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Throughout the centuries, the Taj Mahal has become
renowned as the most astoundingly beautiful monument to love
ever built. Located in Agra, the capitol of the Mughal
Empire during the 16th and 17th centuries, this mausoleum
is the sole reason that many people visit India.
What's the history here?
The Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory
of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 giving birth
to his 15th child. It is said that the Emperor was so distraught
at her death that his hair turned white overnight.
Construction of the Taj Mahal began the same year, but it
took a total of 22 years and 20,000 people to complete the
building. The principal architect is believed to have been
an Iranian man called Isa Khan. Many of the walls are
adorned with complex patterns of semi-precious stones, excerpts
from the Quran, and designs with decidedly European influence.
Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan's tombs are located in the basement
of the building.
When Shah Jahan was informed that the Taj Mahal was finally
complete, legend has it that he was so keen to inspect the
masterpiece that he did not want to wait any longer for the
scaffolding surrounding it to be dissembled. He decreed that
any citizen who helped remove the scaffolding would be permitted
to keep the pieces for themselves, and in the event the task
took just one day.
So delighted was Shah Jahan with the result, that he ordered
that the hands or thumbs of many of the builders be amputated,
so that they'd never be able to build a monument more perfect
than his wife's mausoleum.
What's there to see and do?
Although it is possible to visit the Taj Mahal in a daytrip
from Delhi, it's worth spending a little time here
as the appearance of the monument (and also the entry fee)
changes with the light at different times of the day.
As well as exploring the ornamental gardens and long watercourses
in which you can see a reflection of the Taj Mahal, you can
also venture inside the mausoleum to where the tombs of the
Emperor and his wife are located. There is a small museum
near the Taj Mahal which houses original architectural drawings
and information about the lengthy construction process. |
