The Taj Mahal

“About the Taj mahal”

Shah Jahan who built the Taj Mahal, a wondrous monument built in dedication to love, beauty, and life of Mumtaz Mahal, had succeeded in his lifetime his dire wish to immortalize the name of Mumtaz Mahal, his third wife. Such is the esteem of Mumtaz Mahal that she is known by one and all, who've ever heard of Taj Mahal. Born in 1593 as “Arjumand Banu Begum”, she was the daughter of “Abdul Hasan Asaf Khan” and a princess from the “Persian nobility”. So enthralling was her beauty that Shah Jahan (then Prince Khurram) fell in love with her at the first sight. It was in 1607 that she was betrothed to Prince Khurram and soon became the unquestionable love of his life. Five years later in 1612, their marriage was solemnized and from then on, started one of the most popular love stories of the world.

             Although she was one of the three wives of Shah Jahan, she was his favorite. He even bestowed her with the name Mumtaz Mahal meaning "Jewel of the Palace", and the highest honor of the land - the royal seal, Mehr Uzaz.

              It is estimated to have taken more than 22,000 people to build this impressive building including labourers, painters, stonecutters, embroidery artists, and many others. The four sides of the Taj Mahal are perfectly identical creating an astonishingly mirrored image on each side. The full height of the Taj Mahal is 171 metres (561 feet).

                 lf-replicating geometry and symmetry of architectural elements. Many precious stones were ripped off from its walls by the British during the Indian rebellion of 1857.