The Taj Mahal is considered to be one of the most beautiful and architecturally supreme wonders of the modern world. It was created in memory of Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, and stands tall in the Indian city of Agra as a unique symbol of love.

It is also recognised as “the jewel of Muslim art in India” and is one of the biggest attractions for tourists who come from all around the world to visit this Wonder of the World.

Background: Mughal Prince Khurram married Arjuman Banu Begum in 1612 and the couple had 14 children in their 19 years of marriage. Mumtaz Mahal, as the princess was known, passed away in 1631 and the prince was so devastated that his hair turned to white, according to some accounts. He loved her a lot and with her death, he lost a partner as well as a shrewd political advisor. He vowed to build a tomb in her memory and came up with Taj Mahal.

Prince Khurram was proclaimed the fifth Mughal Emperor in 1657 and was named Shah Jahan. It is said that when Mumtaz Mahal was still alive, she extracted four promises from Shah Jahan. One of the promises was of building a mausoleum when she died. The Emperor kept the promise and chose Agra for the mausoleum since it was the capital of the Mughal India in those days.

Taj Mahal stands on the bank of River Yamuna, but the tomb is set against the plain across the river, providing it a background that works its magic on the great structure. The Taj may seem pure white in the pictures but in reality it changes colour at different hours of the day, and also during different seasons. It is pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden when the moon shines, depicting the different moods of women. It is also said that one of his sons, Aurangzeb, had an imitation of the Taj Mahal built in 1670 for his wife at Aurangabad but it lacks the grace of the original building.

About the Taj: The name ‘Taj Mahal’ is derived from ‘Mumtaz Mahal’. It was built by an estimated 20,000 workers and featured the best craftsmen and artisans of India.

The construction began in 1632 and the principal mausoleum was completed by 1648, whereas the surrounding buildings were completed by 1653, under the supervision of Ustad Ahmad Lahori, generally considered to be the principal designer. A Frenchman and a Venetian are also said to have played an important part in its construction, but only the name of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal is associated with the Taj.

Some reports suggest that it is made from marbles brought from quarries 200 miles away but the best material was used in the construction that combines Persian, Indian and Turkish architecture. Keeping up with the Islamic tradition, none of the art represents people whereas each corner features a minaret, which adds grace to the monument.

The Taj Mahal represents the high point of Mughal architecture. It follows the standard pattern — a large onion-shaped dome, water channels, a garden divided into four sections, a plinth and minarets. Like most of the buildings created by the Mughals, the pearl-shaped dome represents womanhood and paradise. Both Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal are buried there. It is surrounded by many other buildings, including a mosque on the east and an intended guest house on the west.

Thousands of precious stones are in-laid in the marble surfaces and black marble is used for calligraphic decorations. Passages from the Holy Quran are used as decorative elements throughout the complex whereas the Taj is set in landscaped gardens, graced by fountains and broad pathways of trees. The reflection of Taj Mahal can be seen in the long pool whereas a sunset or sunrise adds brilliance to the masterpiece.

Restoration of the Taj: At the time of its completion, Taj Mahal was surmounted by domed pavilions, and had a door of solid silver studded with hundreds of silver nails. Today, the door is made of brass as thieves and looters plundered the Taj and made off with the precious metals and stones there. It was only due to the efforts of Lord Curzon, who became the Viceroy of India in 1900, that the Taj Mahal was restored to its former glory.