahan or “King of the World” and showered his beloved begum with the highest titles. She became Mumtaz Mahal, the exalted of the palace and Mumtaz-ul-Zamani, the exalted of the Age. But Mumtaz Mahal was not destined to be queen for long.

In 1631, Shahjahan went on an journey to the south and, as always, Mumtaz Mahal accompanied him. But she died in childbirth at Burhanpur. She had borne Shahjahan fourteen children, of whom four sons and three daughters survived. When Mumtaz Mahal died, she was just 39 years old. Shahjahan was inconsolable and contemporary chronicles tell of the majestic court mourning for two years. there was no music, no feasting, and no celebration of any kind.

Work on the mausoleum begin in 1633 and 20,000 workers laboured for 17 years to build it. The most skilled architect, inlay craftsmen, calligraphers, stone-carvers and masons came from all across Indian and lands as remote as Persia and Turkey. The master mason was from Baghdab, an expert in structure the double dome from Persia, and an inlay specialist from Delhi.

Yemen sent agates, the corals came from Arabia, the garnets from Bundelkhand, onyx and amethyst from Persia. Mumtaz Mahal’s final resting-place was ornamented like a queen’s jewel-box.

Epitome Of Love -Taj Mahal

Shahjahan, who was a passionate builder, now decided to erect a memorial to his queen in pristine sandstone that the world would never forget. The site selected for the tomb was a garden by the Yamuna river, unshadowed by any other structure. The garden had been laid by Raja Man Singh of Amber and now belonged to his grandson, Raja Jai Singh. By a royal firman, Shahjahan gave Jai Singh four havelis in exchange for the garden. The site was also chosen because it was located on a bend in the river, and so could be seen from Shahjahan’s personal palace in Agra Fort, further upstream.

Structure Of The Mausoleum - Taj Mahal

Work on the mausoleum begin in 1633 and 20,000 workers laboured for 17 years to build it. The most skilled architect, inlay craftsmen, calligraphers, stone-carvers and masons came from all across Indian and lands as remote as Persia and Turkey. The master mason was from Baghdab, an expert in structure the double dome from Persia, and an inlay specialist from Delhi. Yemen sent agates, the corals came from Arabia, the garnets from Bundelkhand, onyx and amethyst from Persia. Mumtaz Mahal’s final resting-place was ornamented like a queen’s jewel-box.