Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal was built by a Mongul emperor named Sahah Jahan, for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Sahah Jahan was born in 1592, while his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal was born in 1593. They married in 1612 and had seven children. In 1628 Shah Jahan became the Mongul Emperor. Only three years later his beloved wife died shortly after childbirth. In 1632 Sahah Jahan began the project of building a mausoleum, or tomb for his wife, the Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal is located on the banks of the Yamuna River. It took twenty-two years to complete with an estimated 20,000 workers. The building is surrounded by four 138 ft. minarets and sits on a 315 ft. square marble platform. Each side has a 110 ft. arch and center dome is around 200 ft. high. The building is built in an Islamic style of architecture.

Centered in the building is a tomb for Mumtaz Mahal. Next to her tomb, is the tomb for Sahah Jahan. The tombs in the building are empty. The bodies of the two are buried in a crypt below the building. The entire plan of the Taj Mahal is symmetrical, with one exception. Symmetrical means that one side of the building could mirror the other side if cut down the middle. The only exception is the tomb of Sahah Jahan which was added later to the building. There is a story which suggest that Sahah Jahan was planning on building a replica of the Taj Mahal for himself on the other side the river, though no evidence or plans of this has ever been found.

Sahah Jahan was overthrown by his own son and imprisoned in the Red Fort within sight of the Taj Mahal. He was forced to spend the last eight years of his life in prison till his death in 1666.

Taj Mahal

If Rose is the essence of love, Jasmine is certainly the key to romance and is still revered as such in Hindu and Muslim traditions. Jasmine is an ancient aphrodisiac, warming body and soul. So, when Sultan built the Taj Mahal as a temple of love to his late wife, he planted a jasmine grove where, in the moonlight unseen, he might inhale it’s scent and forever experience her eternal appeal.

shah jahan

mumtaz

The immortal love story..... The TAJ MAHAL

“If a monument like the Tajmahal is built on my body, I would like to die this moment”, said a wife to his husband, after witnessing the splendors of Tajmahal.

The Tajmahal means Arjumand Begum, the beloved of Emperor Sahjahan, who gave her the name “Mumtaj Mahal” (Ornament of place). It’s a rare gift, given as a token of love, by a husband to a wife. The Tajmahal is standing on the bank of river Yamuna in Agra, nearly 100 km from the capital city of Delhi. The Taj Mahal is 350 years old but it looks as if it has been completed yesterday only.Sahjahan married Mumtaj when she was 19 yrs old, the emperor was just 2 years older than Mumtaj. For her compassion for the poor, cordial relations with all, charming beauty, and politeness, the Mumtaj became the most beloved queen of Sahjahan.Mumtaj’s married life spread over for only 18 years and she bore 14 children. She died while delivering the last child in the southern part of India. On her death, Sahjahan became so sad that within a few days his hair and beards turned grey.

For the construction of Taj, services of many renowned artists from all over India were taken. The artists from Turkey, Arab, Samarkand, Iran, Bukhara, and Kandhar added their craftsmanship in making the Taj; magnificent monument .The architectural designs were invited from many countries. The design submitted by Isfan Diyar Rumee was approved. However, according to another belief the design of Taj was made by the Spaniard Jeronimo.All most all types of precious stones available on this earth including gold and silver have been used for adding to the magnificence of the Taj. For making the dream a reality, 20 thousand artisans worked for 12 years and 6 months. The work started after one year of the death of Mumtaj. Sahjahan did not force any one to work for the construction and he paid due remuneration to all the artisans. According to one estimate a sum of 50 lakhs was incurred on the Taj, but according to another estimate Rs 3 crore was incurred. When the Taj was completed the emperor desired to see his dream, but there were so much building materials scattered over the area that it was impossible for the king to go near the Taj. The exercise to remove the material was time consuming, besides costly endeavour. When Sahjahan came to know about it, he passed an order that any one can take away the material free of cost. Within a day the area was cleared of the wastes. And then Sahjahan witnessed his dream The TAJ.The overwhelmed Emperor. He could not hold his tears. The tear of Sahjahan finding a shape...that is TAJMAHAL.

Inside Taj

MARBLE FLOWERS ON THE TAJ MAHAL

/ my own animation /

This is Yanni at the Taj Mahal.